Lineup

NFL PLAYOFF PREVIEW

32 | Young Wideouts

Playmaking receivers such as Vincent Jackson and Miles Austin will dominate the postseason

By Peter King

Wild-card round matchups

AFC: JETS AT BENGALS | RAVENS AT PATRIOTS

NFC: EAGLES AT COWBOYS | PACKERS AT CARDINALS

44 | Jared Allen

The Vikings' defensive end may pride himself on being a badass, but he has shown signs of growing up. Jail time helped kick-start the process

By Joe Posnanski

50 | COLLEGE BOWL ROUNDUP

Ohio State

In a bowl season full of surprises, Buckeyes QB Terrelle Pryor dominated Oregon in Pasadena

By Austin Murphy

• Non-BCS bowls: Which programs are up, which are down

56 | HOCKEY

Life on the Leash

For many NHL players, the key to survival is learning how to withstand time in the coach's doghouse. Decreased ice time might be the least of it

By Michael Farber

60 | COLLEGE BASKETBALL

John Wall

The best player in the country is a freshman point guard who wants to return Kentucky to greatness before moving on to the NBA

By Grant Wahl

Departments

4 Letters

6 Leading Off

14 Scorecard

• In defense of the BCS

• Meyer's indecision

22 Just My Type

Viking on the spot

by Dan Patrick

24 Faces in the Crowd

26 Inside ...

• The NBA

Grizzlies' post power

• The NHL

Team USA's new look

• College Basketball

Seattle's surprise star

66 The Vault

'65 Orange Bowl

70 Point After

So Northwestern thinks it can Dance

by Chris Ballard

SPLIT COVERS

The basketball cover went to readers in the Southeast. All others received the NFL cover.

ON THE COVER

Photographs by Bob Rosato (Austin); Robert Seale (Wall)

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SEVEN PHOTOS