The quarterfinals of the NFL tournament are set. Last week I went 2-2. Season record hits 46-36. There’s a reason why the upcoming playoff home teams got byes last week. They’re a cut above the competition. The favored New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals lost last weekend. Were they out-played or just not so good? Will any of the favorites this week be out-played or have a bad day?

Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints: The Cardinals took advantage of early Green Bay Packers mistakes last weekend then held on for dear life not to be overtaken. Yes, they won. Yes, Kurt Warner played big when he needed to. But where was the defense? Meanwhile, the Saints need to quiet all the detractors who jumped off their bandwagon at the end of the season. They have a bit of a chip on their shoulder and should come out storming…at home in the dome! Go with the Saints.

Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts: I’ll say it right now. I think Peyton Manning’s smarts and experience will be enough to carry his team to the Super Bowl crown. Let’s face it, as impressive as the Ravens’ victory was last weekend, it was still over a depleted, dejected, and over-rated Patriots team. The chip on the Colts’ shoulder? How about showing the world they are the top team even though they gave up on an undefeated season? Indy wins.

Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings: Everybody has jumped on the Cowboys bandwagon again. It’s almost like the Vikings are an afterthought. What happened to the Brett Favre Express? The Cowboys beat a pedestrian Eagles team two weeks in a row. So whose magic is going to end first? The Favre experiment? Or the re-birth of the NFL darlings? In Wade Phillips I do not trust. Go with the Vikings.

New York Jets at San Diego Chargers: The Jets beat an underwhelming Bengals team. The Chargers are the only AFC team that can hold a candle to the Colts. C’mon now, you know we all want to see Chargers-Colts in the AFC finals, right? So, the Chargers win.