Predictions for Today's NFL Playoff Games

AFC
Houston Texans (3rd Seed) at New England Patriots (2nd Seed)
Parker's pick: Houston Texans
My pick: New England Patriots
Houston stumbled down the stretch but Matt Schaub was able to win his first playoff game last week. The Texans will need to establish Arian Foster early and often in this game. Their defense must improve and WR Andre Johnson needs a big game to avoid a repeat of the regular season matchup between these teams.
New England continues an unbelievable run of winning at least 10 games in a season. The receivers may change but Tom Brady is still critical to the success of the Patriots pass happy offense. The Pats defense is improved over last year.

NFC
Seattle Seahawks (5th Seed) vs. Atlanta Falcons (1st Seed)
Parker's pick: Seattle Seahawks
My pick: Seattle Seahawks
Playing against a schedule of weaker competition, many continue to expect the Falcons to fade. They played well enough though to secure the top seed in the NFC. Matt Ryan needs to win a playoff game to secure a spot as an elite NFL quarterback. A large dose of RB Michael Turner would help extend the career of hall-of-famer-to-be TE Tony Gonzalez.
The Seahawks have traveled cross-country and back on successive weekends; their coordinators are interviewing for NFL head coaching vacancies; and their top pass rusher is out of this game. But they still have the surprising rookie QB Russell Wilson, the pounding running of Marshawn Lynch, and a defense that shuts down and punishes teams.