The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

rwells@tribunemedia.net

TO keep it simple the NFL playoffs are upon us, so if you have one please feel free to break out your happy dance.

The league long and tough regular season has amassed one of the most exciting playoff slates in recent memory.

With the legacies of each of these teams acting as my backdrop, it is easy to say that the league has the best slate it could have asked for.

In the AFC we have the perennial title favourites in the Patriots, the rebirth of the Raiders, the steady rise of the Chiefs, the Dolphins, Texans and the playoff-built Steelers.

Over on the NFC side, the league has the Packers, one game at a time Giants, defensive minded Seahawks, the Falcons and all their offensive prowess, the Detroit Lions and, of course, America’s team the Dallas Cowboys.

Strap in, this is going to get really good really fast!

This weekend is wild card weekend and we have four of best games possible:

SATURDAY 4:35pm

Oakland Raiders @

Houston Texans

The Raiders are without starting AN Derrick Carr and the Texans are confused on who should start at QB. This matchup will come down to the coaching staffs and which one can get their team up and ready for battle:

TEXANS

SATURDAY 8:15pm

Detroit Lions @

Seattle Seahawks

The old adage is “Defence wins Championships”, Seattle has proven that in the past. A limited Matthew Stafford and a lack of running game makes Detroit a lame duck team, playing simply to show face in this one:

SEAHAWKS

Sunday 1:05pm

Miami Dolphins @

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Dolphins are in the playoffs, that is news worth celebrating in of itself. I wish they had a better draw, but atleast they drew the Steelers, sorry Miami:

STEELERS

Sunday 4:40pm

New York Giants @

Green Bay Packers

I am almost too afraid to pick a winner here... no matter which team wins, it is off to Dallas for a matchup with the NFC top seeded Cowboys (if the Lions don’t pull off a miracle win in Seattle) - a game I am sure either could win.

So basically, I am picking my first representative in the NFC Championship game:

GIANTS