NFL Divisional Playoffs: Fearless Forecast

Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints  - 34-27. The Saints come into this game well rested, and having lost their last three games of the season after being 13-0. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are fresh off an overtime victory over the Packers that featured all offense, but ironically enough, defense won the game.

The Cardinals are the defending NFC champions, and led by Kurt Warner, they will be no easy out for any team. This is one of the best quarterback matchups of the season with Warner dueling Drew Brees. In the end, I like the Saints to pull it out at home and advance to the NFC championship game.

Baltimore Ravens  at Indianapolis Colts - 20-17. The Colts took a lot of heat the last two weeks of the season after they decided to sit their starters and not go for a perfect regular season. All that will be forgotten if they can win the Super Bowl. However, their first task is to play a Ravens team hungry for revenge, and who have come off a dominating win over the New England Patriots. The Ravens will try to control the tempo of the game by running the ball, as they did last week. If the Colts can stop the run, they will win this one. If not, they are in trouble. I'm going with the Ravens in the upset.

Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings - 24-17. The Cowboys are the hottest team in the NFL right now, and are fresh off dominating the Eagles not once, but twice. Tony Romo is playing the best football of his career and the defense continues to play great. The Vikings, led by the ageless wonder Brett Favre ended the season on a high note by crushing the Giants to hold onto the second seed and get a first round bye. As long as the Cowboys continue to play how they've been playing, they will win this game. It's that simple. I like the Cowboys in this one, and Brett Favre's Super Bowl bid to fall short, leaving us with another offseason of him contemplating retirement.

New York Jets at San Diego Chargers  - 20-13. The Chargers, after starting out 2-3, won their remaining 11 games, and seem untouchable right now while the Jets had a see-saw season and were able to sneak into the playoffs late. The Chargers should not overlook this Jets team however. Mark Sanchez was impressive in his first playoff start, and the defense is the best in the NFL. The Chargers will win this game, but it won't be easy as Philip Rivers advances his team to the AFC Championship.