Bengals at Texans

Time: 4:30 p.m. Saturday (NBC).

Line: Texans by 4 1/2.

About the Bengals (10-6): Have earned back-to-back playoff berths for first time since 1981-82. Last playoff win was against Houston in January 1991. … A.J. Green had 1,350 receiving yards and tied for fourth in NFL with 11 TD receptions. … Defense ranked third in sacks with 51 and third in AFC overall, allowing 319.7 ypg. … BenJarvus Green-Ellis seventh in AFC with 1,094 rush yards. … QB Andy Dalton is 19-13 as a starter.

About the Texans (12-4): Won last year’s wild-card matchup against same Bengals 31-10. And that was with T.J. Yates filling in at quarterback for Houston. … Lost three of last four to fall from No. 1 seed to No. 3. Matt Schaub had one TD pass and three INTs in those four. … DE J.J. Watt led NFL with 20.5 sacks, two shy of league record. … Andre Johnson led AFC with career-high 1,598 receiving yards but had only four TDs. … Most important: Arian Foster was second in AFC with 1,424 rushing yards, 15 TDs.

Prediction: Bengals, 20-17. Cincy improved enough over the course of the season, particularly on defense, to be up to the challenge against fading Texans.

Vikings at Packers

Time: 8 p.m. Saturday (NBC).

Line: Packers by 7 1/2.

About the Vikings (10-6): Adrian Peterson has rushed for at least 175 yards four times against the Packers, including both meetings this season (210 and 199). … Reached playoffs by beating Packers 37-34 last week. … Finished the season with four straight wins after 6-6 start. … Christian Ponder has no INTs in last three games. … TE Kyle Rudolph led team with nine TD catches.

About the Packers (11-5): Have won five of last six vs. Vikings. … In last five vs. Vikes, Aaron Rodgers has 16 TDs vs. one INT and has completed 74.7 percent of his passes for 132.5 rating. … Safety Charles Woodson expected back after nine-game absence (collarbone). … Team’s .630 postseason win percentage (29-17) best in NFL. … WR James Jones led NFL with career-high 14 receiving TDs.

Prediction: Packers, 27-17. Memories of last year’s home collapse vs. New York Giants are too fresh for Rodgers to let it happen again.

Colts at Ravens

Time: 1 p.m. Sunday (CBS).

Line: Ravens by 6 1/2.

About the Colts (11-5): Have won six of last seven meetings. … Coach Chuck Pagano was Ravens’ D-coordinator in 2011 and was secondary coach for three seasons before that. … Colts ended regular season hot, winning nine of last 11. … Andrew Luck passed for most yards by a rookie (4,374) and had seven game-winning drives in fourth quarter, most by any QB since 1970. … WR Reggie Wayne fifth in NFL with 83 postseason receptions.

About the Ravens (10-6): In playoffs for fifth straight year. … LB Ray Lewis expected to return for playoffs before retiring. … Joe Flacco first QB to start a postseason game in each of his first five seasons in Super Bowl era. … RB Ray Rice reached 1,600 scrimmage yards (1,621) for fourth straight season. … LB Terrell Suggs tied for seventh all-time with 10 postseason sacks. … Kick returner Jacoby Jones led NFL with 30.7 average.

Prediction: Ravens, 27-21. Luck has more than held his own under the bright lights so far, but winning on the road in the playoffs is a bit too much to ask.

Seahawks at Redskins

Time: 4:30 p.m. Sunday (Fox).

Line: Seahawks by 3.

About the Seahawks (11-5): Have won five in a row, outscoring opponents 193-60, and finished 8-0 at home. (But they were only 3-5 on road). … Russell Wilson tied Peyton Manning’s record for TD passes by a rookie with 26. Wilson’s 115.2 rating in December was best in NFL. … Marshawn Lynch was third in NFL with 1,590 rush yards. … Have won first playoff game in each of last four postseason appearances.

About the Redskins (10-6): Won last seven to earn first NFC East title (and home playoff game) since 1999. … Robert Griffin III set rookie record with 102.4 passer rating while completing 65.6 percent of his passes … Alfred Morris rushed for team-record 1,613 yards, third most by rookie in NFL history. … Pierre Garcon has 21 catches for 329 yards (109.7 average) in three playoff games. … LB London Fletcher has five INTs, a career high at age 37.

Prediction: Seahawks, 21-17. Matchup of rookie phenom QBs make this most intriguing matchup of the weekend, but Seahawks’ D is too good even for RGIII’s magic.

Brian Biggane, Palm Beach Post