Saints in great spot
Ken Murray
Baltimore Sun
This might be the best wild-card field in recent memory. I like the chances of three of the four to win at least one game, and the fourth, the Jets, could win. A wild-card team has reached the conference championship game the last three years, so there is precedence.
The teams in the best position to pull that off are the Saints and Packers in the NFC. The Saints get the biggest break of the first round with a game against the Seahawks. Then they either go to Atlanta (and a dome) or Chicago (and a tundra). As defending champs, they are capable. They have the best shot of going farthest.
If the Packers can win in Philadelphia — and they did in Week 1 — they would play in Atlanta, where they lost in November. The Packers have everything working right now and are dangerous.
kmurray@tribune.com
Rodgers propels Pack
Chicago Tribune
The teams that have the most postseason success usually are the ones that get the best quarterback play. Of the four wild-card teams, the one most likely to be propelled by passing is the Packers.
Drew Brees is the only wild-card quarterback as dangerous as Aaron Rodgers, and Rodgers has been playing better than Brees in recent weeks. The Packers will lean heavily on Rodgers because they can't run the ball very well. But if they get outstanding quarterbacking and play the kind of defense they played Sunday against the Bears, they can be the surprise team of the playoffs.
The Ravens are the most balanced wild-card team and also could be a surprise, especially if Joe Flacco gets hot. But the wild-card team you least would want to play is the Packers.
dpompei@tribune.com
Saints, Ravens win 1
Sam Farmer
Los Angeles Times
The wild-card teams will go 2-2 in the first round with the Saints winning in Seattle and the Ravens winning in Kansas City. The Packers will lose in Philadelphia, and the Jets will lose in Indianapolis.
On to the divisional round, where I see both remaining wild-card teams losing — the Saints in Atlanta and the Ravens at New England.
That sets up an AFC championship game between the Steelers and Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., and New England wins that. The NFC title game will be Eagles at Falcons, and the Eagles win that.
So the Super Bowl will be another New England-Philadelphia matchup.
sfarmer@tribune.com
Ravens have it all
Nick Fierro
The Morning Call
The Ravens have the best chance to advance to the Super Bowl. They have the quarterback (Joe Flacco), coach (John Harbaugh) and proven defense to compete, and they've played everyone on their schedule tough. Their four losses have been by a total of 16 points.
Furthermore, they have a good bit of positive postseason experience, having won three playoff games the previous two seasons. And should they run into the Jets — another dangerous wild card — along the way, they won't be surprised by anything Rex Ryan has up his sleeve.
On the other hand ... Ed Reed is 32 and might not be able to play Sunday with his rib injury. And Ray Lewis is 35. Eventually the clock will strike midnight on these guys. But the feeling here is it won't be this year.
nfierro@tribune.com