The 2011 NFL Regular season is done and now it’s time for the 2012 NFL Playoffs. The lines are out for wildcard weekend starting, Saturday Jan 7th and Sunday Jan 8th. Let’s take a look ahead at 2012 NFL Playoff Schedule & Point Spreads. Be sure to get the latest 2012 NFL Playoff Spreads before making your 2012 NFL Playoff Picks.
No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals at No. 3 Houston Texans (-3)(O/U-39), Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET
No. 6 Detroit Lions at No. 3 New Orleans Saints (-9)(O/U-58), Saturday, 8 p.m. ET
No. 5 Atlanta Falcons at No. 4 New York Giants (-2.5)(O/U-48), Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers (-7)(34-O/U) at No. 4 Denver Broncos, Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) at Houston Texans (10-6) (-3)(O/U-39)
The AFC divisional round game between the Texans and the Bengals will be the first time that two rookie quarterbacks have faced each other. It’ll be Texans fifth round pick T.J. Yates and Bengals second round pick Andy Dalton under center. History doesn’t bode well for either, as rookie QB’s have gone 6-9 in the playoffs, throwing 15 TD’s and 23 INT’s.
Andy Dalton has started all 16 games for Cincinnati this season and has completed 58.1% of his passes for 3,398 yards, 20 TD’s and 13 INT’s as a rookie.
T.J. Yates was pressed into action after season-ending injuries to Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart. In six starts he’s completed 61.2% of his passes for 948 yards, 3 TD’s and 3 INT’s as a rookie.
Detroit Lions (10-6) at New Orleans Saints (13-3)(-9)(O/U-58)
Knowing how great the Saints played at home this season and how many records they broke, it’s probably safe to assume that Detroit’s coaching staff isn’t looking forward to this weekend’s game. The Lions’ offense isn’t too bad itself, meaning this game will likely turn into a shootout before all is said and done.
The Saints are a perfect 8-0 at home while averaging 41.1ppg and allowing an average 17.9ppg. The Lions are 5-3 on the road while averaging 28.9ppg and giving up an average 27.9ppg. The Lions went 1-3 during their last four road games.
Atlanta Falcons (10-6) at New York Giants (9-7) (-2.5)(O/U-48)
The Giants, like the Falcons, are a balanced team. The defensive line is good enough to pressure the quarterback which helps the secondary. Eli Manning continues to play really well and they won’t be an easy out and neither will the Falcons.
The Falcons are one of the most balanced teams in the league ranking seventh offensively and 18th defensively. They can run the ball well and stop the run. The Falcons are going to be a tough out. They don’t have any glaring weaknesses and they can play good defense. It’s a good formula as they enter the playoffs.
The Giants have had their struggles and inconsistencies but when they’re on, they’re one of the better teams in the league so at first glance this might be the most even matchup on Wildcard weekend.
Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) (-7)(34-O/U) at Denver Broncos (8-8)
The Broncos are just the sixth team since 1990 to start the season losing four of their first five games and qualify for the playoffs. The Broncos were 1-4 at one point before Tebow became the starter and the Broncos started winning. Three of the five previous teams won a playoff game so it wouldn’t be unheard of for the Broncos to make a little run. The Broncos have faced a lot of adversity this season. They’re doing things in an unconventional way. That’s why, even though the Steelers look like they should win, you can’t count Denver out.
The problem is that they’re facing the strongest team in the Wildcard round — the Steelers. Pittsburgh represented the AFC in the 2011 Super Bowl so they’ve been here before. The Steelers are will likely be missing one of their best playmakers on each side of the ball. RB Rashard Mendenhall is likely out with an ACL injury and Ryan Clark, the team’s starting safety, is looking as if he might miss the game as well.
Pittsburgh’s inability to force turnovers has been the big Achilles heel of a vaunted defense rated No. 1 in the NFL in pass yardage allowed.
Point-Spreads recommends you check the 2012 NFL Playoff Spreads before the start of Wild Card Weekend.
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