NFL Playoffs - Divisional Matchups

Why Arizona Will Win - Kurt Warner is locked in. Anyone that doesn't believe he's a Hall of Fame QB just isn't paying attention, because Matt Leinart (a/k/a any idiot) can't play with the toys in this offense the way Warner can. The Cardinals will get Anquan Boldin back to bolster that stellar passing attack, moving the dangerous Steve Breaston to the slot. On top of that, the Redbird running game is now officially stout. Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells are providing the balance that this offense needs. Make no mistake: this team can't stop anyone, but they can score all day. If they make each game a track meet, they win.

Why New Orleans Will Win - The Saints boast an offense that is just as balanced and explosive as the Cardinals', but with a better defense to back them up. Drew Brees does not take a back seat to Warner as the director of this point machine, and he has just as many weapons on his side. The difference here will be the defense. If the Saints D can get the occasional crucial stop, just enough to provide a cushion, the offense can match the Cardinals score for score and simply outlast them.

Van's Prediction - Arizona 38, New Orleans 33
It Sez So Right Here - Reggie Bush makes a crucial turnover that costs them the game.

Baltimore at Indianapolis

Why Baltimore Will Win - Last week, near the end of the first half, New England had scored and pinned Baltimore deep within their own territory. If they'd forced a three-and-out, they might have had a chance to score again before the half, and that likely would have changed the complexion of the whole game. Undeterred, Joe Flacco walked up to the line of scrimmage and said to the defense, "We are running left, on three." Le'Ron McClain and Willis McGahee then brutalized the Patriots on six consecutive left-side rushes for 22 clock-murdering yards and two first downs. They were able to run the ball when the entire Patriot organization and 80,000 screaming fans in Foxborough knew they were going to run the ball. That will serve them well in Indy. Long, clock-eating drives will keep the Colt offense off the field and keep their defense fresh, and no one wants to face Ray Lewis fresh. The defense is equally Neanderthal, stuffing the run and the pass and generally knocking the stuffing out of whoever is in front of them. If the Ravens turn this game into a mud wrestling contest, they win.

Why Indianapolis Will Win - Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are not Vince Wilfork - although, if last weekend's video is any evidence, Wilfork might weigh as much as the both of them combined (egad) - and they will be much tougher to run on. The fact is the Patriots defense is not as good as it once was, and physical teams can push them around. These Colts, with seven wins by a touchdown or less, don't get pushed around. They can get stops when they must. Then there's that offense, led by the incomparable Peyton Manning. Manning is easily in the discussion of all-time greats at QB, and he's still in his prime. This offense scored 30 or more points seven times this season, and made it look easy. There may be more playmakers than the Ravens can match up with, and giving Manning a mismatch is just unfair.

Van's Prediction - Indianapolis 14, Baltimore 10
It Sez So Right Here - Dallas Clark scores twice.

Dallas at Minnesota

Why The Cowboys Will Win - Jumpin' Jehosaphat, the Cowboys suddenly have a man-eating defense! I have no idea what was going on for most of the season, but lately these guys have a real Doomsday vibe going on. DeMarcus Ware is a known quantity and must be accounted for on every play from scrimmage, but who went and woke Anthony Spencer up? He's gone from being Larry the Cable Guy to Lawrence Taylor. Meanwhile, there's nothing wrong with the 'Boys on offense. Not only did they finally find a lead wideout earlier this season in Miles Austin, but Felix Jones seems to have become the stakehorse in the backfield, and he's a threat to take any run to the house. Tony Romo finally seems comfortable in his own skin, and Wade Phillips is coaching like a guy with an ironclad contract in his pocket.

Why Minnesota Will Win - Brett Favre is better than Tony Romo, and he has more weapons. Sidney Rice is now numbered among the elite at WR, and they still have Adrian Peterson in the backfield. Visanthe Shiancoe remains something of a hidden threat; everyone knows about him, yet he always seems to fly under the radar until BOOM! he's in the end zone again. Defensively, they will get after Tony Romo and force him to think on his feet, something he does not do well, and they will not allow Felix Jones to run all day like Philadelphia did. Jared Allen was born in the wrong century; he should have been wearing a horned helmet and carrying a gore-stained battle axe 1500 years ago, cutting a gory swath through the enemy while roaring his battle cry.

Van's Prediction - Dallas 35, Minnesota 31
It Sez So Right Here - Felix Jones upstages Adrian Peterson. By a big margin.

New York Jets at San Diego

Why New York Will Win - For all of Mark Sanchez' confidence, this team thrives on a pounding running game, led by All-Underrated Thomas Jones and LeShonn Green. They are strictly meat-and-potatoes between-the-tackles bruisers, and that's just fine with head coach Rex Ryan. The other strength of this team is the defense. Simply put, the Ryans are stamped into NFL lore as the undisputed masters of chaos-inducing defense. When the Jets are right, they turn every opposing offensive snap into a jailbreak, with guys running for their lives as defenders come from angles they never conceived of. Philip Rivers will get hit early and often, and both LT and Darren Sproles will feel like they are running in a chifforobe.

Why San Diego Will Win - Philip Rivers is playing like the guy GM A.J. Peterson traded for. He is in complete command of this offense, and it says a lot that the only better QB in the AFC this season was Peyton Manning. More, the Chargers offer more receivers than Darrelle Revis can cover, and they are all HUGE. However, this game will hinge on the defense. There is no way they will let Mark Sanchez forget that he's a rookie. They will get after him as often as possible and force him into situations that he can't have prepared for, and then capitalize on his mistakes.

Van's Prediction - San Diego 31, New York Jets 21
It Sez So Right Here - The San-chize tosses two picks that lead to San Diego scores.