Are You Ready For Some NFL Playoffs? (Playoff Preview Podcast)

It's January people! The weather is cold for a reason, and it's not to cuddle around the fireplace and watch a bootleg version of the latest Twilight movie with your girlfriend. It's NFL playoffs time, so grab the beer, the wings, and listen up as we prepare you for a weekend of what we hope will be an exciting first round.

AFC

The first round of the AFC matches on paper may look like the less exciting games with Cincinnati traveling to Houston to face the Texans, and Pittsburgh making their way a mile high to face Tim Tebow and The Denver Other players who don't get attention because their name isn't Tebow. (Broncos)

Cincy vs Houston

No QB no problem, that's what Houston is hoping going into Saturday's matchup with the surprisingly playoff proven Bengals team. In the NFL's first game staring two rookie Qbs since 1970, this could be a low scoring one, as both teams have had lockdown defenses all year long. So what's the difference? Houston still simply has more weapons. While Dalton and AJ Green look like the next Manning/Harrison duo, it's going to take a front flip over defenders all game from Jerome Simpson to put some points on the board for Cincinnati. Arian Foster and Ben Tate were only 68 yards short from being the only NFL duo Running back set to each have 1,000 yards rushing for the season. Look for 3-4 yard chunks on 1st and 2nd with short screens to Jacoby and Andre on the sidelines on 3rd.

Pittsburgh vs Denver

On paper this looks like a no brainer, you have the defending AFC champions who behind Dick Lebeau have a defense who can confuse even the most veteran QB, and then you have Tebow. However, with no Mendenhall due to a torn ACL and no Ryan Clark thanks to a sickle cell blood trait that left him almost dead the last time he was in Denver, the Steelers will have to fight for it. Troy, James Harrison, Pouncey, and Keisel all missed practice Thursday, while Big Ben was limited. There is also a weak spot in the middle of the field, as the Steelers have given QB's more rushing yards than most teams in the league. Although the Steelers seem down, they definitely aren't out. Tebow is coming off the three worst games of his statically horrible career, and is averaging more than 1 fumble a game. Add that to the Woodley/Harrison/Timmons linebacker trio for the Steelers, and Tebow may lose his faith after the Steeler D is through with him.

NFC

Moving to the NFC, we go from defensive games, to 4 of the top 10 offenses in the league. With all teams suffering from a lack of secondary, these games look to be a shootout and will be the high scoring offense that the average NFL fan yearns for.

Detroit vs New Orleans

If I asked you to name one shut down corner in the matchup, you're closet answer would be ESPN's Holly Rowe. However, playing Calvin Johnson, Marques Colston, and other pro bowl receivers, maybe there isn't much of a point trying to shut down some of the best (including the best) receivers in the league. So then what does either team need to do to win? While Stafford is having a pro bowl year (despite idiots who voted Eli in the pro bowl instead) he may be facing a better QB in Drew Brees. Recently breaking the most throwing yards in a single season (Sorry Marino), Drew has shown that the few bad qualities he had, no longer exist. He is accurate, cool under pressure, and shows up big on 3rd downs. Although Stafford has finally shown what he can do healthy, nothing is going to stop Drew from going 1 on 1 with Rodgers.

Atlanta vs New York Giants

The Falcons and Giants have been the two most inconsistent teams in the NFL. Both playing amazing one week and horrible the next, nobody knows what to expect when these two teams take the field. The Atlanta Falcons are no strangers to the playoffs lately, but are strangers to winning an actual playoff game. Matty Ice has been horrible under pressure this year and seems to have a problem planting his feet and staying calm. This is a disastrous set up considering the front 4 for the Giants have been playing awesome this year, especially the past three games. However, when Julio Jones, White, and Tony G are rolling on all cylinders, they are easily one of the top 3 receiving cores in the league. Atlanta's O-line will need to have a big game to give Matty time to make big plays. On the other end you have the Giants, who have been plagued defensively with injuries all season. So how have they been winning? One of the major ways is been play making from guys like Bradshaw and of course Victor Cruz. I'm not sure why Victor Cruz can’t be tackled, but for Atlanta's sake they need to figure it out. With over 500 yards AFTER the catch, only Welker, Megatron, and Gronkowski have more YAC than Cruz. So Brent Grimes (Who didn't practice Thursday) better get well soon, because he will be the key to the Falcons success.