NFL playoff picks and analysis

AFC
#6 Kansas City Chiefs (9-7) at #3 Indianapolis Colts (12-4)
Saturday, January 6th, 4:30 PM on NBC
Prediction: Chiefs 34 Colts 30
Analysis: How the Chiefs got into the playoffs, I don't know. The football gods were definitely with them in week 17. But, they're in, and that's all that matters. The Colts have been struggling for the past five weeks. They have gone 2-3 in that span, including a 44-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and a 27-24 loss to the Houston Texans. Indianapolis has also allowed 100+ yards rushing in every single game this season and has the worst run defense in the NFL, which spells disaster against one of the best halfbacks in the game in Kansas City's Larry Johnson. Johnson rushed for 1,789 yards this season, and he compiled 138 yards and three touchdowns in the Chiefs' final regular season game of the year, a 35-30 win over Jacksonville. The Chiefs, like the Colts, finished 2-3 in their last five games, but have won their last two. The Colts and Chiefs met back in the 2003-2004 playoffs, a game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City that Indianapolis won 38-31. However, Kansas City did not have Johnson running the football that year, and that makes this game an entirely different situation. Granted, the Chiefs don't exactly have what you would call a strong defense, but it is better than Indianapolis'. Considering Johnson set an NFL record with 416 carries this season, expect him to get the ball at least 35 times against the Colts on Saturday. The Chiefs win a shoot-out in Indianapolis.

#5 New York Jets (10-6) at #4 New England Patriots (12-4)
Sunday, January 7th, 1:00 PM on CBS
Prediction: Jets 20 Patriots 23
Analysis: Both of these teams come into this game on a roll, each winners of three straight. The last time these two teams met was in New England on November 12th, a 17-14 Jets' victory. However, the playoffs are an entirely different animal for the Patriots, winners of three of the last five Super Bowls. They have flown under the radar for the entire season, completely hung out to dry behind the San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Ravens despite a 12-4 campaign. Expect Tom Brady and New England to be ready for a fourth championship run. No matter what happens in this game, it's been a magical season for Eric Mangini and the Jets, who were expected by most experts to win five games maximum. Everybody knows that Mangini will have the Jets come to play this Sunday. They will play their scrappy brand of football that the rest of the NFL knows them for. The only game that they were never seriously in was a 41-0 loss to the Jaguars way back on October 8th. The Patriots and Jets split their two meetings this year. New England topped the Jets back in week two, but not without a scare, as they nearly blew a 24-0 lead, but held on to win 24-17. Expect New York to mix up the running game with Leon Washington, Cedric Houston, and Kevan Barlow, and anticipate short but efficient passes from Comeback Player of the Year candidate Chad Pennington. In the end, I think the Patriots will win this one, but the Jets will not go down without a fight.

NFC
#6 New York Giants (8-8) at #3 Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
Sunday, January 7th, 4:30 PM on FOX
Prediction: Giants 27 Eagles 17
Analysis: The Giants and Eagles both come into this game seemingly going in different directions. Philadelphia has won five straight while the Giants went 2-6 in their last eight games, becoming the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs after losing six of their last eight contests. However, Tiki Barber and the Giants feel they have some momentum to build on after their 34-28 win over Washington in week 17, as Barber rushed for a franchise-record 234 yards and career-best three scores. Jeff Garcia and the Eagles hope to squelch any momentum New York might be carrying into this game. Garcia is 5-1 as a starter and has posted a 96.2 passer rating in six-and-a-half games, and I say six-and-a-half because he stepped in for the injured Donovan McNabb halfway through the game back on November 19th in a loss to the Tennessee Titans. The two teams split their two meetings this season, the Giants rallying from a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Eagles 30-24 in overtime back in week two, and the Eagles defeating the Giants 36-22 back on December 17th. Look for new Giants' play-caller Kevin Gilbride to make Barber the focal part of the offense and make sure he gets 25+ touches to try and take advantage of Philadelphia's suspect run defense. Also look for a good dose of Plaxico Burress against Philadelphia's smallish defensive backs. The last time these two teams met in the playoffs was in the 2000-2001 season, when the Giants dominated the Eagles in a 20-10 victory in the Divisional Round en route to a Super Bowl appearance. However, much has changed in the past six years, and each teams field nearly entirely different squads. It should be a good one in a clash between two bitter NFC East rivals, but the Giants take it with an outstanding peformance by Barber and the defense.

#5 Dallas Cowboys (9-7) at #4 Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Saturday, January 6th, 8:00 PM on NBC
Prediction: Cowboys 13 Seahawks 27
Analysis: After it looked like the Cowboys had locked up the NFC East after defeating the Giants back on December 3rd to improve their record to 8-4, things have spiraled downward ever since. The week after the big win, Dallas was blown out in their own backyard by the New Orleans Saints, 42-17. Drew Brees threw for 386 yards and five touchdowns on the Cowboys' ailing secondary. When things looked like they were getting better after a 38-28 win over the lifeless Atlanta Falcons, everything went right back down the tube. With an opportunity to clinch the NFC East on Christmas Day, Dallas was downed by the Eagles 23-7, and the game was never close. This led to Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn both complaining about them not getting the ball enough. It also led to cornerback Terence Newman calling out unspecified players not doing their jobs, but most figure that he was referring to Owens. Tony Romo has also come back down to earth, throwing eight interceptions in his final five games. The 'Boys then capped their season with a demoralizing loss at home, again, to the 2-13 (now 3-13) Detroit Lions, 39-31. Not only did the Lions come in to the game with two wins, but they were also winless on the road...that is, until they walked into Texas Stadium. The Cowboys finished the season on a three-game home losing streak, leaving Bill Parcells and crew wondering what happened. The Seahawks come into this game in a similar situation, as they also lost three of their last four to end the season. However, it was in entirely different fashion, as Seattle, unlike Dallas, closed out their season in style with a 23-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They also didn't get annihilated in any of their three losses like the Cowboys did twice. The defending NFC champion Seahawks are a dangerous team, largely in part to their potentially explosive offense. Look for Matt Hasselbeck to throw all over a Cowboys' secondary that is among the NFL's worst. Also, keep an eye on Shaun Alexander, as he may have a big day against a Dallas defense that is struggling in all facets. I have Seattle winning this game by two touchdowns, but it won't even be that close in reality (and I'm not talking about the score).