[Tommy]

Carolina @ New York
Eli Manning makes his playoff debut vs another Lousiana QB, Delhomme, who has played in Super Bowl. Panthers were just 4-3 down stretch after 7-2 start, but they won six of their last seven road games, and ran ball for 229 yards vs pouting Falcons last week Giant LBs have severe injury issues, but this being playoff games, hard to imagine all able bodies won't play. First home game in three weeks for Giants, who got extra home game during season; they're 8-1 at home, losing turnover-filled fray vs Minnesota, that saw Vikings, return punt, kick and INT for TD in same game, for first time in league history. Coach Fox got Carolina job through work he did with Giants as DC, sxo he knows the ins and outs of winter ball in Swamp, and might have some knowledge that net Carolina a minor upset.

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati
Home side had better record; teams split pair of games during season, with Steelers winning 27-13 on this field in Week 7, as Pitt outrushed Cincy 221-91- they were just 9-14/83 yards passing in first meeting. Roethlisberger has bad thumb and has trouble throwing long passes; Bengals will try to stack the run; until last week, they had held last four opponents under 100 rushing yards, but Chiefs got 202 against them. In second meeting, in Week 13, Bengals were +4 in turnovers, winning 38-31. Steelers outgained Cincy 474-324 in second meeting, but were done in by Bengals scoring three TD's on drives that started in Pitt territory. Bengals lost last two games, but neither mattered; Palmer came out in second quarter last week. Average field position was huge in both games, as Steelers had 16-yard edge in first game, Bengals 12-yard edge in second. Experience edge Steelers, enthusiasm edge Bengals; should be terrific game.