If you asked me to describe this game in one word, I could not give it to you. I’m certain Patriots fans all went through phases of excitement, anger, confusion, and relief. In the end though, the final score favors the Patriots and we will see them in the AFC Championship for the 2^nd straight year.

The opening of this game was extremely scary. I was not anticipating the Texans to return the opening kickoff all the way to the New England 10 yard line. The defense responded well and held them to a field goal. Unfortunately, I’m not sure if the Patriots knew how to respond. True, they did have a couple of weeks off and rust could have been a big factor, but the Patriots just did not look like themselves in the majority of the first quarter. Fortunately however, Tom Brady and the Patriots generated a great drive at the end of the first quarter, which culminated in a 1-yd touchdown run by Shane Vereen.

Leading 7-3, the Patriots completely changed their attitude towards the game and got better on offense. Stephen Gostkowski (surprisingly) nailed a 37-yd field goal and Brady later found Vereen for an 8-yd touchdown pass. The Texans responded quickly with Arian Foster’s 1-yd touchdown rush. In their next possession, it seemed that time ran out but the referee said that Houston called a timeout with 2 seconds to go. I thought that was a blown call because I heard no whistle until that clock hit 0:00. But the lucky Texans got their wish and the former-Patriot Shayne Graham drilled a 55 yarder and cut the New England lead to 17-13 at the half.

I prayed that the Patriots would make the third quarter theirs and it certainly was. A rushing touchdown from Stevan Ridley and a Brady passing touchdown to Brandon Lloyd extended the Patriots lead to 31-13. To be honest, I thought a rout was on at that point.

What Patriots fan doesn’t like it when Brady throws a deep ball? He already threw one to Wes Welker so surely he could do it again, right? Indeed, with an arching 33 yard pass to Vereen, who ran it for a touchdown. At that point, I was really stunned at how Vereen showed up tonight. He arguably had a much better night than Stevan Ridley did. Unfortunately, it seemed like the New England defense was too mesmerized by the offense. A questionable touchdown reception from DeVier Posey was reviewed through a challenge and Houston won it. 6 minutes later, Foster added another touchdown for the Texans and the 2-pt conversion was successful. With the lead only 10, Rob Ninkovich made a game saving recovery on the ensuing onside kick. Lloyd caught a crucial 3^rd down pass and that set the way for the final field goal for Gostkowski. The Patriots defeat the Texans 41-28 and will meet the Baltimore Ravens again for the AFC Championship. The last time this happened was in 1987, when the Browns and Broncos played each other for the second consecutive time.

While we Pats fans should rejoice this win, we should pick up on a couple of things. I strongly believe that tonight’s referees heavily favored Houston because several calls (not letting the clock run out, penalizing Lloyd for no reason, etc.) went the Texans’ way. I’m hoping that’s not the case next week. Speaking of next week, New England will NOT have Rob Gronkowski for that game…and the rest of the season, since he injured that same arm in the first quarter. Rest well Gronk, I believe the Patriots can finish the deal. On a more positive note though, congrats to Tom Brady, whose 17th playoff win passes Joe Montana's 16, for most all time!

Who will you be rooting for on Saturday?  Baltimore or Denver?

Raj:  I got a lot of criticism for fellow Patriots fans on twitter for my decision to root for the Ravens last Sunday and that isn't changing. One reason is because Ray Rice carried Rutgers to glory and I am a Jersey guy. Pride apart, I also rooted for the Ravens because let's be honest, who is a much tougher adversary for the opponent? Baltimore by far has the best chance to knock Peyton Manning off his horse (no pun intended). Indianapolis wouldn't have come close and I am not one bit keen on watching a Manning/Brady AFC Championship game. By now the Pats know this Ravens team very well but the Broncos are mysterious. Some Patriots fans want a Manning/Brady matchup. Me? I just want to be a little more confident that I can see our team in Super Bowl XLVII.

Stephen:  As much as I hate to say it, I'm rooting for the Broncos to come out on top. Baltimore is a good team, and one that would be deserving of a shot at the AFC Championship, but I want to see Brady vs. Manning for a trip to the Super Bowl. Baltimore would probably be the easier matchup for the Pats simply because of the QB factor, but to be the best you have to beat the best, and I'd love to see the Pats end Manning's MVP-caliber season in the playoffs.

Jason:  So we either face the second-best quarterback of our generation on the road, or we get to murder Ray Lewis's career in Foxboro? Sign me up for a game against the Ravens.

Derek:  Brady vs. Manning for a trip to Super Bowl XLVII would be an epic battle and something I'd love to see.  However, the travel involved for the Patriots will swing me towards rooting for the Ravens.  I've simply had too many sleepless nights after bad losses in Denver to want the Patriots to travel there in the post-season.  If either team would be traveling to Foxboro, then you could talk me into rooting for Denver, but since that's not the case, I have to back the Ravens.  Plus, as good as the Brady/Manning rivalry is, the Patriots/Ravens rivalry has been equally as good the past three years.  I would love to see the Pats avenge that Week 3 Sunday Night debacle as they stamp their tickets to New Orleans.

How much, if any, does the thrashing that New England laid down on Houston in Week 14 affect Sunday's game?

Jason:  In my mind, the win a month ago means almost nothing. Zilch. Nada. If anything, it could provide incentive for a proud Houston squad to show that they aren't the same team that the Patriots curb-stomped a few weeks back. Despite what some in the media seem to think, this is not a gimme.

Raj:  It does play a huge role in the way we look at this game. Surely you might be thinking "well if the Pats can do it once, surely they can do it again!" That of course, isn't out of the possibility considering the Bengals gave them a tough fight. But look for Houston to come in with a completely different attitude. They're going to be looking at the first meeting's tape for sure so in my opinion, we won't see a blowout however I think New England still owns the edge. The blowout in week 14 was cool but the improvements Houston makes just from reviewing that film will make the game ever so more interesting.

Stephen:  Other teams might let the win get in their heads, but I think the Patriots approach Sunday's game with the same preparation, intensity and crispness that they displayed in Week 14. New England has already shown it can exploit Houston's holes, and not much has changed since then. In fact, having a healthier Gronkowski, Chandler Jones and Pat Chung can only help the Pats in the rematch. Houston shouldn't lack motivation, but that doesn't change the fact they're a team that isn't built to come from behind.

Derek:  The only way I see the Week 14 beating giving the Pats any type of advantage would be if New England was able to jump out to a big lead early.  If they were able to mount a 14-0 lead, or something to that effect, then I could see the Texans becoming demoralized and losing some of their will to fight back.  Otherwise, I feel that the game will have little to no impact.  I'm not worried about the Patriots being complacent or thinking they've won this game before they step on the field.  Bill Belichick and Tom Brady will have none of that.

It's going to be a photo finish down the stretch as Raj and I are tied once again, with Rick only two games behind.  Jason has fallen off the pace and is throwing a final hail mary by picking against the Pats to possibly make up some ground.  The big match-ups to watch this week are BAL/DEN and GB/SF as those outcomes could put Rick right back in the thick of things, or turn the game into a two-horse race as we head into Conference Championship weekend.

The Patriots opened as 9.5-point favorites as they host the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs.

Let’s get past the obvious – the Pats made the Texans look like a JV squad a few weeks ago. That game happened. It’s over. The Pats don’t start out with a four-TD lead just because they won by that margin a month ago. And just because they stomped this team once does not automatically mean that they will do so again. Most folks in the media and the betting public seem to ignore these facts, but you do so at your own peril.

We know that the Patriots should be able to put a respectable number of points on the board. The Texans have a solid defense in their base package, but when you spread them out, they look more like the Jets (i.e. a hopeless bumbling mess). They also did not adjust well to New England’s up-tempo offense the first time around. However, that experience could be useful for the upcoming game and is not necessarily a precursor of things to come. Unless they Pats get a few timely turnovers or big plays on special teams, it will be difficult to get into the 40s again.

The deciding factor will be the ability of the Texans to put points on the board. The Pats’ D has held six of their last seven opponents under 20 points, and Houston has failed to put 20 points on the board in four of their last five. If those trends continue, Houston gets blown out. But given the relative good health and skill of this unit, it’s hard to imagine that happening again.

I think the Pats win this game, but I’m not laying more than a TD to any good team. I’m taking the Texans and the points.

The Rest of the Playoff Lines

Finish this sentence:  If the Patriots don't make it to Super Bowl XLVII, it will be because...

Stephen: ...Peyton Manning steals the show. The only thing between Brady and Belichick's sixth Super Bowl berth is the best QB of all time. Manning is playing some of the best football of his career and has plenty of experience against the Pats. He's the one guy who could spoil New England's Super Bowl hopes.

Jason: ...they didn't execute on offense. The defense is improving to the point that they can make a few big plays and keep opposing teams out of the end zone with some consistency. If Brady and the offense are in synch, it would take an epic defensive collapse for them to lose.

Raj: ...the secondary and offensive line decided to take the day off.

Derek: ...they turned the ball over multiple times.  With an even number of possessions, I have a hard time believing that the Texans, Ravens, or Broncos offense will be able to keep pace with the Patriots.  However, if the Pats give the ball away repeatedly then all bets are off.  Bad turnovers did the Patriots in their playoff defeats to the Jets and Ravens, as well as their two most recent Super Bowls.  The Patriots don't have to play mistake-free, but they absolutely need to hold onto the football to make it to New Orleans.
 

Last week, the New England Patriots were able to close out the regular season in dominating fashion with a 28-0 win over the Miami Dolphins. The defense had seven sacks on Ryan Tannehill (3 from Justin Francis) and saw the return of tight end Rob Gronkowski on offense. The Pats did have an injury scare with the strained hip muscles that linebacker Rob Ninkovich injured in the 2nd quarter, but all accounts suggest that he will be ready for the Patriots’ Divisional Playoff game which will be played next Sunday at 4:30 EST on CBS. Yes, the Patriots have a 1st round bye in this year’s playoffs due in part to the Houston Texans losing to the Indianapolis Colts.

With no Patriots’ game preview to cover this week; I am going to do a yearly tradition I have done for the past two years at Foxboro Blog. Instead of one mega preview, I will give you readers a small preview of each of the four Wild Card matchups that will be played this weekend.

With that being said, here are my keys and picks for the Wild Card games, starting with the NFC:

(6) Vikings at (3) Packers (Saturday, 8:00 EST. NBC)

Round Three of this NFC North rivalry kicks off on Saturday at Lambeau Field just six days after the two teams played a thriller in Minnesota. The Vikings clinched their ticket to the postseason party after beating the Packers 37-34 despite running back Adrian Peterson falling nine yards short of the single season rushing record. The gametime weather conditions call for snow flurries and 26 degrees. On the Minnesota side, how far can AP take them? Peterson has averaged over 200 yards per game in two contests vs. the Packers this year. However, the key on the Vikings side for me is quarterback Christian Ponder. Ponder did have three touchdowns last week vs. Green Bay, but in the first matchup back in Lambeau on December 2nd, the former FSU QB had only 119 yards passing and two interceptions. If he can make some big 3rd down passes, it will help Minnesota prevent the Packers from stacking the box on every play with eight or nine guys.

As for the Packers, the key to this game is their defense. Under Dom Capers, this team has improved in defending the pass from a year ago. They are 11th at defending the pass, giving up just 218 yards per game. The X-Factor for the Packers would be Charles Woodson because he has been cleared to play for the playoffs. His presence should help a player like rookie Casey Hayward who leads the team with six interceptions.

For this game, I am picking Green Bay to win. The reason is I don’t think Christian Ponder can win this one on the road with his arm even though Adrian Peterson will probably run for 150+ yards. Also, the Packers might get wide receiver Randall Cobb back which will be a boost to their injured receiving corps as well as their return game.

PACKERS 34 VIKINGS 23

(5) Seahawks at (4) Redskins (Sunday, 4:30, FOX)

This game features two of the leading candidates for offensive rookie of the year in quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Robert Griffin III. Both rookies have rejuvenated their respective franchises and have both teams. These teams both are young at a lot of key positions which could make this a playoff matchup for years to come.

For the Seahawks, their strength is on the defensive side of the ball. Patriots’ fans know all about cornerback Richard Sherman and his trash talk. Sherman, however, has backed up his trash with some awesome treasure-like play to the figures of eight interceptions. This includes four interceptions in his last three games. For Seattle, all eyes will be on the return of the other star cornerback Brandon Browner. Browner returns after serving a four game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. I am interested to see how many reps he gets out there against players like Pierre Garcon and Santana Moss on the outside for Washington.

As for the Redskins, the key will be their running attack and another rookie (Alfred Morris). Morris ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns in their win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. He has gone on a tear his last four games with seven rushing touchdowns. If Washington can run the ball successfully, it will allow them to successfully run play action plays, which they run 63% of the time on early down situations. With RGIII now about 100% healthy, the read option and play action bootlegs will be out in full effect.

My prediction is this game will be a close ballgame because of the identical styles these two teams play with running the ball and using the play action. Due to the home field advantage, I am picking the Redskins to win this one due to the success of Alfred Morris and the ability for the Washington defense to contain Marshawn Lynch.

REDSKINS 20 SEAHAWKS 17

AFC WILD CARD PICKS

Which of the three possible opponents would you most like to see the Patriots match up against in the divisional round?

Raj:  Since I have the Bengals pulling off an upset and the Ravens beating the Colts, I would be interested in watching New England battle off against Baltimore in the AFC Divisional round. The Ravens are a tough team no doubt. There's no chance the Pats will score 45 like how they did to the Broncos last year. But it will be a very interesting match. There will be a bit of a revenge factor since the Ravens barely edged the Patriots in Baltimore. If they meet, the game will be in New England and it will be a lot colder. That creates a whole new dimension to the game, which I believe will benefit the Patriots. I'll be interested in seeing what adjustment the Patriots make from the previous meeting in Baltimore to prep for this matchup (if they meet of course).

Stephen:  Indianapolis would be the easiest matchup for the Patriots. The Colts' defense doesn't preset a whole lot of matchup issues outside of neutralizing Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Baltimore is a battle-tested team who always gives the Patriots their best effort. Houston's defense still has the ability to control the game, and Cincinnati is one of the hottest teams in the league right now. Give me the Colts at home and a trip to the AFC Championship.

Jason:  I would like to see the Colts gift-wrapped under our Christmas tree with a big red bow. Even though the Pats crushed the Texans and outplayed the Ravens this year, the Colts are probably the easiest matchup based on their defense.

Derek: Common sense would tell you to go with the rookie QB and weak defense and root for the Colts to end up in Foxboro next week.  However, do you really want to flirt with the Patriots needing to defeat Tebowmania and Chuckstrong in the divisional round in back-to-back seasons?  Even if they win, that's got bad karma and another Super Bowl heartbreak written all over it.  Baltimore and Houston are both entering the post-season on downward spirals.  Baltimore always plays the Patriots tough, while Houston seems poised to fold-up like a chair.  Could it really be that the best matchup for the Patriots is the #3 seed?

I hate to ask for any opponent, lest I jinx the Patriots and bring on a surprise upset like the Jets in 2010.  If you put a gun to my head though, the team I just don't see winning in Foxboro is Baltimore.  The Colts have momentum on their side.  The Texans have redemption on their side.  Baltimore is just due for a total tail-kicking after that ridiculous replacement ref debacle in Week 3.

This is it, the final Top 12.  After seventeen weeks of rankings, it's time to put this meaningless exercise to bed and let the players do the talking on the field.  

#1 - New England Patriots

The Patriots are healthy heading into their playoff bye week and coming off a shut-out performance.  How much more could you ask for at this point? The only team beating New England this post-season is themselves.

Last Week: 3      Change: +2     Record: 12-4       Next Game: Bye Week

#2 - Denver Broncos

I have respect for their streak as rolling off 11-straight wins in the NFL is no small task.  Still, I have a hard time envisioning this team making it 14-straight and hoisting the Lombardi.  The first good team they beat all season will be the next team they beat.

Last Week: 4   Change: +2    Record: 13-3   Next Game: Bye Week

#3 - San Francisco 49ers

After a tremendous first half against the Patriots, San Francisco hasn't played the most inspiring ten quarters to end their season.  Still, I like them to win the NFC.

Last Week: 2    Change: -1       Record: 11-4-1      Next Game: Bye Week

#4 - Atlanta Falcons

Not a fan of Atlanta tanking down the stretch, especially when they are the team that needs to be playoff-ready the most.

Last Week: 1      Change: -3     Record: 13-3     Next Game: Bye Week