Playoffs!

Tidbits from the Professor:


8. What is more important -- running or passing? Although this is a passing league, a running team could advance because of the lack of top quarterback play. Brady, Roethlisberger and Flacco are the only elite quarterbacks in the AFC playoffs. However, Roethlisberger is hurt and Flacco has had a non-elite year.


The Texans and Broncos are pure running teams. Four of the six teams are pretty well set in the backfield. The Texans are a bear to stop because of Arian Foster and Ben Tate. The Broncos have Willis McGahee and Tebow. The Bengals get tough yards from Cedric Benson. The Ravens' Ray Rice is one of the most explosive backs in the league. The Steelers have to work with Isaac Redman after finding out Mendenhall is likely out with a knee injury. The Patriots sprinkle in some running plays with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead and others.

9. What can we tell from how these teams did against other playoffs teams: A lot. The Bengals went 0-7 against teams that made the playoffs. The Broncos beat Cincinnati 24-22 in Week 2, but they lost by an average of 27 points to the Packers and Patriots, the only other playoff teams they faced. The Texans went 3-2 against playoff teams, the Steelers 3-4 and the Ravens 6-0. The Patriots went 1-2 against playoff teams.

10. Who is the favorite for the Super Bowl? Injuries to Roethlisberger and Mendenhall clearly give the edge to the Patriots. They are at home and they have Brady. The Steelers could be a great No. 5 seed, but they will be challenged to pass the ball with a quarterback nursing a high ankle sprain.


The Bengals, Broncos and Texans don't have the look of teams that could win two games in the playoffs. That could set up a Ravens-Patriots championship.

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