Any insights to the games ? I feel they are both going under?
AFC Game 41. Minus 21 pts. NE gift wrapped Denver they were'nt impressive. Pitts D is SMOKIN hot. Moving the offense well, but Denver is a top d also. I think the line is right on

NFC Game 43 1/2 . Can the Panthers keep it together for 3 road games, I don't feel they can. Seattle D gets no respect. I think they hold Smith in somewhat check and keep them off the board for the most part and pull it off.

One of the road teams are taking one outright, the question is which one?

Den vs Pitt = UNDER 41. The D# on both sides is great. I don't see much scoring happening here.

Sea vs Car = OVER 43.5. Both teams are aggressive and move the ball well. This game should easily go over.

SEATTLE/CAROLINA: I'm wondering if Shaun Alexander will be 100% and wonder whether Hasselbeck will come up so big in two playoff games in a row if Alexander doesn't take over the game.

Seattle's defense has shown improvement late in the year, but I expect a game where they fall apart under pressure. Carolina did the same to the Bears last weekend, which was a far better defense than Seattle (on paper). Seattle collected the most sacks of any team this year, but that was probably a product of being ahead all of the time. They were also the 25th rated pass defense, once again an indication that opponents were behind and had to pass against them, but a good sign for Steve Smith this week.

I'm tired of picking against the Panthers and think they have the experience to come up big here. Losing Foster might hurt, but Goings did fine last year as the starting runner. If Delhomme can avoid the turnovers, the Panthers should roll.

DENVER/PITTSBURG: I've underestimated the Broncos all year. I looked at them and thought, "It's the same offense as last year. Jake Plummer is still the main man. The defense is improved only by a bunch of retreads from Cleveland." But Denver seems to have figured it out, mostly because Plummer seems to have and the defense has played lights out.

I fully expected to see the Colts run through Pittsburg and Denver. Both teams love to blitz, which used to mean Manning would have a huge day. Now we have two teams that will bring the house to pressure the quarterback today. Whichever QB handles the pressure better will win. How each team will try to handle the pressure is somewhat similar. I see both trying to establish the run, then move to play action.

In the end, the Broncos are at home. The Steelers are super hot, but Denver seems to sneak up on everybody this year. Runs like this usually come to an abrupt end. So mostly, I'm picking the home team who had the extra weeks rest recently. Heaven help me, but I'm picking Jake Plummer to lead his team to the Super Bowl.