These playoffs are difficult to figure out until you realize that you have no prayer at getting it right.  The playoffs have become beyond unpredictable to the point where, well, is anybody talking about the fact that wildcard teams routinely win Super Bowls, including 6 seeds?  Would you be shocked if Philadelphia won the Super Bowl?  Surprised, sure.  Shocked?  No.  They're a ton of people's upset special to get to the big game even though they just got smoked in a meaningful game at Dallas, the same Dallas that is led by Tony Romo and Wade Phillips, a tandem that has combined for negative fifteen clutch plays and calls in the last five years of meaningful games.  So just throw the teams in a hat (except the Jets) and call it a day.  All that said, I'm going to try and make sense of it all.

AFC WILDCARD

Cincinnati over New York Jets

The Jets have Mark Sanchez at QB in an away game against a solid defense.  He's a rookie.  He throws a lot of interceptions.  Sometimes it's simple.  Unfortunately this is the only easy call of the playoffs.

New England over Baltimore

I really don't like this game and it has zero to do with Wes Welker.  Flacco looked good in the playoffs last year and I could see Ray Rice absolutely shredding New England's tame defense.  But I went with New England simply because I've spent the last five years hating myself every time I've gone against New England in the playoffs.  Then again, they burned me in the Super Bowl against the Giants.  Oh whatever, the Ravens' QB has a unibrow.  That can't be good, can it?

NFC WILDCARD

Dallas over Philadelphia

The Eagles gave their courage award to Michael Vick.  Karma has to come back to bite you at some point.  Pun intended.  The Eagles don't have a recipe for stopping the Cowboys' offense.  Their cook unfortunately left us in the offseason.  Jim Johnson could have won this game.  His replacement and Andy Reid cannot.

Green Bay over Arizona

Green Bay went from the Houston Texans featuring David Carr circa 2003 to the most feared team nobody's talking about.  Their O-line got healthy.  They're protecting Aaron Rodgers and they have a lot to prove.  Pretty good combo.  Of course Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald could win this by themselves.  But I talked myself into the Packers in the preseason and they're looking like the team I thought they'd be, or as the Cardinals would say, they are who I thought they were.

AFC DIVISIONAL ROUND

Indianapolis over Cincinnati

Does anybody really need to be talked into this?  Cakewalk.

New England over San Diego

We know Norv Turner can win in the regular season, but how excited for you to see how he blows it against Bellichick in the playoffs?  He's going to have the Henry Winkler in The Waterboy face (pre-Bowl game) going the entire game.  And while I know running the ball isn't as important as it used to be, but it still counts in the red zone and LaDainian Tomlinson three years out of his prime and another RB my size are not going to do much.  I like the Pats in a close one.

NFC DIVISIONAL ROUND

New Orleans over Green Bay

My toughest call to make thus far.  I just see the Superdome being louder than any place I've ever been in my life.  Their crowd wills them through this one.  Who dat?

Dallas over Minnesota

Brett Favre has proven that he can't win this game and it's been for the past several years now.  Dallas has enough weapons to punish the Vikings when they turn the ball over and between Adrian Peterson's fumblitis and Brett Favre's picks, Minny turns the ball far too often. 

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

New England over Indianapolis

You know who likes the talk of "New England can't win without Welker?"  Bellichick.  This guy won with Troy Brown as his best wideout and defensive back.  I'm pretty sure he can light a fire under Randy Moss.  And I really don't like Jim Caldwell in his first tough playoff game.  Peyton Manning is the X-factor and it's tough to bet against him, but New England might be hungrier for this one than the Colts.

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

New Orleans over Dallas

Again, that Superdome will be rocking and Tony Romo and Wade Phillips are on the opposite sideline.  I think the Saints light up the scoreboard early and often while the Cowboys struggle to run the ball then fall in love with the pass at the wrong times.  THIS IS NEW ORLEANS!

SUPERBOWL

New Orleans over New England

All is right with the world and while the city might not be out from under the water both literally and figuratively, it's an event like a New Orleans Super Bowl that can make everything right, if only for a day or two.  So, as I've already acknowledged that the playoffs are impossible to predict, why not pick the number one seed that also happens to be the Cinderella?  Go Saints!