The Journey Towards Super Bowl XLVII Part 1 (A)

Dec 30, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams (93) and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) talk after the game at the Metrodome. The Vikings win 37-34. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

With a New Year 12 Teams in the NFL plan on looking to become this years Super Bowl champion. Each week I will give everything you all need to know about the games each week all the way until the Super Bowl. An A at the end of the title will stand for Saturday games during the next two weeks, while a B will be for the Sunday games.

It only makes sense to start off with the first game of the playoffs, where the hot Cincinnati Bengals go into Houston to play the struggling Texans. Cinci has won three in a row and go into Houston with a lot of confidence against a Houston team that can’t seem to win a game. The Texans have not been the same football team since getting demolished on national television in December against the Patriots.

One thing is for sure, the Bengals have not been winning because of Andy Dalton, he had 4tds and 5 ints in December  Schaub has not been much better in December  Throwing 3 tds to 3 ints. Both teams are going to heavily rely on the run game to support their quarterbacks recent slumps. Arian Foster for the Texans and Benjarvus Green-Ellis for the Bengals will be taking most of the carries Saturday.  Foster, in December has rushed for a little over 400 yards and 3 TDs this month,  Green-Ellis, on the other hand has also rushed for a little over 400 yards and 2 TDs. Both of these teams have been slumping on the offensive side of the ball recently but I have to give the advantage to Houston at home.

Both the Texans and Bengals have been solid on defense all season and that is what the game will come down to. As we all know defense wins championships, and the Texans have been somewhat consistent in December  only allowing more then 17 points twice in December  The Bengals have been carried into the playoffs by their defense, who has not given up more then 20 points a game in all of December. The Advantage goes to the Bengals.

If this game was in Cincinnati I would pick the Bengals to win this game. But being in Houston I have to go with them to win a close game, 24-21.

The night game looks to be just as interesting, as the Surprise Vikings go into Green bay and play the Packers. These two teams played last week, where the vikings squeaked out a W to make it to the playoffs.  These teams have very different in play styles.

Aaron Rodgers is one of the best Quarterbacks in football and preforms best in the playoffs. In December he has been exceptional to say the least,  throwing 11 TDs and only 1INT. The Packers are also getting all there weapons back, that may be the best Wide receiving core in the NFL. Christian Ponder on the other hand is more of a game manager. He has done what he has to for the Vikings to win, only having 18 TDs all season to go along with 13 INTS. Running the ball heavily favors the Vikings, having possibly one of the best Running backs of all time in Adrian Peterson, who has carried the Vikings into the playoffs. The Packers, for the most part has not had a constant running back all season. I have to give the Advantage to the Packers, it is a quarterback driven league, and having one of the best at home should be key for the Packers.

The Vikings have been 4-1 in December thanks to their Defense who gave up 23 or less points a game 3 times in December   But they are young, and lack playoff experience. The opposite can be said for the Packers, who are also 4-1 in the month of December and have only given up more then 20 points once in December  They also have had some playoff experience, getting in to the playoffs almost yearly. They also will be getting their best play maker in the secondary back, Charles Woodson, who will make this already good Packers Defense that much better. Advantage – Packers

These two teams have seen a lot of each other, this will be their third game since the start of December. Each team was able to come out with a victory at home, and I expect the same to happen when they meet in the playoffs. Packers 27- Vikings-13