Cardinals dangerousBrad Biggs, Chicago Tribune
Seeding isn't everything, as a team from the wild-card round has reached the Super Bowl in five of the last six years.
Arizona was the Cinderella of the playoffs last season, and most figured it would be one-and-done against Green Bay, but Kurt Warner has a 9-3 record in the playoffs and there can't be anyone hotter than a team that just hung 51 points on the NFL's No. 2-ranked defense.
The Cardinals were a better road team this season (6-2), so heading to New Orleans will not be an issue.
They might not be able to stop Drew Brees, but Arizona just needs to outscore the Saints, and Warner keeps developing complementary weapons like Early Doucet.
So much for the traditional Super Bowl hangover. The Cardinals are back.
Cowboys riding highDave Hyde, Sun Sentinel
For weeks, the questions were whether Wade Phillips would be fired and the roster reworked if Dallas lost another first-round playoff game.
Now there's the flip side: How far can a hot team unburdened by recent history go?
Dallas didn't just whip Philadelphia for the second straight week. It has now won four straight games, including the first defeat of New Orleans.
All of the Cowboys' young pieces are working, too, starting with quarterback Tony Romo and the league's second-best defense in points allowed.
Momentum is a chancy thing in the NFL, where matchups matter more.
Dallas has both going for it this weekend against Minnesota.
D-train rollin' down tracksKen Murray, Baltimore Sun
The Cowboys probably have the clearest road and best shot at getting to the Super Bowl. They dominated the Eagles and face the Vikings in the Metrodome next. Minnesota has not looked good for about a month, and neither has Brett Favre.
If the Cowboys win there, they likely go back to New Orleans in the Superdome, where they ended the Saints' run at a perfect season.
Meanwhile, the Ravens were so dominant in New England that they would appear to have a decent chance of knocking off the Colts in Indianapolis. Should the Ravens pull off that upset, they would face either the Chargers or Jets in the championship game. Defending against the Chargers' big receivers would prove to be a steep challenge for the Ravens' secondary.
Ravens' confidence soarsHouston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times
Most people would probably pick the Cowboys, but they'd be wrong. The Ravens dominated the Patriots and are the only team with a chance to stop the Colts from winning the Super Bowl. Beating the Patriots, whose reputation for greatness usually allows them to win at least one playoff game, should give the Ravens the boost they need. With a quarterback who doesn't make a lot of mistakes ( Joe Flacco had only 12 passes intercepted) and a defense that always keeps them in the game, the confidence the Ravens received has to have them feeling like they can beat anyone. Take it to the bank: If the Ravens lead after the first quarter, they will win. And if they beat the Colts, they will win the Super Bowl.
And they can thank their win over the Patriots for that.