4:30//NBC
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The Bengals ended the season with wins in seven of their last eight games.
After starting 11-1, the Texans finished the season losers in three of their last four games and have not played a solid stretch of football in nearly two months.
What happened to the Texans? Did they peak too early?
Matt Schaub is healthy and will make his first career playoff appearance, but has failed to throw more than two touchdowns since November, 18th.
The Bengals on the other hand are starving for a playoff victory and have not won a playoff game since 1991.
Under defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, the Bengals have one of the NFL's best defenses and today will be no different.
I see the Bengals defense causing problems and Andy Daulton responding to the challenge of winning his first postseason game.
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Prediction:
Bengals 24, Texans 21
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Minnesota Vikings (10-6) @ Green Bay Packers (11-5)
8:30//NBC
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In a thriller last Sunday, it was do or die for Minnesota and the Vikings denied the Packers of a No. 2 seed and a first round bye in the NFC by taking down the Pack 37-34.
Quite a coincidence that the two teams will meet again tonight in the first round of the playoffs.Adrian Peterson has been a bio mechanical beast this season and came within 9 rushing yards of breaking Eric Dickerson's single season rushing record after scampering for 199 yards on the ground, but the Vikings rank last in the NFL in passing yards per
game, which will turn out to be the deciding factor tonight.
Peterson has single handily put the Vikings on his back en route to a comeback season for himself and the team, the leagues best running back and possible MVP can only take a team so far.
For the Vikings to have any chance of winning at the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field, Ponder must step up and throw the ball effectively.
I just do not see that happening.
It will be c-h-i-l-l-y at Lambeau and the Packers are close to unbeatable at home during the playoffs.
Aaron Rodgers has proven that he is the leagues top quarterback and after an early exit in the playoffs last season, the Packers are bound for a deep run in the playoffs.
The Packers have far too many lethal weapons on the offensive side of the rock and with Randall Cobb returning to the lineup, Rodgers is poised for a monster game-Rodgers threw for 365 yards and 4 touchdowns in last weeks loss to the Vikings and could very well duplicate that performance.
Cornerback Charles Woodson returns to the Packers lineup after suffering a broken collar bone on October, 21st, which will give the Packers defense a boost.
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Prediction:
Packers 31, Vikings 24
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