2007 AFC Divisional Playoff Preview

Once the dust settled, the 10-foot high snowdrifts were pushed aside in Denver and the denzens of the Big Apple basked in 70 degree January temperatures-there stood only six teams in the race for the Super Bowl, the NFL's championship. And though the league-and the Denver community-receive my deepest condolensces for the untimely shooting death of Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams last Monday morning, the league and the games must go on. So here is the list of games going on during this new football season, the playoffs, in which every team remaining has a chance to go to the Super Bowl in Miami. This week I'll predict the AFC divisional playoffs.

Though the new guard is beginning to emerge from the shadows long created by teams like New England and Pittsburgh the maturation of these new teams--like San Diego and Indianapolis--is far from complete. But after the complete domination the Colts displayed in their mauling of a good, sound Kansas City Chiefs team, it looks as though Indianapolis may finally be ready to take their game to the Super Bowl. If ever there is a year for the Colts to do it, it's this year. Baltimore does not have the offense that is capable of matching Indianapolis--and the Colts defense was, stunningly, awe-inspiring at times in the Wild Card game. The hardest game Indianapolis has to play in the AFC playoffs is this week--there really is no doubt that the Ravens defense is among the best ever. If the Colts are able to get past the Ravens, then there really is no team able to stay with them.

In the case of the San Diego-New England game, it is the realization that the Chargers have a young signal-caller in Philip Rivers--and the fact he'll be harrassed by that veteran New England defense all day. The only chance the Chargers have on offense is if they can get LaDainian Tomlinson untracked early and often, not a hard thing considering he is the league MVP. However, New England has a history of playing big in the biggest games. The Patriots really are the new-generation Oakland Raiders, a team that doesn't get much respect, but that attracts the top players whose aim is to win it all. Nobody would ever mistake Tom Brady for Peyton Manning, but Brady does have a Super Bowl ring--and an intense desire for more. Though coach Marty Schottenheimer will have his San Diego team and community ready, it will be a low-scoring, plodding game, the kind that New England likes.

AFC

Indianapolis (13-4) at Baltimore (13-3)

The high-powered offense --and newly-found defense--now go on the road after destroying Kansas City 23-8 in a game that wasn't as close as the score indicated. The Chiefs star running back Larry Johnson was held to 41 yards and the Colts defense made life hard for quarterback Trent Green. Though Peyton Manning had a poor game in my estimation, he still did the things that are necessary to carry the Colts to the Super Bowl. But it will take an inspired effort to defeat the Ravens, who only lost once at home this year. The Ravens have struggled on offense all year and their defense has scored almost half of their points. So this is the litmus test for the Ravens, who not only face a talented offense but a defense that just shut down Kansas City's offense. Whoever wins the game will have to do the things on offense early on. If the Colts are able to move the ball down the field early and often on the Ravens, then Indianapolis should stand a good chance in the game. However, if the Ravens are able to impose their physical style of football on the Colts--and pound the ball on the ground while playing solid defense, then the Colts will lose. But I saw something in the Colts that I didn't expect--and that's good, physical defense. Though the game was at home, Indianapolis finally showed the kind of championship-caliber defense that it takes to win a Super Bowl. If the Colts can bring that kind of imposing, smack-'em defense to Baltimore, they have a chance. And with Manning having an off game--and still throwing for nearly 300 yards, a low game in terms of Manning's stature--it means Peyton could be due. So in the stunner of the NFL playoffs, the Colts will use their vertical passing game and stifling defense to stun, surprisingly, the team most picked to waltz into the Super Bowl.

Indianapolis 31-17

New England (13-4) at San Diego (14-2)

In the latest battle of teacher (Bill Belichick) v. pupil (Eric Mangini), the New England Patriots took the New York Jets to the classroom, placed on their skulls some dunce caps and taught them a lesson. After the Pats whacked the Jets 37-16 in a game in which New England could have easily put up 50 if they so wanted, the two coaches embraced at the middle of the field in direct contrast to their previous two meetings. So off the Patriots go to the sunny climes of San Diego--and home state to Pats signal caller Tom Brady. It is quite ridiculous to second-guess Brady, the cocky, ebullient quarterback with the kind of chip on his shoulder that comes with being a late-round draft pick. Believe me, Joe Montana can relate. And when you've always got something to prove to the detractors despite the fact you've already proven all there is to prove, you become dangerous at playoff time. Well, folks, the Chargers are about to learn that on their end a young quarterback and a veteran running back does not always equal greatness. San Diego probably still has a year to go. The guard is beginning to change in the AFC, with the youngsters like San Diego and Indianapolis beginning to gain ground on veterans like New England and Balitmore, but not yet, at least in the case of the Chargers. New England will control the time of possession, as they always do--and then throw in some Corey Dillon to offset the Chargers' talented defensive schemes. Though the battle will not be pretty--and LaDainian Tomlinson will keep things interesting--the war will be won by New England.

New England 17-13