And then there were 12. Yes ladies and gentlemen, the playoffs are finally here. We began the regular season back on September 8 and almost four months later, the pretenders have been brushed aside and the true contenders, the 12 teams that locked up play-off berths, begin that final journey towards Super Bowl XLVI, and a place in NFL history.

For some teams, the road to the play-offs was made to look relatively easy. Teams like the Packers, Patriots and Saints, for the most part seemed to steamroll their opposition week after week in dominant fashion. But for other teams like the Broncos, Bengals, and Giants, it was a season of up and down, twists and turns, embarrassing falls and dramatic comebacks. At times, their play-off hopes looked to have evaporated, yet here they stand, still in with a chance to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy come February 5 in Indianapolis.

In week 17, the Bengals and Broncos were looking to win their respective season finales in order to safely book passage through the play-offs. Both teams lost, but still advanced by virtue of losses by the teams chasing them for a play-off spot — the Jets and Raiders.

The Giants and Cowboys faced off in a do-or-die match-up on Sunday night, with the winner assured of the NFC East title and a play-off berth. Eli and the Giants triumphed, Romo and the Cowboys floundered (again), and so it looks like it will be another offseason filled with questions for the folks in big ‘D’.

The Packers had already locked up a first round play-off bye and home field advantage throughout the postseason, and thus rested quarterback Aaron Rodgers and other starters for their regular season finale against the Lions. Detroit had already qualified for the play-offs but needed a win in week 17 to secure a higher seeding. Packers’ back-up quarterback Matt Flynn would have none of it though, and proceeded to throw for franchise records of 480 yards and six touchdowns. Folks, just so you understand, Matt Flynn, the Packers back-up quarterback, is now the Green Bay Packers’ franchise record holder for passing yards and touchdowns in a game — not the great Bret Favre, not Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers — but Matt Flynn. Let that sink in for a moment.

But let’s shift now and take a look at the play-off match-ups. In the AFC, the number one and number two seeds, the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens have secured a first round bye, and so they will be kicking back watching the other teams seeded three to six, contest the Wildcard round. On Saturday, the Houston Texans, beset with injuries all season long and losers of three straight games to end the regular season, will host the Cincinnati Bengals, who are in the postseason under the leadership of a rookie quarterback Andy Dalton.

Houston are also being led by a rookie at quarterback TJ Yates, but may have the edge in this match-up because of their defence and a strong running game led by running back Arian Foster. On Sunday, the Tim Tebow-led Broncos are at home to the Steelers, who are hurting at the worst possible time. The ‘Black and Yellow’ have lost running back Rashard Mendenhal for the entire play-offs with a torn knee ligament, and star safety Ryan Clark will miss the game due to sickle cell health concerns associated with the altitude at Mile High Stadium in Denver, where the game will be played. To make matters worse, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is still nursing a sprained ankle. Can the Steelers overcome all of this misfortune to get a road win? I think they still can.

Over in the NFC, the Packers and 49ers are on a bye in the first round, while the Saints, Giants, Falcons and Lions do battle in the Wildcard round. On Saturday, the high-powered Saints, unbeaten at home this season (8-0), will host a young and confident Lions squad, back in the play-offs for the first time since 1999. This should be an exciting game, most likely a shoot-out, but I think Drew Brees and the Saints just have too much offensive firepower for Ndamukong Suh and the Lions “D”.

Then on Sunday, the Giants are at home to the Atlanta Falcons, in what should be a really interesting match-up. Giants quarterback Eli Manning came through in crunch time for New York time and time again this season, and as a proven clutch performer, I give him the edge over the Falcons’ signal-caller Matt Ryan. The Falcons’ running game with Michael Turner will be a handful for the Giants, but in the end, I have more confidence in the “G-Men” to advance.

Now as you all know, my colleagues, Tony Scott (for whom I’m filling in writing this week’s article), Andre Hutchinson, Peter Lindo and I, have been making predictions against the point spread on the games all season long. Well, after 17 weeks of competition, the dust has settled and I’d like to congratulate the man who has emerged as “Top Dog” with an impressive overall record of 140-116, the veteran, Tony Scott. Picking winners against the point spread isn’t easy I can assure you, and the competition was tough all season long. But it was a welcome, enjoyable challenge and really added another dimension to the NFL fan experience. We now move on to making our play-off picks against the spread, beginning this week. Maybe my luck will change in the postseason, we’ll just have to wait and see.

So it’s win or go home time folks. No room for error, no opportunity to try and correct your mistakes next week. For these play-off teams, this is crunch time, and everything is on the line. I hope you all enjoy the games, I know I will! Take care, and remember to place your bets!

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NFL WILDCARD PLAY-OFF SCHEDULE

(Handicaps in bracket, Under/Over included)

Saturday, January 7

Houston Texans v Cincinnati Bengals (+2.5), U/O 38.5 | NBC, ESPN INT’L

New Orleans Saints v Detroit Lions (+10.5), U/O 57.5 | NBC, ESPN INT’L

Sunday, January 8

New York Giants v Atlanta Falcons (+2.5), U/O 46.5 | FOX

Denver Broncos (+8.5) v Pittsburgh Steelers, U/O 34.5 | CBS

*Handicaps and Under/Over subject to change without notice, prior to kick-off

EXPERTS’ PICKS AGAINST THE SPREAD

Tony Scott’s Wildcard Playoff Picks (in bold)

Texans v Bengals

Saints v Lions

Giants v Falcons

Broncos v Steelers

Last week: 11-5

Regular Season Record: 140-116

Andre Hutchinson’s Wildcard Playoff Picks (in bold)

Texans v Bengals

Saints v Lions

Giants v Falcons

Broncos v Steelers

Last week: 11-5

Regular Season Record: 138-118

Andrei Roper’s Wildcard Playoff Picks (in bold)

Texans v Bengals

Saints v Lions

Giants v Falcons

Broncos v Steelers

Last week: 11-5

Regular Season Record: 132-124

Peter Lindo’s Wildcard Playoff Picks (in bold)

Texans v Bengals

Saints v Lions

Giants v Falcons

Broncos v Steelers

Last week: 10-6

Regular Season Record: 130-126