Top of Their Game
Now that Indianapolis has reinforced its AFC dominance by finally beating New England, the Colts are clear favorites for Super Bowl XL. Unlike their predecessors in Super Bowl V, these Colts won't have to rely on a last-second field goal to win. With Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James, Indy has the firepower to get past any opponent.
In the NFC romance says, Pick the Giants! Peyton against his little brother, Eli, would make for the most-hyped Super Bowl in history. The NFL would love it; TV would love it. What they'll get, though, is Jake Delhomme, Carolina's little-engine-that-could quarterback, who'll beat Eli, then thwart Dallas coach Bill Parcells in his bid to take a record fourth team to a conference title game. It's going to be a wild January--just not as personal as Manning versus Manning. Maybe next year.
Fearless postseason predictions:
AFC PLAYOFF TEAMS
East: New England (9-7)
North: Pittsburgh (11-5)
South: Indianapolis (15-1)
West: Denver (12-4)
WILD CARDS:
Cincinnati (11-5), Jacksonville (10-6)
WILD-CARD PLAYOFFS
New England 27, Cincinnati 24
Pittsburgh 16, Jacksonville 14
DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS
Indianapolis 38, New England 20
Denver 17, Pittsburgh 12
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
at Indianapolis
Indianapolis 31, Denver 27
NFC PLAYOFF TEAMS
East: Dallas (11-5)
North: Chicago (9-7)
South: Carolina (11-5)
West: Seattle (11-5)
WILD CARDS:
Philadelphia (10-6), New York (10-6)
WILD-CARD PLAYOFFS
Dallas 20, Philadelphia 13
New York Giants 21, Chicago 10
DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS
Carolina 20, New York 10
Dallas 23, Seattle 20
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME at Charlotte
Carolina 27, Dallas 17
SUPER BOWL XL at Detroit
Indianapolis 34, Carolina 24
PHOTO
Photograph by Damian Strohmeyer
  FINALLY
Manning dissected the New England defense on Monday night, throwing three touchdown passes in a decisive 40-21 victory in Foxborough.