NFL Playoffs 2011: Predicting Winners For Every Divisional Playoff Game

The NFL playoffs are in full-tilt boogie mode and this weekend it gets really, really good.

Is there anything better?

We're now down to the final eight and this is when the going gets tough. So let's see who are the toughest, let's get right to it.

Saturday, January 15

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (4:30 CBS)

Could there possibly be a better game to get our playoff weekend started? Somebody ask Stone Cold Steve Austin to give us a "Oh Hell No!" to that.

This is what playoff football is all about. It's the third meeting between these two AFC North rivals. Nothing to hide here. As Mike Tomlin says "we know them and they know us." What the rest of us know is that the two premier defensive teams in the AFC, if not the entire NFL, will be on display and that means hard hitting and lots of it. Someone needs to take Roger Goodell and his henchmen to a Broadway play or something else during this time slot. The heck with these fines for playing the game the way it has been played the last 60 years or so.

It's not all defense either. You have two offenses that can take advantage of good field position when the defense creates a turnover. And don't forget the special teams. When these guys duke it out, the score won't be high, which means a big special teams play can determine the outcome.

The Ravens were impressive last week and Pittsburgh should have its key players back with the good fortune of a bye week.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 23, Baltimore 20 in overtime.

Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons (8 p.m. FOX)

Really intriguing NFC match up. You have the Wild Card Packers and the top-seeded Falcons, two nice quarterbacks—Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers—and two good defenses, although the Pack might have the nod on that side of the football.

Offensively, Atlanta might be a little stronger which means that once again, special teams could determine the outcome of this one.

The noise factor will be huge in the Georgia Dome, advantage Atlanta.

You can't ignore Matty Ice's home record. His business card tells us he's 19-1 in the Dome. Tough to go against him.

Prediction: Atlanta 21, Green Bay 17

Sunday, January 16 

Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears (1 p.m. FOX)

Okay, so form says watch for a blowout in this one. Maybe, maybe not.

The fact is Seattle wasn't a very good road team and wasn't considered a good team at all until they lambasted the Saints last week. Seattle took good advantage of its loud stadium and Matt Hasselbeck simply played his best game of the year.

Not sure the Chicago defense is going to allow the Seahawks to have the kind of day they had against New Orleans.

Look for the Bears to play Bears football, heavy on defense with a good dose of running and a lot of Devin Hester in the return game.

The Bears should dominate.

Prediction: Chicago 24, Seattle 10

New York Jets at New England Patriots (4:30 p.m. CBS)

Nothing better than a good rematch, is there?

Now Rex Ryan's mouth continues to write a lot of checks and it will be tough to cash them in Foxboro. Ryan's even gotten after Tom Brady and not sure that's something you'd want to do.

To have a chance at the upset, the Jets will have to bring their A-plus game to this battle.

Huge advantage at quarterback for the Patriots. Tom Brady is pure gold, especially at home. The Jets better play great defense and come up with a huge running game to keep this one close, otherwise Ryan will have his butt hanging out there in the cold New England winds.

Too much Brandy and not enough Sanchez.

Prediction: New England 28, New York 17

And that is how the eight will become four.

So throw some steaks on the grill, bust out the wings and cold adult beverages of your choice.

It should be a great weekend no matter who wins.