Indianapolis stuns Denver

NFL Playoffs


Three of the home teams prevailed in the NFL divisional playoffs this weekend.

As I expected, New England trims Baltimore 35-31, Seattle manhandles Carolina 31-17 and Green Bay edges Dallas 26-21, but Peyton Manning and the Broncos are turned away as Indianapolis stuns Denver, 24-13. The four winners received outstanding play from their respective quarterbacks:

-- New England's Tom Brady (33 for 50, 367 yards and three touchdowns)

-- Seattle's Russell Wilson (15 for 22, 268 yards and three touchdowns)

-- Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers (24 for 35, 316 yards and three touchdowns)

-- Indy's Andrew Luck (27 of 43, 265 yards and two touchdowns)

Indianapolis travels to New England next Sunday for the AFC title game, while Green Bay will be at Seattle for the NFC championship. Once again, I expect the home teams to come out on top, but both games may go to the wire. It's hard to bet against an Aaron Rodgers or an Andrew Luck, but it's doubly tough going up against Tom Brady and New England at home or Russell Wilson and the Seahawks at home.

All four teams are worthy. Look at the roadkill already -- the Ravens, the Panthers, the Cowboys and the Broncos and some pretty good QBs -- Joe Flacco, Cam Newton, Tony Romo and Peyton Manning -- are on the outside looking in.

My bet is Seattle and New England in the Super Bowl with the Seahawks winning it all.