Didinger's divisional round scouting report

Breaking down this weekends NFL Divisional playoffs round:Baltimore at Denver(Saturday, 4:30 p.m., CBS)Key stat: The Broncos have scored at least 30 points in 11 games this season. One of those games was a 34-17 win over Baltimore last month.Hot and cold: Peyton Manning did not play in the elements very often when he was with Indianapolis, a dome team. In Denver, he has to play in the cold so he now wears a glove on his passing hand. It doesnt seem to be a problem. In two games with the glove, he has thrown for 643 yards and six touchdowns.Momentum: It is all on the Denver side. The Broncos have won 11 games in a row and none of the last four have been decided by fewer than 13 points.Intangibles: Manning has won his last nine starts against the Ravens.Player to watch: Anquan Boldin came up big for Baltimore in the wild-card win over Indianapolis. He had five catches for 145 yards and one touchdown.Prediction: The final showdown between Manning and Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis makes this compelling theatre but I dont think it will be a real competitive game. The Broncos have too much for the erratic Ravens.Broncos 30, Ravens 17Green Bay at San Francisco(Saturday, 8 p.m., FOX)Key stat: Frank Gore is the 49ers' all-time leader in rushing attempts (1,911) and touchdowns (51), but he has been held below 100 yards rushing in each of the last nine games.Hot and cold: Ex-Eagle David Akers was so unreliable this season (29 for 42 on field goal attempts) that 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh brought in another kicker, Billy Cundiff, last week. Harbaugh said Thursday that Akers had a good week of practice and he would handle the kicking duties in this game. The coach said it was unlikely that Cundiff would be activated.Momentum: The Packers have won 10 of their last 12 games, including last weeks wild-card victory over Minnesota. They are getting healthier on defense with end C.J. Wilson, linebacker Clay Matthews and cornerback Charles Woodson returning to the lineup.Intangibles: How will young quarterback Colin Kaepernick handle the pressure of the postseason? When the 49ers defeated Green Bay in Week 1, 30-22, Alex Smith was running the offense.Player to watch: You cannot overstate the importance of Justin Smith to the 49ers' defense. He missed three games with a torn triceps muscle and Aldon Smith (19 sacks) went sackless because teams shifted more blockers to his side. If Justin Smith cant play -- or plays but is ineffective -- it will make life much easier for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.Prediction: The Packers were my preseason pick to win the Super Bowl so I might as well ride them for another week. Rodgers postseason history (105.4 passer rating, .714 winning percentage) gives him the edge over Kaepernick.Packers 27, 49ers 24Seattle at Atlanta(Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)Key stat: Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan set franchise records this season for passing yards (4,719), passes without an interception (272) and 300-yard games (seven). But the only record anyone will talk about this weekend is his postseason record (0-3). He has to end that losing streak.Hot and cold: After struggling on the road earlier this season, Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson has really improved. In his last four road games, the rookie passed for six touchdowns with no interceptions.Momentum: The Seahawks have it rolling, especially on defense. No opponent has scored more than 17 points in a game against them since Nov. 25.Intangibles: This will be the second cross-country flight for the Seahawks in less than two weeks. Also, the 1 p.m. kickoff in Atlanta makes it more difficult for a team from the West Coast. It could be a factor playing against a well-rested Falcons team.Player to watch: Marshawn Lynch is the kind of strong downhill runner who could give Atlantas smallish defense problems. The Falcons allowed opponents to average a fat 4.8 yards per carry. If Lynch has a big game, Seattle can control the clock and keep Atlantas offense off the field.Prediction: There still are a lot of people who dont believe in the Falcons because of their lousy postseason record. I actually think they are going to use the no-respect thing as a rallying point and break the spell with a hard-fought win.Falcons 23, Seahawks 17
Houston at New England(Sunday, 4:30 p.m., CBS)
Key stat: The Patriots are 9-2 at home in the playoffs since 2002.Hot and cold: Bill Belichick has repaired some of the leaks in his defense. The Patriots allowed 38 plays of 20 or more yards in the first half of the season. They cut that number to 28 in the second half.Momentum: The Patriots finished the regular season on a roll, winning 10 of their last 11 games.Intangibles: The Texans are big underdogs but they may have history on their side. The Patriots' last six playoff losses were rematches of regular season games. The Texans met the Patriots just last month and were mauled, 42-14. Will the rematch be any different?Player to watch: Houstons J.J. Watt proved again last week against Cincinnati that he is the most disruptive defensive player in the game (20 sacks in the regular season). For the Texans to have any chance Sunday, he has to get to Tom Brady early and often.Prediction: Houston struggled to put away the Bengals last week. The offense cant finish drives and cant convert in the red zone. The Texans cant keep pace with the high-powered Patriots.Patriots 34, Texans 20
E-mail Ray Didinger at viewfromthehall@comcast.net.