In this quarterback-driven league, nothing could be better than teams driven by their QBs meeting in the playoffs.
So next weekend can’t come soon enough: Denver’s Peyton Manning vs. the man who replaced him in Indianapolis, Andrew Luck. Baltimore’s Joe Flacco, who twice has defeated the Patriots and Tom Brady, heading to New England.
Aaron Rodgers against Tony Romo in Lambeau Field – just as enticing. Even Carolina’s Cam Newton against another new-wave QB, Seattle’s Russell Wilson, who merely won a Super Bowl last February.
“On to next week,” Luck said after helping the Colts defeat Cincinnati 26-10 on Sunday in the AFC wild-card round. “It’s the playoffs. There’s a difference. You’ve got to move on; you’ve got to keep that journey alive.”
The divisional round opens next Saturday with AFC top seed New England (12-4), the East winner, hosting Baltimore (11-6), which eliminated Pittsburgh 30-17 in the other AFC wild-card match. That will be followed by defending Super Bowl champion Seattle (12-4), the NFC West champion, against Carolina (8-8-1), which beat Arizona 27-16.