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Top teams join Super Bowl playoffs mix
2007-01-12
The National Football League's top four division winners -- San Diego, Baltimore, Chicago and New Orleans -- join the Super Bowl mix this weekend as the last eight teams battle in divisional playoffs. Quarterback Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts (12-4) pit their high-powered offense against the fierce defense of the AFC North champion Ravens (13-3) to kick off the playoff weekend in Baltimore on Saturday. AFC West champion San Diego Chargers (14-2) and star running back LaDainian Tomlinson carry the NFL's best record and a 10-game winning streak into their Sunday tilt against the visiting New England Patriots (12-4). The New Orleans Saints entertain the Philadelphia Eagles in a clash of 10-6 teams on Saturday, and the Chicago Bears (13-3) host the Seattle Seahawks (9-7) a day later in the NFC contests of the knockout tournament that produces the Super Bowl teams. Indianapolis can expect a hostile reception in Baltimore, which was home to the Colts franchise until their owner brought in moving vans in March 1984 and hauled the team offices to Indiana after a dispute with city officials over a new stadium. Beyond the enmity of the fans, the Colts must gird themselves for the ferocity of the league's top-rated defense, led by bruising linebacker Ray Lewis. Defense was the key to the Ravens' Super Bowl triumph following the 2000 campaign. This season they shored up their offense with veteran quarterback Steve McNair at the helm. "They just feel like they've got the whole package now," Colts coach Tony Dungy told NFL.com. "They've got a guy (McNair) whose going to take care of the football. He's not going to get rattled. He's not going to have an off day in a big game." MARTY BALL New England has rarely had a bad day in the playoffs since masterful head coach Bill Belichick installed Tom Brady at quarterback. The combination has posted an 11-1 playoff mark, winning three Super Bowls in a four-year span. Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, meanwhile, is plagued by a poor postseason mark. Including stints with the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs, Schottenheimer has a 5-12 playoff record and has lost his last five playoff games. Schottenheimer says he will not revert to the ultra-conservative approach, derisively referred to as "Marty Ball," of his past playoff failures, and will trust Tomlinson, who led the league in rushing and set an NFL record with 31 touchdowns, and first-year starting quarterback Philip Rivers. Brady, going against a rugged Chargers defense led by NFL sack leader Shawne Merriman, does not rest on his laurels. "Those three Super Bowls, that was a long time ago," Brady said. "This year they're the top dog, 14-2. They have it all." Saturday's NFC semi-final between New Orleans and Philadelphia could be high scoring with the Cinderella Saints ranked number one and the Eagles number two in offense. Returning home to New Orleans after being exiled in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Saints came together under new coach Sean Payton, new quarterback Drew Brees and multi-talented rookie Reggie Bush to rebound from a 3-13 mark. On Sunday, the Chicago Bears hope for some solid play from erratic quarterback Rex Grossman to take advantage of a creaking Seattle defense. The Seahawks lost three cornerbacks to leg injuries in their last two regular season games, and barely scraped by Dallas 21-20 last week when the Cowboys botched a short field goal attempt with time running out. Chicago, fifth in total defense, will look to force mistakes from Seattle, who were -8 in turnovers.
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