I wish KG were still around to offer his comments. Oh well. I tried to get his ban undone and it's beyond my power.

Yes, international sports fans, it's the beginning of the NFL postseason today. Aren't you excited? I am. This is probably the most wide open postseason the league has had in years. Despite some apparent frontrunners, it's a wide open race IMO.

Some, like everyone in the state across the northern border, seem to view it as a coronation for the one true team, the Green Bay Packers. (As an aside, they were recently confirmed as the incumbent "America's team," the choice of 22% of fans compared to 11% who selected the Dallas Cowboys). They are the defending champs and went 15-1 this season. They earned a bye through the first round and don't even have to play this weekend. I love the Packers, other than when they play the Bears, and hope they win it. They are a delight to watch. Unfortunately I don't think they will emerge.

Why not? Defense. Or should I say lack of it. This is one of those wacky stats that should grab your attention. Despite the ongoing highlight show by soon-to-be-named league MVP Aaron Rodgers and his fleet of receivers, they gave up even more yards than they gained. Let me repeat that. They were outgained. That is what you expect of the league's 13th or so best team, not its best team. I refuse to believe that kind of defense is going to sustain you through three straight playoff games.

My next favorite team is the Saints and they have many of the same issues. If not for Aaron Rodgers's magic season the Saints QB, Drew Brees, would be the slam-dunk MVP, mixing sports metaphors. (Supposedly he can dunk a basketball despite his diminutive height and was a youth hotshot in some other sport like soccer or tennis). Like the city they play in, the Saints are all sensory delight, all the time. They set about every NFL team offensive record you can set. Here is one stat leading into their game tonight in the Superdome hosting the Detroit Lions: they scored more points at home than the Lions scored all year. And the Lions are not a bad offensive team.

The Saints' problem, or prospective problem, is they are a completely different team outside the dome. Their record outdoors on the grass is pretty dismal. If they win tonight, they will go on the road to San Francisco next weekend and then probably to Lambeau Field the week after that. Weather forecast in Green Bay on any given January 22: don't ask. Alternatively, "ARRRRRGGGHHH!"

In the other conference, the New England Patriots are the top seed. They are much like the Packers and Saints -- hellacious offense, not much defense. They give up yards in huge bunches and are weaker in the secondary than Pee Wee Herman's kid brother. Not that I'm complaining. This has been a great year for fans of wildassed scoring. Bill Simmons of espn.com put it very aptly: touch football.

The AFL playoffs feature divisional rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. Those who refuse to believe a bad defensive team can win the Super Bowl have their money on one or the other. The Ravens, that I can believe. They managed to edge out the Steelers on tiebreakers to earn a bye this weekend. The Steelers, eh, not so much. QB Ben Roethlisberger ("Hello, little girl," translated into English) is banged up and running back Rashard Mendenhaal is out with a bum knee. They get the easiest possible first round matchup against the Denver Broncos. If I were a betting man I would still take the under in that one.

This morning I was LOL reading Bill Simmons's online column, covering the playoffs and the usual potpourri of other things. Hilarious as always. I especially liked the reader letters and Bill's responses about Tim Tebow and Tom Cruise.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7432606/all-football-mailbag