A few speculations about the NFL playoffs:

– Are you tired of every sports media outlet proclaming the New England Patriots the champions? Even Patriots fans are sick of hearing their team already won the Super Bowl. Someone needs to stand and shout: &8220;Hey, they still need to play the games. That&8217;s why they call them playoffs.&8221;

– All that talk must be particularly offensive to the San Diego Chargers, who with a backup quarterback and running back last Sunday defeated the Indianapolis Colts, the team many sportswriters said might have had a shot at beating the Patriots. This Sunday is the American Football Conference title game. You don&8217;t get here unless you are good. Let&8217;s be the first to admit that, indeed, the Chargers have a shot.

– If the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl, they will complete an undefeated season. The Pats would post a 19-0 record. The upside will be no longer hearing all the hyperbole over the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins and their arrogant champaign toasts.

– The National Football Conference title game is between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants. After all the praise lauded on Colts quarterback Peyton Manning this season and the slamming of Giants quarterback Eli Manning (Peyton&8217;s little brother), will the New York media notice Eli made it further in the playoffs than his brother? Are the New York writers eating crow? Eli deserves praise, even if the Packers win on Sunday.

– The Old Man of the North will come out on Sunday. We&8217;re not talking about a cold winter. We&8217;re talking about Brett Favre, quarterback for the Packers. After the past couple of poor seasons, it has been exciting to see the 38-year-old success this year and enjoy the game in earnest again. A matchup on Super Bowl Sunday between two of the greatest players &8212; Favre and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady &8212;would be a thrill for football fans everywhere.