NFL Playoff Scores 2012: Giants Defeat Falcons, Creating Potential Super Bowl XXI Rematch With Broncos Down The Road

There will be no repeat of Super Bowl XXXIII in the 2012 NFL Playoffs now that the Atlanta Falcons have been eliminated from the postseason after a 24-2 loss to the New York Giants. However, a rematch of Super XXI could happen if the Denver Broncos defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon. The Broncos and the Giants faced each other in Aloha Stadium that year, which the G-Men won, 39-20.

The Giants and the Falcons initially played a tight defensive battle and entered halftime with New York in a 7-2 lead. Eli Manning was ruled to have thrown an intentional grounding pass while in the end zone, giving the Falcons its two points. Hakeem Nicks caught a four-yard pass with about three minutes left in the first half for the go-ahead score.

In the second half, Lawrence Tynes furthered the lead with a field goal, but it was Eli Manning and his receivers who took control of the game from there. Hakeem Nicks caught a 72-yard pass from Manning and was barely touched on the dash to the end zone. Mario Manningham caught 27-yard strike from Manning in the fourth quarter to put the Giants up by 22 points.

The Giants will face the Green Bay Packers next weekend.

Head over to SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

2012 NFL Playoffs Bracket: Saints, Texans First Teams To Advance

On Saturday, the first dominoes in the 2012 NFL Playoffs fell in favor of the Houston Texans and the New Orleans Saints. The Texans defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 31-10, in its first playoff game ever. Former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator and current Texans head coach Gary Kubiak now has that first win out of the way and will look to continue on to the path of success his Broncos had during the 1997 and 1998 seasons, which resulted in Super Bowl wins.

The Saints had a bit of a fight with the Detroit Lions, but they pulled away in the second half for a 45-28 victory. Drew Brees continued his masterful dominance this season with 466 passing yards and three touchdown passes. The Lions, who had made their first playoff appearance since the 1999 season, will need to regroup and plan for next season.

Here is the latest NFL Playoffs printable bracket update. The Houston Texans will visit the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday for an 11:00 a.m. MT contest on CBS. The Saints will travel for a Saturday showdown with the San Francisco 49ers at 2:30 p.m. MT for a Fox broadcast.

On Sunday we will find out if the New England Patriots host the Denver Broncos or the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Green Bay Packers will learn earlier in the day if they will host the Atlanta Falcons or the New York Giants.

Head over to SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

NFL Playoffs Scores: Saints Come Marching Home With 45-28 Victory Over Lions

The Detroit Lions saw the 2012 NFL Playoffs for just a brief moment in the grand scheme of the postseason spectacle. They lost to the New Orleans Saints on Saturday evening, 45-28. In a game that had a potential shootout, the two teams combined for 1,038 total yards of offense.

Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford went touchdown for touchdown, each throwing three in the game. However, Stafford wound up putting the ball twice into the hands of a Saints defender. Brees out threw Stafford, 466 to 380. Marques Colston and Robert Meachem finished with 120 and 111 receiving yards, respectively.

The Saints' ground game also proved pivotal as Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles combined to rush for three touchdowns and 117 yards. Stafford rushed for the Lions' lone touchdown on the ground while Kevin Jones was the team's leading rusher with 21 yards on six carries.

The Saints will travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers next week.

For more on this game, visit Lions blog Pride of Detroit and Saints blog Canal Street Chronicles. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

NFL Playoff Scores: Texans Earn First Playoff Victory With 31-10 Win

The Houston Texans made the most of their first-ever playoff appearance, as they delivered a dominant performance in a 31-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. With the win, former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak and his team advance to face the Baltimore Ravens next week.

The Texans defense was dominant in the second half, forcing Andy Dalton into two interceptions and slowing down the Cincinnati running attack. While the defense controlled the tempo, the Houston offense relied on a strong rushing game to score 2 TD's. Arian Foster scored both of his touchdowns in the final two quarters and finished the game with 153 yards on 24 carries.

With the Texans headed to Baltimore next week, the Broncos know that with a win, they will head to New England to face the Patriots. That potential matchup got even more intriguing with the news that former Denver head coach Josh McDaniels joined the New England staff for the playoff run.

For more on this game, visit Bengals blog Cincy Jungle and Texans blog Battle Red Blog. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more playoff coverage.

NFL Playoff Scores: Texans Lead Bengals At Halftime, 17-10, After Late Pick-Six

Former Denver Broncos assistant coach Gary Kubiak and his Houston Texans have found the momentum they need in the franchise's first playoff game. At halftime, the Texans lead the Cincinnati Bengals, 17-10. Rookie defensive lineman J.J. Watt picked off rookie quarterback Andy Dalton with about a minute left on the clock in the second quarter and returned it for a 29-yard touchdown. Watt got separation from his offensive lineman and jumped in front of Dalton's pass for the score. The Texans had its first lead of the game not even a minute after they had tied the game on a Neil Rackers 39-yard field goal.

The Bengals had scored first with a Cedric Benson touchdown run in the first quarter, but Arian Foster answered two minutes later with his own rushing touchdown. Mike Nugent put the Bengals in the lead midway through the second quarter.

If the Texans wins, the Denver Broncos, should they win, would face the New England Patriots in the next round. If the Bengals come back for the win, Denver would travel to face the Baltimore Ravens.

For more on this game, visit Bengals blog Cincy Jungle and Texans blog Battle Red Blog. Head over to SB Nation NFL for more playoff coverage.

2012 AFC Wild Card: Cincinnati Bengals Vs. Houston Texans

The 2012 NFL Playoffs begin with a showcase of rookie quarterbacks between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans. Who will come out on top: Andy Dalton or T.J. Yates?