NFL Wild Card Picks Who Do You Have?

With the New York Giants absolutely destroying the Dallas Cowboys in the final NFL betting lines Sunday night game of the season, the playoff picture was officially set, for this coming week. In total, 12 of a possible 32 teams remain with the opportunity to be named the Super Bowl Champion for the 2011 season. Without further adieu, here is a price per head preview and projection of round one also known as the wild card round of the NFL playoffs.

In the AFC, the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Houston Texans in the early game Saturday, to officially start up the playoff schedule. The Bengals and Texans are followed in the evening by the Detroit Lions taking on the New Orleans Saints in prime time. On Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons travel to New Jersey to take on the aforementioned bookie software New York Giants. Then to close out the wild card round, Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers take on Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. Here is a preview of each game.

Cincinnati Bengals v Houston Texans – For all intents and purposes, despite losing and still making the playoffs, the Bengals are a very dangerous team. Led by rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and flanked by one of the most lethal defenses in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals are a team that has the potential to go far in this year’s playoffs. To start the season, the Bengals were projected by many sportsbooks to finish in the bottom three of the league. Instead, Marvin Lewis, Mike Zimmer and Jay Gruden, have the youthful Bengals playing incredible football, as they play with a sense of having nothing to lose, and no pressure.

Conversely, the Houston Texans have everything riding on the wild card round of this year’s playoffs. After years of coming up short, the Texans finally made it to the playoffs this season, even though they endured a quarterback carousel. As it stands, third string rookie TJ Yates is scheduled to start verses Cincinnati this weekend. However, regardless of who the quarterback is, if the Texans can’t get rolling, expect changes in the offseason. Cincinnati 17 Houston 14.

Detroit Lions v New Orleans Saints – In the prime time Saturday game, the Lions make their return to the playoffs, to take on 2010 Super Bowl Champions the New Orleans saints. Two of the most high powered offenses and decent defenses will battle it out for the right to face San Francisco in the second round. On paper, Drew Brees is considered a better quarterback then Matt Stafford. However, Stafford and cardiac Lions have become one of the highest scoring teams in the NFL this season. Look for the Lions to pull the upset by a final of 45 – 41.

Atlanta Falcons v New York Giants – The Giants have plenty to be thrilled about, after destroying divisional rival Dallas in the final game of week 17. Yet, why stop there? Quarterback Eli Manning and the Giants defense have been two of the biggest surprises this season. With the Falcons playing mediocre lately, we like Eli’s Giants to pull out the win 34 – 24.