OK, there was one thing I thought I was sure of this NFL playoff season. (I'll get back to that later.) Oops, I forgot, it's "the tournament" now. (Hey, maybe if I start calling it "the tournament," as so many NFLers have, I'll pick better.)

Although I think I should get credit for getting the final score of Indy vs. San Diego (23-17), exactly right. Sure, I had it the other way, Indy winning, 23-17, but when you go 1-3 on Wild Card weekend, you're looking for anything to make things seem better.

Even if I go 4-0 this weekend, that'll put me at only 5-3 for the playoffs. Sure, that'd be good enough to win a Western Division (AFC or NFC) championship but that's nothing to brag about.

Anyway, he goes my run at 4-0. And to make things worse, I felt great about last weeks picks and am absolutely confused on this week's encounters. (Judging on how last week went, however, that could be a good thing.)

BALTIMORE 16, TENNESSEE 13

Ugh, nothing scares me more than the prospect of watching the Ravens play in another Super Bowl. Compared to Joe Flacco, Trent Dilfer's a Hall of Fame quarterback. I'm sorry; I just can't rave about Flacco, who may be responsible for less TDs through the air than Raven super safety Ed Reed is this season.

But I just don't see Tennessee winning this game. The Titans just don't have enough offensive playmakers to match up to the Ravens' defensive playmakers. Tennessee's best chance is to get Chris Johnson - who interestingly enough, was a key part of the Sonny Dogs' run to their Fantasy League championship - involved in the passing game.

ARIZONA 34, CAROLINA 33

Here's the one thing I thought I was certain of, going out the window. Since late October, I've been predicting a 44-3 loss - no matter who they were playing - for Arizona in the divisional round. This would be that round.

But when you compare the teams, you'd think the Panthers' big advantage would be their defense in this game. Truth is, Carolina ranks just one slot ahead of the Cardinals defensively this season.

The Cardinals seemed to answer the questions that were there about their run defense last week against Atlanta's Michael Turner and their passing game is back in solid shape.

I'm still not sold on Carolina's offense, either. Sure, there's nothing better than a great running game in the playoffs and the Panthers have had that all season.

Carolina just doesn't come across to me as a good playoff team. They were a great regular-season team but the playoffs are something different.

N.Y. GIANTS 28, PHILADELPHIA 16

It's time for the Eagles' ugly twin to show up. Philly's one five of their past six games and the Giants spent their off week coming up with something to counter the Eagles' defensive schemes that enabled Philadelphia to beat the G-Men in December in the Meadowlands.

The Giants will find other weapons in the passing game -- not ones under indictment for gun charges -- and Brandon Jacobs is healthy again. New York scores on its first drive of the game and never trails.

PITTSBURGH 20, SAN DIEGO 10

If the Chargers are going to have any chance to win this game, they've got to start by keeping L.D.T. (LaDainian Tomlinson) off of the field at all costs. Even if it means, telling him the game has been moved to Monday night and he doesn't need to be in Pittsburgh until Monday morning.

Let's face it, he had a great little career - a Terrell Davis-type five-or-so year impressive run - but it's over. He's no longer the feared threat he was. The only thing he could do to do in Pittsburgh is get his Charger teammates on the golf course early next week.

Darren Sproles is the Chargers' only chance of winning this game. Sure, he's not the back you want to be your lead guy through an entire NFL season but his slashing, spinning, nearly impossible to tackle style is perfect against a defense like the Steelers'.

Pittsburgh's no peach on offense itself and Ben Roethlisberger may still think he's Batman but they'll do enough to beat San Diego and set up a date with doom, I mean Baltimore.