Houston Texans vs. Cincinnati Bengals

It's hard not to feel a little sorry for the Houston Texans.

They finally earned their first playoff berth - and division crown - but due to an injury crisis they might as well be entering the playoffs as the proverbial one-legged man. The Texans finished 10-6 to win the AFC South, but they have gone winless for the past three weeks.

Such was the Texan desperation to pick up a win on Monday, that they bravely/stupidly/inconsequentially attempted what would have been a match-winning two point conversion against the Tennessee Titans.

With T.J Yates set to return from injury this week, the third-string rookie quarterback will be relying heavily on his side's second-ranked defense to stay in the game.

Making the trip down to Houston is the Cincinnati Bengals.

Earning a playoff spot this year capped a remarkable turnaround in Cincinnati, and the franchise could almost be forgiven for being content with returning to the playoffs after an abysmal 2010, however they have a great chance to knock off the Texans.

Rookie duo Andy Dalton and AJ Green have been sensational for much of the year, and loom as a potential force the Bengals can shape the next decade of their franchise around. Expect this to be one of many playoff appearances for Cincinnati in the near future.

Prediction: Defense is going to be key to this one. Both sides are capable of shutting down their opponent, and whoever does that the best will win. If the defenses play to a stalemate, greater offensive firepower for Cincinnati will be the deciding factor.

Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Tebowmania somehow propelled Denver to the AFC West crown, even though they're in the middle of a three-game losing streak. The Broncos were poor against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, leading to defensive anchor Champ Bailey slamming his own team in the media after the game.

Awaiting Tebow and his Broncos teammates is the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Long-time defensive guru Dick LeBeau of the Steelers has specialized over the years in harassing opposing quarterbacks into mistakes. Without doubt, this is the biggest test of the year for Tebow. Expect Pittsburgh to throw the proverbial kitchen sink on defense, especially considering the way Tebow has struggled against the blitz in the past three weeks.

The only hope for Denver is that Pittsburgh head into the contest with a litany of injured stars. Ben Roethlisberger played on Monday with a heavily sprained ankle (a huge blow for one of the league's more mobile quarterbacks) and on Monday they lost running back Rashard Mendenhall for the season.

Prediction: If Denver were to pull this one out, Tebowmania would reach even greater heights, yet, even with its injury question marks, Pittsburgh should be far too strong for the Broncos.

New Orleans Saints vs. Detroit Lions

Detroit's loss to the Green Bay Packers (45-41) on Monday means that the Lions' first playoff campaign in years begins with a trip to New Orleans to face the Saints. No team in the NFL would be looking forward to playing the Saints, especially on their home-turf in the Louisiana Superdome. Just one month ago Detroit travelled to the Bayou to square off against the Saints, and after falling behind 17-0 early, the game was in effect over long before the Lions mounted a late fight-back.

When Detroit started the season is blistering fashion, a lot of that early success could be attributed to their high-pressure, turnover-generating defensive play. If they are any chance against New Orleans they will have to return to that sort of play.

Getting into a shootout with Drew Brees and the Saints (regardless of the form Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson are in) is hardly the right way to attack the Saints. Brees has been simply sensational all season long, and has made a habit of torching opposing defenses. If Brees can turn in another record-breaking performance against Detroit, that won't bode well for the Lions.

Prediction: Unless Drew Brees is beset by misfortune that will force him to miss this week, you cannot pick against New Orleans. Playing at home they should be far too strong. The only chance for the Lions is if they can get a jump on the Saints early, slow down Brees, and ideally force a few turnovers.

New York Giants vs. Atlanta Falcons

This time last year, the Falcons were entering the playoffs as the number one seed in the NFC, the result of a dominant regular season in Atlanta. However, in their first playoff game, the would-be champion Green Bay Packers dismantled them. This year, Atlanta has snuck into the playoffs to some extent.

After stumbling out of the blocks in the opening month of the season, Atlanta were able to rediscover some of their 2010 form, even if only in patches. The problem for the Falcons is that they were shown up by elite teams in the NFC (New Orleans/Green Bay). Luckily for the Falcons, the New York Giants are not an elite team.

The Giants clinched a playoff berth by beating the Dallas Cowboys on Monday. The Giants may have won their division, but they have been incredibly inconsistent all season in doing so. They started the year spectacularly, getting out to a 6-2 record, only to stagger to a 9-7 finish. Even in the clinching victory against Dallas, they gave the Cowboys plenty of chances, and the argument could be made that luck was definitely on their side. Twice the Giants fumbled the ball in potentially damaging situations, only for Dallas to bail them out by not recovering the loose ball.

At their best, the Giants can match it with anyone, but their best is too few and far between to pick them with any confidence.

Prediction: If Eli Manning can play like he has in the fourth quarter for the entire game, his side will win. Yet, the Falcons have been the better and more consistent side all year, and they should be too good for the Giants in New York.