Superbowl XLV Predictions: The Road To a Championship

It's playoff time in the National Football League and all of us fans are anxious to see what will happen within the next few weeks. I decided to break down the AFC and the NFC and let you know who i believe will be representing each conference in Dallas and who will come out with the most coveted trophy in all of sports. PLEASE COMMENT!!!!!!!

NFC Wildcard Round: Saints vs. Seahawks

Saints (11-5) at Seahawks (7-9). Sounds like a joke right? Well its not, the Seahawks are NFC west champions for the first time since 2007 and are the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record, and yet they are hosting the defending Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints. Many say a Saturday afternoon date across the country could get inside the heads of the Saints. I disagree. This game will be dominated by the defending champions on both sides of the ball. The Seahawks will get a heavy dose of Drew Brees and the Saints will march on to the next round.

AFC Wildcard Round: Jets vs. Colts

Jets (11-5) at Colts (10-6). Gang green came into 2010 with the mindset of nothing less than a Super Bowl. They were the offseason champions with big pickups like LT, Jason Taylor, and Santonio Holmes. The Jets got off to a fast start and looked to be like the team to beat in early November. A few losses where Mark Sanchez didn't perform up to par exposed the Jets and Darelle Revis was the only thing not being thrown to on the defensive side of the ball. The Colts are the reigning AFC champions and came into the season with no doubt they would repeat that action. They learned quickly that they weren't the cream of the crop anymore, but Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning and got his team to the postseason once again. The Jets are stacked on the defensive side of the ball and have a stellar running game. The Colts struggle on the defensive side and have no running game. Home field advantage is key in this football game. Peyton Manning cannot lose a prime time game on a Saturday night on his home field. Colts win a close one and move on.

AFC Wildcard Round: Ravens vs. Chiefs

Ravens (12-4) at Chiefs (10-6). The Chiefs shocked us all this season and edged out the division dominators as of late in the Chargers. They proved they can run a balanced offense and are a tough team to beat at home. The Baltimore Ravens did not disappoint in their 2010 campaign by winning 12 games, their first time doing so since 2006. The Ravens are going to get to Cassel in this game. They are going to force a few turnovers and do what they do best on offense: run the football. This game has the potential to be the biggest blowout of Wild Card Weekend but I believe Kansas City makes a game out of it and Baltimore wins a close one at Arrowhead.

NFC Wildcard Round: Packers vs. Eagles

Packers (10-6) at Eagles (10-6) This game has the potential to be the most intriguing matchup of the weekend. The Packers come soaring in as the hottest team in the NFC, while the Eagles have been removed from that title, and are now losers of two in a row. Vick and company basically received a bye week last week due to having nothing to play for and should be healthy enough for a deep playoff run. The Packers will look at the Vikings' tape and see how they stopped the Eagles potent offense. They will bring Woodson early and often but I believe the Eagles will pick up on it and advance into the the next round in what promises to be a shootout between two truly gifted quarterbacks. Eagles win a close one at home.

AFC Divisional Round: Colts vs. Steelers

Colts (11-6) at Steelers (12-4). The Colts come rolling in off a big win against the Jets from Wild Card Weekend but the Steelers should be healthy and ready to go with that first round bye. This game excites me because Peyton Manning always shows up against Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh has the right tools on offense to beat the Colts. Too much Big Ben, too much Mendenhall. Steelers advance to the AFC championship game.

NFC Divisional Round: Saints vs. Falcons

Saints (11-6) at Falcons (13-3). Both times these teams have hooked up this year they treated you. This one will not disappoint either. Matt Ryan gives the Falcons reason to believe in life after Vick, as he has them hosting the NFC playoffs. The Saints are the defending Super Bowl champions and are peaking at the right time. The Falcons want this game more though. It will again be a close game and a Drew Brees interception does it for the Falcons and takes them to the NFC Championship.

NFC Divisional Round: Eagles vs. Bears

Eagles (11-6) at Bears (11-5). This game also has potential to be spectacular. You have the NFL's most explosive offense against the NFC's top defense. Michael Vick was beaten to death in the first meeting and still only lost a five point contest at Soldier Field. The Bears have shocked everyone and Jay Cutler is playing the best ball of his career. In what I expect to be another close game. Vick goes home to Atlanta for the NFC championship against the Falcons.

AFC Divisional Round: Ravens vs. Patriots

Ravens (13-4) at Patriots (14-2). These two teams met early in the season, and Brady led the Patriots back from a 13 point deficit in the fourth quarter to a victory in overtime. But these are changed Ravens since then. They can run the football and are gaining confidence in Flacco every week. But Tom Brady is the golden boy. He will light up the Ravens secondary and cruise to the AFC championship game to host the Steelers.

NFC Championship: Eagles vs. Falcons

Eagles (12-6) at Falcons (14-3). What a story. Vick comes home for the NFC championship game. Vick has been the biggest story of the NFL season. And he's not stopping here. He goes to his old house and beats his old team in dominating fashion. Eagles go to Dallas.

AFC Championship: Steelers vs. Patriots

Steelers (13-4) at Patriots (15-2). What more can you ask for? Steelers-Patriots is the dream AFC title game. They are by far the two best teams in the AFC and have proved it week in and week out. It's the Patriots great offense against the Steelers stingy defense. Advantage goes to the home team. Brady meets Vick in the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XLV: Eagles Vs. Patriots

Eagles (13-6) vs. Patriots (16-2). Was this what everyone was hoping for? The two top offenses in the NFL square off in a rematch from Super Bowl XXXIX. Tom Brady will get his numbers and have a huge game, but Vick has his day with the Patriots defense and gets the Eagles their first Super Bowl championship in Dallas. 27-24 Eagles. Super Bowl MVP Michael Vick. Bring on the haters.