That's Right, I'm Talking About the Playoffs, Jim

I miss Don Cheadle.

Cincinnati vs. Houston – I think the real question here is which one of these two franchises is more star-crossed?  Tough call, am I right?  The Texans will be playing the first playoff game ever in their relatively short history.  After the last few years of bringing home report cards with “fails to perform up to their ability” scrawled under their straight C- grades, do the Texans finally play up to their potential and put this one in the W column?  Or does Andre Johnson grab his hamstring on the first play of the game?  That sounds like it already happened, doesn’t it?  As for the Bengals, come on, they’re the Bengals.  Still, somebody has to win this game.  It’s like a rule or something.

Bengals 20, Texans 16

Detroit vs. New Orleans – This looks like that classic case of a young team learning just how hard it is to win in the NFL playoffs, the game that young team will use as motivation for their run to a championship.  Next year.  Unless Ndamukong Suh rips off Drew Brees’ right arm and beats him to death with it.

Saints 55, Lions 28

Atlanta vs. New York – It’s hard to like a dome team playing outdoors this time of year.  Matty Ice did play his college ball for Boston College and the Falcons do have a running game with Michael Turner bringing the pain so there’s that.  Still, I can’t erase the memory of Victor Cruz taking a short out, turning up the sideline and going all roadrunner on the Cowboys last Sunday night.  Before he crossed the fifty, you knew they weren’t going to catch him.  Having said that, I think the Falcons are the better team and Giants fans have been enjoying the deconstruction of the Jets a little too much.  Karma is a mofo, yo!

Falcons 28, Giants 27

Pittsburgh vs. Denver – Could this be the 2012 version of Saints vs. Seahawks?  You know, the game where the team that shouldn't even be in the playoffs somehow winds up winning a division and hosting a Wild Card game and then takes a Super Bowl favorite out?  Could Willis McGahee have a Marshawn Lynch beast mode game?  Can Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller make a Roethlisberger sandwich for 60 minutes?  Will Tim Tebow pull the trigger?  Perhaps most importantly, can Matt Prater kick a 70-yard field goal?

Broncos 3, Steelers 2