NFL 2008 Divisional Playoffs

Tom Landry once said, "Just get into the playoffs and from there anything can happen."

The immortal Cowboys coach knew a thing or two about the playoffs winning twenty post-season games which is still the NFL record. He also preached the critical point that you need to be hitting on all cylinders when the playoffs arrive.

The eight teams left in the 2008 Tournament are comprised of squads who either played on all cylinders for most of the season earning first round byes or teams who timed it just right to be playing their best football in December and are riding that swelling wave of momentum heading into 2009.

NY, Carolina, Pittsburgh, and Tennessee each struggled for a few games this year, but that ended up being like a speed bump in their journey to January.

Philadelphia, Arizona, Baltimore, and San Diego represent those franchises who reached deep into their guts as players and as a team and pulled up an unquenching thirst and hunger to consume anything that got in their way to winning.

It's interesting that all eight teams, either all season and/or in the past few weeks, have displayed colossal running attacks and suffocating run defenses.

Including John Harbaugh, the rookie head coach of Baltimore who carries himself like a veteran, each of the Elite Eight are led by coaches whose presence is so commanding in a locker room that shower heads will turn off by themselves when they enter. They are each brilliant and vibrant; their players will sacrifice their careers for them and their teammates.

I don't know about you, but these are the kinds of teams I want to watch, and who I think deserve to contend for a Super Bowl title.

Anything can happen in the playoffs so strap yourself in and be ready to watch these well-deserving teams wage war.

- Baltimore Ravens (12-5) at Tennessee Titans (13-3): CBS, 4:30pm EST, Saturday - Nastiness reigns throughout both of these defenses. They have each caused havoc all year long and have carried a "chip on their shoulder" attitude. On offense, both teams have explosive running attacks but don't raise anyone's skirt with their passing game. If each team is unable to run the ball effectively, then the edge goes to Baltimore who has a stronger arm in rookie Joe Flacco vs. the elder Kerry Collins. The Ravens are fiery hot right now, but the Titans are well rested, getting healthy, and coach Jeff Fisher has far more experiences at these rodeos. A Ravens win won't surprise me, but it's hard to against Tennessee at home where they have lost only once this season.

- Arizona Cardinals (10-7) at Carolina Panthers (12-4): FOX, 8:15pm EST, Saturday - The Cardinals have been one of the NFL's really inspiring stories this season. They decided during pre-season to stop the Matt Leinart Experiment and stick with the grizzled veteran Kurt Warner. That move has paid off huge as Warner has stayed healthy and helped engineer one of the best passing offenses in the league. This one-dimensional element just might not be enough in Carolina as the Cardinals are 0-5 on the East Coast this year. They must stop the Panthers' dynamic running attack and create turnovers to give them a chance vs. this Carolina team which is just too balanced to crumble at home where they are 8-0.

- Philadelphia Eagles (10-6-1) at NY Giants (12-4): FOX, 1pm EST, Sunday - It's so true that anything can happen in the playoffs, but you can't turn a deaf ear to the inconceivable events that can occur during the regular season. Just ask Philly. They were 5-5-1 in Week 12 after a blowout loss to Baltimore. Donovan McNabb was benched in the second half, and Eagles fans wanted him and Andy Reid to catch the next bus out of town. Now, after winning 5 of their last 6 games, Philly finds themselves facing the defending world champions for the third time this season. The familiarity with each other should make for a fantastic battle vs. a Giants team that has lost 3 of their last 4 contests. It's going to be frigid cold among rabid Giants fans. Can you feel the Brotherly Love?

- San Diego Chargers (9-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): CBS, 4:30pm EST, Sunday - There's nothing like a cold, snowy, evening game at Heinz Field full of Terrible Towels and screaming fans. That will be the environment that the Chargers will find themselves as they look for a way to win their third straight playoff game in Pittsburgh.The challenge will be how to penetrate this cold, steel defense. QB Philip Rivers saw this defense in Week 11, and he's been known to adjust very well to opposing defenses the second time around. But, I don't know if he can with this one. The Steelers are #1 vs. the pass and run and simply don't have a flaw anywhere. This could become Pitt's ticket to the next round especially if Roethlisberger struggles. It's been a great ride for the Chargers.

Record last week: 1-3

Record to date: 175-85