AFC

No.1 seed: San Diego Chargers
What’s hot to like: San Diego is the NFL's most complete team. Their running game, passing game, run defense, pass rush, secondary all fare among the league’s elite. Any team that wants to beat them has to have a near-perfect performance, otherwise the Chargers will simply wear them down.
What’s not to like: The main question mark this team has on offense is, can the passing game remain this good in the postseason? Young starting QB Philip Rivers has been somewhat off lately. His inexperience in the playoffs could also be a big factor.
Staring into the crystal ball: They can beat you any way they want to. The only way they lose is if they either get over-confident, or their young leader loses confidence. But the way they have played this year, they have champions written all over them.

No. 2 seed: Baltimore Ravens
What’s hot to like: The defense. Physically and mentally this is the toughest D unit out there. I can’t see a single weakness in their defense. With Steve McNair at QB they finally have a meaningful offensive unit as well.
What’s not to like: Besides McNair this offense has gotten used to being just a tag-along to the defense. The passing game is all good, but gaining yards on the ground might be an issue here. Don’t get me wrong, Jamal Lewis is a fine RB, but their ground game will not make other teams fear them.
Staring into the crystal ball: Anybody who says there's not much difference between this team and the 2000 Ravens who won Super Bowl 35 is crazy. This team has a way better offensive unit than in 2000, the defense is comparable. Yet what was enough in 2000 might not be enough this time. The competition seems fierce enough to limit these Ravens to a conference finals appearance.

No. 3 seed: Indianapolis Colts
What’s hot to like: Peyton Manning is the best quarterback in football. No ifs, ands or buts. He runs an offense that is efficient, dynamic and that holds enough surprises that no team can truly prepare for them. The Colts probably have the best offensive unit in these playoffs.
What’s not to like: The Colts have the NFL's worst-run defense. No ifs, ands or buts. With this sorry defensive unit they are in grave danger of not even making it out of the wildcards.
Staring into the crystal ball: Is this the year Peyton finally makes it to the big game? The offense might be the best there is, but as they say: you can't win in the playoffs without stopping the run. So he’ll probably have to wait one more year.

No. 4 seed: New England Patriots
What’s hot to like: Superb coach, great game-planning, the most clutch quarterback in the league and veteran know-how make this team dangerous. The Pats know how to win, they’ve been there and they have the formula to get back there.
What’s not to like:So why am I not sold on them making it all the way? The passing game which was the foundation of all those championships has been too streaky, game-clinching kicker Adam Vinatieri doesn't kick here anymore, the front office has been trying to stick with cheaper players, certain positions are just too inexperienced. Shall I go on?
Staring into the crystal ball: Counting out a team coached by Bill Belichick and led by Tom Brady is never a smart thing to do. This is the most resilient Patriots team of this millennium, yet its lack of overall talent makes it unlikely that they’ll go more than one round.

No. 5 seed: New York Jets
What’s hot to like: Eric Mangini has made this team a winner. Chad Pennington is truly a great QB, and has become the leader of this team. Their lack of big-name players is actually their strongest point as you never know who’s going to beat you.
What’s not to like:Talent wise, the Jets can't match up with any of the teams in this playoff field. They might be the team that is just happy to be here. This is a young team that may lose out on the mental battles.
Staring into the crystal ball: The Jets could be a spoiler for one round, but anything more than that is highly unlikely. Mangini’s preparations will be the key in the wildcards, but this team is just too under-matched against a Ravens or a Charges squad for them to go all the way.

No. 6 seed: Kansas City Chiefs
What’s hot to like: Larry Johnson is an elite RB, and Tony Gonzalez is one of the best receiving TEs in the league. They needed luck to get to the playoffs, and that same luck has them playing against the worst-run defense this field can give you. This probably means a huge game for LJ.
What’s not to like: The passing game is hurting, mostly due to the fact that Trent Green was injured for much of the regular season. The Chiefs are average at best if their running game is not functioning. This should not be a problem against their first-round opponents, the Colts, but it seriously hampers their chances in the long run.
Staring into the crystal ball: QB Trent Green has to step up for this team to achieve anything. Their wildcard meeting with the Colts will be a high-scoring, gun-slinging affair. Should they survive that game they have almost zero chance at beating both top seeds to reach the big game.

NFC

No. 1 seed: Chicago Bears
What’s hot to like: Chicago should be renamed special teams city. Their ST unit is so good that they even make an atrocious offense look good at times. The defense is a strong unit as well as they have led the league in takeaways. Plus they absolutely dominated this weaker NFC.
What’s not to like: QB Rex Grossman, QB Brian Griese and QB Kyle Orton. None of these three is good enough to win a Superbowl. Heck, none of these guys is good enough to even win a game. Luckily for all Bears fans, they just have to be good enough to hand the game to the runners and not mess up on some easy to make passes. Unfortunately, however, even this might be too hard for the QB that gets the nod.
Staring into the crystal ball: The Bears have been the NFC's best from the start of the season. Their defense is majestic. You just can’t bet against them. Gee, haven’t we said the same things last year? And did they represent the NFC in the Superbowl? (The answers are: yes to question one, and no to question two).

No. 2 seed: New Orleans Saints
What’s hot to like:New Orleans has excellent coaching and the NFC’s best QB in Drew Brees. The Deuce McAllister -Reggie Bush duo has caused problems for their foes. Plus the Saints have the backing of a nation as they become the feelgood story of this season with their return to New Orleans after Katrina.
What’s not to like: Obviously the run defense has to be pointed out. Most teams that beat them did so by establishing a good ground game early on. The Saints were more comfortable at home, which means a conference championship game at Soldier Field could be a disaster for them.
Staring into the crystal ball: The Saints need the right matchups. As stated before, they probably cannot survive a trip to Soldier Field. Their Superbowl appearance hangs on whether the Bears collapse in the semis or not.

No. 3 seed: Philadelphia Eagles
What’s hot to like: The Eagles are riding a wave of momentum. In five weeks they have gone from the McNabb injury which made them a no-hope non-playoff team, to winning the NFC East. QB Jeff Garcia is a veteran player who has the necessary know-how to win in the postseason. The defense is well balanced and can stop anyone.
What’s not to like: Jeff Garcia. When will he become the QB he was in Cleveland and Detroit? This question is definitely on the minds of the coaching staff. If he can keep it together for another three games, this team has the necessary momentum to go all the way. Too bad it’s such a big if.
Staring into the crystal ball: Philadelphia could be the most dangerous team in the NFC. Yet somehow I can’t get myself to like them enough to predict them getting to the Superbowl. Worse than that, I’m torn on whether they can beat the Giants once again.

No. 4 seed: Seattle Seahawks
What’s hot to like: The Seahawks have a former MVP (RB Shaun Alexander), they know how to get to the Superbowl as they were there last year, and they have all the pieces necessary to help them get there again.
What’s not to like: This team has been out of sync. Injuries to Alexander and Pro Bowl QB Matt Hasselbeck have not helped, either. They just have not looked good all season long and need to change things in a hurry if they are to at least get out of the wildcard round.
Staring into the crystal ball: Unpredictable is probably the best word when describing this team and its chances. The Hawks should get by a Dallas team that has been backing into the playoffs, especially at Qwest Field. Seattle is probably the toughest road venue for all teams. Alas the Hawks become the road team should they survive this weekend.

No. 5 seed: Dallas Cowboys
What’s hot to like: QB Tony Romo and WR Terrell Owens could both shine in the spotlight. Owens is known to step it up in the playoffs, and Romo looks like the kind of guy who could do the same. It only takes one or two defensive stops for them to regain the momentum they had coming into December.
What’s not to like: Romo and Owens could both ruin this team. Owens' whining and sideshow act could derail the offense. Romo’s recent slump may not allow others to step up on offense. Then there’s the defense, which has been slipping badly the past several games. Good times up ahead indeed :-)
Staring into the crystal ball: If I said the Seahawks are unpredictable, just get a load of this Dallas team. They couldn't even beat Detroit this past week. A month ago they were the darlings of the NFL; now they’ll be lucky if they win one more game. Going to Qwest Field certainly doesn’t hel, either.

No. 6 seed: New York Giants
What’s hot to like: Tiki Barber is hands down the best RB in the NFC playoffs. He’s retiring at the end of this season so you know he will try his best on his last go at a Superbowl win. Tom Coughlin might be coaching to save his job, and QB Eli Manning might be playing for his future. This makes the Giants the desperate team in the NFC.
What’s not to like: The injury-battered defense. Without leader Michael Strahan and with a shaky secondary, the defense will need to catch a break here and there to get all the necessary stops. Manning’s tendency to run hot and cold from game to game and even quarter to quarter does not help, either.
Staring into the crystal ball: On the one hand the Giants have totally lost their winning ways since early November. They look out of sync, there’s more disharmony here than at a kindergarten concert, and there’s no team unity to speak of. On the other hand, as stated before, this is the most desperate team in the field. They are that wounded animal that’s preparing to bite back. Anyway, it’s still hard to imagine them going more than one and out.

After analysing this situation my predictions are:
Wild Card: Jets 17 - Patriots 21;Chiefs 35 - Colts 38;Giants 27 - Eagles 24; Cowboys 13 - Seahawks 17.
Divisional: Colts 21 - Ravens 24; Patriots 10 - Chargers 27; Giants 17 - Saints 20;Seahawks 3 - Bears 10.
Conference: Ravens 17 - Chargers 14; Saints 7 - Bears 9.
Superbowl: Ravens 21 - Bears 14.