1) New England (3) - I told you the Pats would take down the Chargers. Just too much of a coaching difference, although wow did it seem like Brady was the first year QB at times. Then again, who was the QB leading the game tying drive and the game winning one down the stretch, flawlessly as always? Brady always does what he has to to win. He's now 12-1 in the playoffs, and I still say the Pats got jobbed in Denver last year. Here's another crazy stat. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are now 5-0 against #1 seeds in the playoffs. So how are the Patriots winning? They have no run game, Brady isn't playing his best ball, and the defense looked better in season then out. How are they winning? They're the Patriots. They do those little things that champions do to win. When they're down 14-3 with all the momentum against them in the world and no offense all first half, they muster together an all-you've-got drive, pull to within 14-10 at halftime, and start fresh in the second half. When it's a do or die two point conversion, the coach breaks out a brilliant direct snap that was both ballsy and perfect. Time and time again during this game, I just shook my head at the little things that make Belichick a champ and Schotty not. The Patriots knew they had this one all along. And now they go yet again to Indy, who they lost to this season and where Belichick seemed to be outcoached. Rest assured it won't happen again. I don't really give a rip what it says on paper or what stats you're going to throw at me. I will throw Belichick and Brady at you. And I will win.
2) Indianapolis (7) - Well I can safely admit that I didn't see this coming from the Colts. Where did this defense come from? I guess it was sitting in the form of Bob Sanders on the bench getting healthy. At least that's what I'm supposed to be. I'm still more inclined to believe that the Colts put everything they had to stop the run game, did so somewhat, and let the QB try to beat them for the second week in a row, and for the second week in a row, he couldn't. This week it's Brady and Belichick yet again. And while I'm impressed with the nice new run defense, the pass defense left a lot of holes, and the offense has been mediocre at best so far. Manning has a TD and five picks. That's not going to keep getting it done. With neither team showing much of a run game this playoffs, this truly may be Brady vs Manning. And for all the momentum and home field advantage the Colts seem to have, I'm still not putting them ahead of the Patriots until they actually walk off the field with a win for once in the playoffs.
3) New Orleans (4) - All aboard the Saints bandwagon! There's still spots left whether you love offense, like a feel good story, or simply can't stand the thought of any of the other remaining teams winning it all. Count me in on all three counts. That was a great win for the Saints and for the city of New Orleans, and I'm glad that it was behind a dominant Deuce performance after all he's done for the city. And that game was a lot closer than it should have been. The Saints gave up two big plays but otherwise handled the Philly offense pretty well. On offense themselves, they seemed to move the ball up and down the field pretty much at will like a well oiled machine. At this point, I say the Saints offense is playing better ball than the Bears defense, and that's why I put the Saints in the Super Bowl. Can both road teams win next week? As long as this one does, I'll be happy. New Orleans deserves this. And I already had to put up with the lame Chicago fans a couple years ago when they jumped on the White Sox bandwagon.

4) Chicago (6) - The Bears survive! At least that's how today's Trib headlines ought to read. That or else just yikes. The Seahawks are a mediocre team with a banged up quarterback that was missing its top two wideouts and top two corners, and yet they had the Bears on the ropes all game long and were literally a play away from beating them several different times. Yeah Grossman played decently, good enough to win, just like he's asked. But that defense is not so dominant, and the home field advantage wasn't much of one with 40 degree weather. The Bears peaked too early this year. The defense is not good enough anymore to win games on their own, and the offense is still not good enough to score points in college.
5) San Diego (2) - Down go the Chargers. Down go a first year quarterback and head coach Marty Schottenheimer. Forgive me if I should act surprised at all of this. LaDainian Tomlinson was ridiculous, just like he was all season. And the defense made a lot of big plays, intercepting Brady three times for the first time ever in the playoffs. But near the end of the game when the Pats were down, where was that vaunted pass rush? Brady stood in the pocket with all the time in the world picking the Chargers apart. And overall, this inexperienced team just made too many big mistakes. A couple huge penalties, a few costly turnovers and boneheaded plays. Hard not to put that one right back on the coach. It's going to be another long offseason for MartyBall.
6) Philadelphia (5) - No fanbase, particularly Philly's, will ever be "happy" when their team goes down in the playoffs without winning it all, but it's hard to be too upset with the way the Eagles finished the season. Westbrook really came into his own and the defense stepped it up, and Garcia made every play he needed to for two months, but it just wasn't enough when all was said and done. They were a big play team all season, and like I said all season, at some point that just wouldn't be enough.
7) Baltimore (1) - Baltimore's defense did everything it could have been asked for and more. They held Peyton and the most efficient offense in football to just five field goals. But in the end, one dominant side of the ball just wasn't enough for the Ravens. The offense just couldn't get the job done when it mattered most, and Steve McNair choked with two huge interceptions and basically cost the team the game. Hard to begrudge him though. The Ravens went 13-3 this year. They went 6-10 last year with essentially the same team, sans McNair. Here's guessing that, with an expected rebound from Cincy and Pitt, they're a lot closer to 6 than 13 next year.
8) Seattle (8) - It's a tough loss, but Seahawks fans knew this wasn't there year. But there were a lot of good things in that game for Seattle to build on next year, when Alexander and Hasselbeck are finally completely healthy again. It's still a pretty weak division, and this team will still be the favorite going in. And without the myriad of injuries next year, they should be back for another run next year.

No complaints, can't argue with the ranking of the Pats, but that doesn't mean I think they will win. The monkey gets kicked to the curb this weekend and Indy FINALLY escapes the demons of it's playoff past. It the year noone expected them to do it that they will ultimately get it done.

I also Love the Saints chances this weekend, you have to love this story!!!

Great job DB. Should be great games this weekend regardless and it wouldn't surprise me if these games went either way. (so much for the advantage of the 1st rd. bye in the AFC huh?)

I look forward to the Bears #2 ranking next week.

Seriously, they need better play out of their DTs and Safetys on defence. That, and / or Grossman will need to have a big day and win a shootout. The Saints D is actually very beatable, so the Bears should be able to mave the ball well.

Bad weather favours Chi obviously, but Duece looks like a tank lately and should do well against the subpar DTs. I like the disrespect that most are giving Chi keeping them the underdogs in many eyes.

What a weekend of football that was - every game was awesome drama.

lol, sorry walt. im a bears hater at heart, you know that. in a few weeks if your boys keep winning, i'll have no choice but to put them back at #1 where -- if i may remind you -- i did have them by week 3 and for quite some time after.

No problem Bomb. This team has a way of getting it done when they need to. Dont count them out.

Never doubt again Bomb!