Colts can win it all

On Thursday, residents in Iowa will head to the voting booths to vote in a primary.

But that's not really what is coming up.

No, folks. The NFL playoffs are starting this weekend and the team that I thought had what it took to win it all, the New Orleans Saints, aren't even involved.

The Saints struggled out of the gates this season and laid an egg in the final week of the season.

It really didn't matter as the Dallas Cowboys laid as big of an egg in the final week, falling to the Washington Redskins, a team that only needed to win in order to reach the playoffs.

The Redskins' win eliminated my favorite NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings, from playoff contention.

Still, NFL teams will begin battle Saturday on the long march to the Super Bowl.

Washington travels to Seattle to face a Seahawks team that few have discussed. The Seahawks could be a dangerous team in the playoffs.

Also playing Saturday, everybody's current favorite, Jacksonville, will face host Pittsburgh.

Sunday's games will feature the New York Giants and Tampa Bay in addition to Tennessee at San Diego.

My picks for the first weekend of playoff splendor: Seattle over Washington, Jacksonville over Pittsburgh, New York over Tampa Bay and San Diego over Tennessee.

If these picks stick, Seattle will face Green Bay on the road in the second weekend. Take Green Bay here. It's very difficult to head to Lambeau and pick up a playoff win.

The other game on Jan. 12 -- if these picks are right -- would feature Jacksonville against New England.

Need I say more? The Patriots and Packers advance.

Jan. 13 would pit San Diego against Indianapolis and New York against Dallas.

These picks are more difficult than one would think. But I think the Colts and Cowboys advance.

If these predictions are close, Jan. 20 Conference Championships would see Indy traveling to Foxboro to take on the dreaded Patriots in the AFC while the NFC game would feature Green Bay at Dallas.

Earlier this year, the Packers faced Dallas on the road and just couldn't anything. I think the roles are reversed this time, as Green Bay heads into Texas and comes away a victor.

The AFC game is the final game scheduled for Jan. 20, and should feature the Colts at New England.

The Patriots played the Colts earlier this year in Indianapolis, coming away with a win. Again, I believe this game will be different, with the Colts coming out heading to their second-straight Super Bowl.

The winner of the Super Bowl? The Colts over Green Bay.

But, predictions are never easy to come by. The clear-cut favorite this year are the Patriots. They have steam-rolled nearly every team they've faced this season, with the exception of the Jets, Ravens, Giants and yes, the Colts.

Still, I think the Colts have what it takes again to win it all. And I think they will.

Besides, since my Vikings aren't in the playoffs this year, I've got to root for the state team.

Go Colts!