NFL playoffs.

So far, it's been pretty much business as usual, with the lone exception of Tennessee coming back from an 18 point deficit to knock off the Chiefs -- in Kansas City, no less. I'm guessing head coach Andy Reid wasn't exactly having a good time when he had to face the local press after that debacle/choke job.

No big surprise the New Orleans Saint knocked off the Carolina Panthers. One team has Drew Brees and the other Cam Newton leading them. One comes across as a humble hard working guy off the field, while the other seems to be on a mission to prove he can dress like an uptown pimp. 'Nuff said.

Jacksonville dispatching Buffalo was a mercy killing. How the heck did the Bills get into the playoffs?

Atlanta dusting the new LA Rams was hardly an eye-opener, though the Falcons were slight underdogs. Experience prevailed, but make no mistake. Under new head coach Sean McVay, the Rams are young and getting much better rapidly. They will be a force to be reckoned with in the next couple years.

In turn, the same Falcons falling to the Eagles in Philly was foreseeable. True, doubt and questions abounded as to whether Nick Foles could rise to the occasion after starting QB Carson Wentz went down with a blown ACL. But it was never just about that. The Eagles are solid across the board in all the other phases of the game -- particularly defensively. It was just up to Foles not to make too many mistakes. He didn't, actually playing a terrific game. So Atlanta bows out again.

The Titans going into Foxborough to face the Patriots was the gimme of the month. The Pats being 13-14 point favorites? Pshaw. As was stated in this forum earlier, Belichick/Brady/Gronk and Co. were going to smoke them by at least three touchdowns.

Yeah, I know. Jacksonville humiliated the Steelers -- in Pittsburgh -- back in October. But this is playoff time. Look for Big Ben, LaVeon, Antonio, and that bunch to pay them back -- in a big way. Whatever the point spread is -- take Pittsburgh and gladly give them. This will be a romp.

The most interesting game is New Orleans going into Minnesota. Ya never know what the same Drew Brees and Co. are capable of, so it's tough to underestimate them. And though he's filled in admirably since the two QBs in front of him went down with injuries, can Case Keenum keep it together when the pressure ratchets up? Hard to say, but the Vikes have some serious defense going on too. Beating them at home is a tall order, and I don't think the Saints are up to it.

We'll see.

The game everybody wants to see, of course, is the rematch of the Patriots/Steelers. A few weeks ago in Pittsburgh, the Steelers had the Pats right where they wanted them -- until they didn't -- and let them escape with an improbable victory.

And assuming they take care of biz with Jax -- please -- the terrible towelers will have to go to Foxborough for the AFC championship game.

Thing is, if anybody's capable of knocking off the Pats in their own back yard -- it's those guys.

And I wouldn't bet a whole lot of money against exactly that happening.