No clear cut favorite for the Superbowl

Each year in the NFL playoffs, it seems like there is a clear cut favorite in both conferences to make an appearance in the Superbowl. This year? Not so much.

Seedings are..

AFC
1. Indianapolis 14-2
2. San Diego Chargers 13-3
3. New England 10-6
4. Cincinnati 10-6
5. New York 9-7
6. Baltimore 9-7

NFC
1. New Orleans 13-3
2. Minnesota 12-4
3. Green Bay 11-5
4. Dallas 11-5
5. Philadelphia 11-5
6. Arizona 10-6

Three of the four wild card matchups this weekend are repeats of last weeks games, with two of those three repeats being at the same venue. As always with wild-card weekend, most games can go either way. Then again, games can go either way any weekend..

Anyways, here are my predictions for this weekends games..

Cincinnati 19, New York 13

If you asked anyone (including Rex Ryan) just two weeks ago if the Jets would be in the playoffs, the answer would be no.

Its been a great first year for Rex Ryan in New York as he has turned the Jets defense in to one of the NFLs best, but it ends in Cincy today. Usually the formula for winning in the NFL is running the ball and stopping the run, but not today. Cincy will get back on track despite being smashed by the Jets six days ago in New York by a score of 37-0. Chad OchoCinco will produce better than most expect and Cincy will win their first playoff game since the Big Bang (at least it feels that way)

Dallas 27, Philadelphia 24

Is it possible that Dallas finishes the season with back to back defensive shutouts and loses in the first round again? Oh its possible, but I think this Dallas team is different from recent years past. Tony Romo has really become an effective leader on that Dallas team and I think McNabb is past his prime. If Dallas doesn't win this though, Wade Philips is as good as gone come Monday.

New England 31, Baltimore 14

Losing Wes Welker is going to hurt this New England offense more than people think. Tom Brady always comes up big in January and will keep the chains moving for the Pats. Randy Moss needs to step up for New England. Get ready to watch Wes Welkers apprecntice in the slot: Julian Edelman.

Baltimore has a great running game behind Ray Rice, Willis McGahee and Leron McClain, but the passing game is mediocre at best. That defensive unit still has great leaders in Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Haloti Ngata, but the loss of Rex Ryan has showed as that defense just isn't as intimidating. Baltimore for some reason isn't the same team that was one game away from the Superbowl a year ago and will be headed back to Maryland after this game.

Green Bay 24, Arizona 23

Arizona got completely whacked by the Packers last week, but this week will be much closer.

Kurt Warner is one of the best passers in the league still and Aaron Rodgers is quickly becoming one of the leagues best QB's. If I was a Pack fan, I wouldn't be complaining about losing Favre to start Rodgers. Heres irony for you: Which two starting QB's have thrown the least amount of interceptions this season? Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre both with 7.