NFL Playoffs 2012 Schedule: Lions Vs. Saints Game to Watch Saturday [COMPLETE SCHEDULE]

By David Magee | January 06 2012 5:27 PM

The NFL playoffs 2012 schedule has been set, and the games are about to begin. The Bengals and the Texas will kick off the playoffs on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. on NBC. The big game to watch for the rest of the nation may be Saturday night, however, when the Lions go on the road with the Saints at 8 p.m. on NBC.

Reuters

The Saints' Drew Brees broke records this season. On Saturday, he hopes to beat Detroit in one of the first Wild Card weekend games at the NFL Playoff schedule 2012 begins.
REUTERS/John Sommers II

A Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader roots for the home team against the Baltimore Ravens during the first half of play of their NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati on New Year's Day. The Bengals will be playing a wild-card playoff game against the Houston Texans on Saturday.

The Lions-Saints game promises to be one of the most entertaining Wild Card weekend games in years, as the two offenses are potent -- and not afraid to use it. The Lions might be the NFL turnaround team of the year, notching 10 wins, but the Saints are still a heavy favorite, and undefeated at home this season. Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke NFL records, passing for 5,476 yards and 46 touchdowns this year.

The aim for all NFL teams in the playoffs is to make it to the Super Bow in Indianapolis on Jan. 5, but they've got to get past the early games first, and that's never easy. Anything can happen, after all, and occasionally does.

Four teams get byes in the first round, including the New England Patriots (13-3) and the Baltimore Ravens (12-4) in the AFC, and the Green Bay Packers (15-1) and San Francisco 49ers (13-3) in the NFC. The Patriots and the Packers are No. 1 seeds, so they control their own home-field destiny until the Super Bowl.

Below is the complete schedule, with game times, and broadcasting TV networks. In the divisional rounds, the top seed will play against the lowest remaining seed, while the No. 2 seeds (the Ravens in the AFC and the 49ers in the NFC) play the other remaining team.

2012 NFL Playoff Schedule (Wild Card Weekend)

AFC Playoffs

Saturday, Jan. 7

No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) at No. 3 Houston Texans (10-6), 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Sunday, Jan. 8

No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) at No. 4 Denver Broncos (8-8), 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS

NFC Playoffs

Saturday, Jan. 7

No. 6 Detroit Lions at No. 3 New Orleans Saints (13-3), 8 p.m. ET on NBC

Sunday, Jan. 8

No. 5 Atlanta Falcons at No. 4 New York Giants (9-7), 1 p.m. ET on FOX.

AFC Divisional Round