2002 playoffs will be a blast

It's here. Football's most exciting time has finally come, and this year promises to be better than ever.\nForget the bowl games. Forget Monday Night Football. Forget everything etched in your mind thus far this year. The NFL playoffs are here, bringing excitement.\nThis past NFL season has been a good one, but the drama of the league has been missing for quite some time. Long ago, the playoff teams were determined, and all we could do was sit and wait for the games to be played out.\nNow, it seems we will finally get to see the best teams battle each other for the prize. If that alone is not enough to tickle your spine, worry not -- it gets better.\nI'd say we've had enough games played on 74-degree mild-weathered afternoons. How about some battles in tough conditions. Games are going to be played in New England, Chicago, Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. \nDuring the brisk month of January, we are sure to see some football, as the great Dan Dierdorf says, "the way it's meant to be played." In the snow, in the mud, in the sleet. It doesn't matter -- just as long as teams are overcoming outside elements to prove that they indeed deserve to be crowned as champions.\nThe rough weather will add another element for teams that are supposed to win. The chance for an upset increases when conditions are less than favorable. Games are closer, balls come loose more easily and players slip and slide all over the field.\nThis year's playoffs will also give us a chance to see a variety of styles. Forget about baseball, where in the end, pitching will always prevail. Here, we have teams loaded on offense (St. Louis and San Francisco), teams loaded on defense (Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Chicago) and teams that are balanced (Philadelphia, New England, Green Bay).\nWe have teams that come in with momentum (New England, St. Louis and Chicago) and teams that stumbled to the finish line (Oakland, New York and Miami).\nOf course, there are the expected teams (St. Louis and Oakland) and some surprises (Chicago, Pittsburgh and New England).\nThis variety will give each game its own storyline. Every contest will be a battle between two teams that have been fighting throughout the autumn and preparing since the summer for a chance and this very moment. Everyone has something to prove -- whether it's "we're no fluke," or "we won't flop," the determination has grown exponentially since the regular season.\nBut what kind of playoff preview would this be without some predictions?\nLet's start in the NFC, where the question is simply "Who can stop the Rams?" The answer? No one.\nThe only teams capable of stopping St. Louis' potent offense can't score themselves. Even if Tampa Bay or Chicago were able to slow down the Rams' potent offense, they just can't put the points on the board. \nGreen Bay would have a chance if it could get the Rams at Lambeau Field, but St. Louis has the comfort of playing at home throughout the playoffs. San Francisco looks like a team that could do it but has failed twice already this season.\nSt. Louis over Chicago in an NFC championship rout.\nContrarily, the AFC is up for grabs. Pittsburgh, the favorite, does not score enough points to dominate games against playoff-caliber teams. With star running back Jerome Bettis hurt, its offense will not be the same. New England is led by a young, inexperienced quarterback. While the Patriots have played well this season, the defenses in the playoffs will eventually get the best of Tom Brady.\nOakland is tired and coming unravelled. The Raiders are a great team but do not have the energy or heart to make it through a rigorous post-season run. I am picking Baltimore to again beat the odds and make it to the NFC championship game, but it will fall to Pittsburgh, who simply has the better team.\nIn the end, St. Louis will claim its second title in three years in an entertaining Super Bowl. \nThe most exciting thing about this year's playoffs is that the teams are so close that anything could happen.\nI can't wait.