Sunday’s upset double feature saw the New York Giants (+7.5) roll with the punches, just like San Diego in the AFC Divisionals, and eliminate the Dallas Cowboys 21-17. Dallas outgained New York 336 yards to 230, but only made it into the red zone once in the second half.

This game was in sharp contrast to Saturday’s tilt between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks. The Packers were the only favorites to cash in this week, and they cashed in big-time with a 42-20 beatdown in the snow. Seattle scored two quick touchdowns off Ryan Grant fumbles, but Grant responded with 201 yards rushing and three TDs.

New York’s secondary took a hit Sunday when CB Aaron Ross came out of the game with a sprained shoulder. Sam Madison and Kevin Dockery were already out at that position; Green Bay appears to be healthy and could capitalize if New York doesn’t get well soon.

On a snowy Saturday afternoon on Lambeau Field, Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers put the Seattle Seahawks away (42-20) and now find themselves competing for the NFC Championships.

By the time this one was through Lambeau Field was covered in a thick blanket of snow. All that white stuff didn’t seem to matter to Packers QB Brett Favre, who tied his personal best for successful touchdown throws in a postseason game. So now it’s off to the NFC Championships to face either the Dallas Cowboys or the New York Giants. And from there…the Super Bowl?

If Favre can lead his team to the Super Bowl he will set an NFL record for the largest gap between Super Bowl starts. The last time Favre had made it to the Big Game was 10 years ago.

Favre is the only three-time AP MVP (1995-97) in NFL history and has led the Packers to two Super Bowls: a victory against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI and a loss to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII. (Wikipedia)

Something tells me Seahawks kicker Josh Brown won’t be going all ‘haute couture’ on us this Saturday when he dons his hot pants at Lambeau Field in freezing cold Green Bay.

I’m ready for the NFL playoffs… Are you? Beer chilling in the fridge? Check. Nachos covered on the counter? Check. Friends and family know not to call until AFTER the game? Check. I have some pretty big plans for the weekend and I’ve made some equally big predictions…

The Dallas Cowboys are going to beat the New York Giants by at least 3 points.

How do I know this? I don’t. At this point in the game no one can know for sure who will win this matchup, but common sense tells you to put your money on the better team. I’ll give Eli Manning all the credit in the world for playing some killer ball [over the last week, anyway], but we’re talking about Tony Romo, Terrell Owens…home field advantage. (Let’s not talk about how Jessica Simpson might show up to cheer on her boyfriend and jinx the Cowboys. If Simpson held that much power over any guy she’d still be married or her singing/acting career might be in better shape.)

Kickoff time: Sunday, Jan. 13th at 4:30 p.m. EST on FOX

The Seattle Seahawks are going to be HOT against the Green Bay Packers

Well, make that Seattle Seahawks kicker Josh Brown is going to be hot against the Packers. Seems Brown has agreed to go with battery-operated heated warm-up pants when he suits up for the game on Saturday at Lambeau Field. (Coach Mike Holmgren is rumored to be wearing a heated jacket tomorrow, too.) When asked why he wants to wear these so-called “hot pants”, Brown said kickers, who spend most of the game on the sideline, have to work harder to stay loose in cold weather by walking around, practicing kicks or using heaters.

Kickoff-time: Sunday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. EST on CBS

Here’s a great interview with the makers of Josh Brown’s hot pants.