NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

It's not exactly an offensive explosion, but the tensions are high and Cincinnati and Houston are slugging it out for the right to advance in the NFL playoffs 2012. It's the first NFL playoff game, and former President George Bush and his wife, Barbara, are on hand in Houston for the big event.

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien is the new head coach of Penn State football team. Bill O'Brien is the fifteenth head coach of Nittany Lions in its storied 125 history, according to a press release from the team.

The Cincinnati Bengals will face the Houston Texans in the AFC wild card round on Saturday at Reliant Stadium. Both teams, who have never faced each other in the postseason, will be riding the coattails of rookie quarterbacks looking to lead the way to the Super Bowl.

The Detroit Lions (10-6) are finally back in the playoffs, but have a tough task ahead of them as they face the New Orleans Saints (13-3) at the Superdome in the Big Easy 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.

Two rookie quarterbacks duel in the Lone Star State.

The commentator and former Buccaneers coach made a big gaffe at the Clemson-West Virginia Orange Bowl when he mistook a photo of the First Lady for a picture of ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters (watch here). Nor was Gruden's flub the only awkward moment: Darwin Cook plowed into the Orange Bowl mascot and only later realized that Obie was a girl.

You don't need a ticket to Super Bowl 2012 to experience the excitement in Indianapolis.

Advertising packages reportedly sold for six-figures or low seven-figures, a far cry from the $3.5 million it costs for a 30-second slot on TV.

Suggs also blasted Tebow’s well known religious activities on the playing field.

The Detroit Lions will face the New Orleans Saints in the NFC wild card round on Saturday at the Superdome. Both teams have never faced each other in the postseason, but both have proven they can score points in what should be a shootout.

Barry Sanders, the former Detroit Lions running back who has shied away from the media spotlight since stunning the NFL world by retiring in 1999, will meet with the media next week in Detroit to promote Nissan's ventures at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.

The safety has a blood disorder that can be affected by thin air.

Chicago finished the season with an 8-8 record.

The Atlanta Falcons will face the New York Giants in the NFC wild card round next Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Both teams have never faced each other in the postseason and are looking to accomplish more than they did last season with a win.

Denver and Cincinnati were considered longshots to make the postseason.

Indianapolis finished the season with just two wins.

Nearly 50,000 hockey fans filled Citizens Bank Park.

Chicago Bears fans rejoiced this morning after general manager Jerry Angelo was ousted from Halas Hall. Fans of the Monsters of the Midway complained about Angelo's often questionable decisions regarding free agency and the team, which most recently took form in Angelo's resistance against signing Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte to a long-term deal.

Quarterback Andrew Luck played his last game for the Stanford Cardinals Monday night in a 41-38 overtime loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Fiesta Bowl, and is widely expected to be the number one overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

The 2012 NFL Playoffs are poised to begin -- the field is set and games will start on Jan. 7 with Wild Card matchups culminating with the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 in Indianapolis.