A thrilling weekend of football is coming your way! The results of this weekend’s NFL “Divisional Round” of the playoffs will be key in determining which teams play in the Super Bowl this February. Here is a preview of the great action:

AFC:

• Baltimore Ravens (6) at New England Patriots (1)

Barely squeaking into the playoffs in the final week of the regular season, the Ravens are no stranger to having barely-good-enough regular seasons and hitting the gas pedal once the playoffs begin. The Ravens upset the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend and now travel to New England, where there they have knocked the Patriots out of the playoffs multiple times in years past. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has been dynamite in the playoffs, with 7 career postseason wins on the road. The Patriots, however, should not be counted outl. They have a vastly improved defense compared to past years and an effective rushing attack. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt to have 3-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady as your quarterback. Playing at home in front of their fans and well-rested from their bye week, the Patriots might just explode on offense this Saturday.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who holds the NFL record for postseason victories, hopes to garner another playoff win this Saturday and advance to the AFC Championship Game. (Photo courtesy of bloomberg.com)

• Indianapolis Colts (4) at Denver Broncos (2)

Quarterback Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts will face Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos this weekend at “Mile High”. Freshly rested following a bye week, Broncos fans hope their team can take a quick lead with their strong offense and dynamic passing attack. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is still young, but nonetheless has consistently performed well this season with a win over the Bengals last weekend in the first round of the playoffs. Since the Colts are lacking on defense compared to the Broncos, a Colts win this Sunday seems unlikely.

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck hopes to dazzle in Denver and give the Colts an upset win on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of nextimpulsesports.com)

NFC:

• Carolina Panthers (4) at Seattle Seahawks (1)

Yes, this is really happening! Despite finishing the season with a losing record, Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers managed to scrounge up a 1st place ranking in their less than perfect division. Despite a lackluster record, the Panthers have been successful in recent weeks and managed to defeat the Arizona Cardinals, a team whose playoff chances were decimated by injuries. Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is a strong quarterback with great scrambling ability. But a win for Carolina will be difficult in Seattle, as the Seahawks’ stadium is commonly regarded as football’s loudest. The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks are led by one of the league’s best defenses (commonly referred to as the “Legion of Boom”) and agile quarterback Russell Wilson. With this being a home game for the elite Seahawks, a Panthers victory would be a shocker of monumental proportions.

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman may be basking in glory if the Seahawks can defeat the Panthers this weekend. (Photo courtesy of time.com)

• Dallas Cowboys (3) at Green Bay Packers (2)

For the first time in several years, the Dallas Cowboys are a legitimate contender in the NFL. Despite making no major additions this offseason, the Cowboys have shocked the league by winning the NFC East and having league leaders in both receiving and rushing. After surviving a nail-biting game against the Lions last week, the Cowboys were able to continue their phenomenal December performances into January. The Cowboys have more momentum right now than an elephant downhill skiing on Mount Everest, having won 5 consecutive games. Quarterback Tony Romo has performed magnificently in recent weeks and the team feels electrified. Nevertheless, the wintry conditions of Green Bay will be a shocker for the Cowboys. The Packers may also be surprised by Aaron Rodgers, who is regarded as one of (if not the best) the best quarterbacks in the NFL. The Packers are coming off of a bye-week and have had numerous marquee wins this year. The Packers lead the league in points per game and are undefeated at home this season. The Cowboys, on the other hand, are undefeated on the road this season. This is going to be a thriller!

Despite his incredible performance this year,Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is notorious for postseason blunders. Romo will have nothing to laugh about if he is the cause of his team’s elimination this weekend. (Photo courtesy of footballandrationalthoughts.com)