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I see the conversation has shifted to the Seahawks-Packers game. While I am a die-hard Packers fan, I'm going to take the non-bias route since it is the playoffs and anything can happen.

Seahawks Good:
They do have one of the best QB's in the NFC in Hasselbeck. He's had inconsistent and injured receivers, yet he still manages to produce. There are also people who like to overlook the fact that the Seahawks defense, though they lack a little in the secondary, have one heck of a D-Line led by All-Pro DE Patrick Kerney and linebackers led by All-Pro Lofa Tatupu, who has been an unbelievable pickup for them. That defense, by the way, racked up the 3rd-most sacks in the NFL in the regular season (45) and 4th-most interceptions (20). Their record in the postseason is respectable, as well.

Seahawks Bad:
While they do have one of the most coveted running backs in the league, Alexander has not produced even a decent season since offensive guard Steve Hutchinson, a cornerstone of that years offensive line, signed a deal with Minnesota. Since his career year in 2005 where he ran for almost 1,900 yards and 27 TDs, he has accumulated a total of 1,612 yards and 11 TDs in the regular season. Also, while they have had huge success at home in the playoffs (6-2), on the road is a completely different story (1-6).

Packers Good:
Their offense is astounding, to say the least. They ranked 2nd in total offense (behind the Pats) and averaged 27 points a game (4th). Ryan Grant is going to be the deciding factor in this offense. During the last 8 games of the regular season, he ran for a NFC-high 929 yards. Another fact to keep in mind is that, among starting QB's starting at least 14 games, Favre was sacked the second-fewest times in the league (15; D. Anderson-14) Their defense steps it up on the 3rd- and 4th-down conversions in the regular season, only allowing their opponents to get the first down on 33.5% of those attempts. The temperature could also be a factor, which could be in the 20s at kickoff. Favre doesn't lose at Lambeau often and loses there even less often when the temperature is below freezing.

Packers Bad:
As good as the Packers are, their turnover margin isn't. The Packers only have a +4 turnover differential compared with the +10 of the Seahawks. In the Packers 3 losses, they turned the ball over 9 times compared to only 15 times in their 13 wins. That means that Favre and the offense has to be careful to hold onto the ball, because the Seahawks know how to take the ball away (20 interceptions, 25 forced fumbles with 14 recovered). The Packers are also battling injuries, most notably CBs Charles Woodson and Will Blackmon, LB Nick Barnett, WRs Greg Jennings and Koren Robinson, and DT Corey Williams. The bye week certainly helped, but many of these players are still questionable for the game.

Key matchup: Packers O-line vs. Seahawks D-line & linebackers. The Packers O-line (Tauscher, Spitz, Wells, Colledge, & Clifton) have only given up 19 total sacks. The Seahawks D-line (Kerney, Mebane, Bernard, & Tapp) and linebackers (Hill, Tatupu, & Peterson) led a defense to the 3rd-most sacks in the NFL (45). Something's gotta give and this is where the game will be won or lost.

Nice evaluations.

The Packers have one of the most improved offensive lines since last season, but it may not be able to handle the pressure of the Seahawks' defensive line with Kearney.

The Seahawks also tend to do really bad at home, although they have the best home record in the NFL, since the 2004 season. Favre will be experience, and gain much through the air. Grant has done much better than Alexander lately. The Packers may be missing Charles Woodson, so that may open things up to Hasselbeck and the 3 very good Seattle receivers. Branch may or may not play.

Many factors, but I see the Packers rallying at home, to with this game, by about 10 points.

Well I guess Ram and I know our facts. wink

Yep, too bad there not gona measure up to the 72' Dolphins.
They are'nt going to the SuperBowl.
Colts are going to put em' out. AGAIN.
=]

colts are loseing!!!! gonk gonk gonk

I will say that it was QUITE a shock to see the Chargers upset the Colts. Nothing else was that big of a surprise except the lack of the 81's, save T.O.'s one TD.

So, now we move onto the Championships. I know that many people expected, for the first time in a LONG time, that it would be #1 vs. #2 in both conferences. Unfortunately, with the Cowboys (who were considered the favorites in the NFC) and the Colts (the reigning champs) both losing today, we now have a double dosage of Week 2 rematches: the undefeated Patriots hosting the banged-up Chargers and the surprising Packers hosting the red-hot Giants.

Let's look at the game which will probably be a blowout: the AFC Championship. Rivers and Tomlinson have injuries, but the Chargers still managed to find a way to beat the reigning champions. A lot has changed since these two met in Week 2. Unfortunately, the result won't change. Patriots beat the 'Bolts. My prediction: 27-21.

The NFC Championship is one that several people hoped for but few believed would come to pass. Favre has led the Packers back to their first NFC Championship since the 1997 season when they lost to the Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII. The Giants are kind of in the same boat, returning to the NFC Championship for the first time since the 2000 season when they lost to the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV. Favre has been here before; Eli is experiencing it for the first time. There are 3 factors to look at in this game:
1. Will the Giants momentum lead them to a rematch with the Patriots? They are beyond hot. These guys are on FIRE and remind me a lot of the Steelers 2 years ago: going on the road for every playoff game, including an upset of the top-seeded Colts, and dominating in the Super Bowl.
2. Can the Packers O-line push back the Giants defense like they did against the Seahawks? This is a hard one to call because we didn't see an even matchup between the Packers and Seahawks due to the weather. If the weather is decent, as much as I love the Packers, I have to say that this Giants defense is NOT the same one that the Pack beat in Week 2. However, I still think that the Packers O-line can go toe-to-toe with the best defenses out there. Why not test it against the team that had the most sacks?
3. Will the weather affect the game? Obviously, if it snows or is below freezing, the weather favors the Packers. Otherwise, I don't believe that it will affect either team. Both have prolific passing AND running attacks and both play in northern states that get snow. This will be one heck of a game. I've already checked what the weather is supposed to be: high temperature of 11 degrees with a 40% chance of snow.
Overall, you have to look at streaks. The Giants haven't lost on the road since Week 1 at Dallas. The Packers have only lost 1 home game all year (Week 5 vs. Chicago). The weather will be the determining factor and the Packers have played in it more often. Packers win in a close one, 24-17.

Now, then. IF my picks end up being correct, we have a rare occurance: a repeat Super Bowl. In the 41 previous Super Bowls, there have only been 9 with the same teams facing off (3-Steelers & Cowboys, 2-Niners & Bengals, Cowboys & Bills, Dolphins & Redskins). Should the Packers and Patriots both win this weekend, we'll have another. The main difference is that both of these teams, who thrive in the cold weather, will have to play in Miami. People have to think that the Patriots already have an advantage if they make it because of how good they are. Throw in the fact that they'll be playing in Miami, which they travel to once a year anyway, makes it even harder for whoever the NFC representative. Obviously, I hope that the Packers win, but I don't see anyone toppling the Pats.