NFL Football Weekly Previews

Saturday January 14, 2012

New Orleans Saints (14-3) @ San Francisco 49ers (13-3)
Time: 4:30pm EST
Spread: New Orleans Saints -3.5 (Current Divisional Playoff Lines)
Over/Under: 47.5

• Divisional Playoffs Game of the Week (Click Here For Preview)

Sunday January 15, 2012

Houston Texans (11-6) @ Baltimore Ravens (12-4)
Time: 1:00pm EST
Spread: Baltimore Ravens -9 (Current Divisional Playoff Lines)
Over/Under: 35.5
Preview: In the first wildcard game played on Sunday; the Houston Texans will travel to Baltimore to battle against the Ravens. These two teams are seeded 2nd and 3rd in the AFC. Houston was the third seed, and came away with a playoff win over Cincinnati last weekend. The Ravens are the second seed; as they won the AFC North over Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. The Texans ranked in the top five in both passing yards and rushing yards allowed during the regular season. As an entire group, Houston allowed teams to garner 287 yards per game. Offensively, Arian Foster was a beast on the ground for Houston. The running back rushed for 1,224 yards and 10 touchdowns, despite missing some games with an injury. Ben Tate also had a great season for Houston, picking up 942 rushing yards. In the win over Cincinnati, the Texans forced the Bengals to turn the ball over three times. For Baltimore, they hope to be well rested for the Texans. Baltimore also ranked in the top five in both rushing yards allowed and passing yards allowed. The Ravens allowed 288 yards per game. The Ravens offense has seen Ray Rice put up great numbers as the top running back option. Rice rushed for 1,364 yards and 12 touchdowns. Baltimore’s four losses came at Tennessee, at Jacksonville, at Seattle and at San Diego, so their home field has been a huge key.

New York Giants (10-7) @ Green Bay Packers (15-1)
Time: 4:30pm EST
Spread: Green Bay Packers -9 (Current Divisional Playoff Lines)
Over/Under: 51.5
Preview: In the final game of the second weekend of the National Football League postseason; the New York Giants will travel to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers. The Giants are 10-7, and were winners of the NFC East. The Giants needed wins over the Jets and Cowboys in the final two weeks of the season to reach the postseason. In the first round of the postseason, the Giants held the Falcons to just two points in the win. New York has struggled with their rushing offense, as they picked up just 89.2 yards per game. The Giants quarterback Eli Manning had a sensational season; tossing for nearly 4,950 yards and 29 touchdowns. Victor Cruz emerged as a huge threat for the Giants, as he led the team with 9 touchdown receptions. The Giants in the playoff victory over Atlanta saw Hakeem Nicks catch 6 passes; with 2 of them for touchdowns. The Green Bay Packers came within one game of a perfect season. On December 18th, the Packers were downed by the Kansas City Chiefs 19-14. After that loss, the Packers beat both the Bears and the Lions to finish the regular season. The Packers scored 560 points on the season; tops in the National Football League. Aaron Rodgers, the Packers quarterback finished the season with 4,643 passing yards and 45 touchdowns. When these two teams met on December 4th, Green Bay came back from being down and came away with a 38-35 road victory. At that point, that was the Packers closest victory of the season.