NFL Gridiron Guide divisional playoff picks: Packers, Ravens, Seahawks, Broncos cover

When I was a kid, I used to cry walking to the bus stop on the first day back to school after the holidays. Now, I realize that the best cure for the "holiday blues" is the NFL divisional playoff weekend.

This weekend -- and next week's Championship Sunday -- are the two best weeks of the NFL season.

Why? Check out this list of names: Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning, Joe Flacco, Russell Wilson, Tony Romo and Cam Newton. This group of talented quarterbacks has won a combined eight NFL MVP awards, seven Lombardi Trophies and five Super Bowl MVPs.

The four host teams are a combined 30-2 at home this season. In the last decade, only two other seasons, 2005 and 2011, featured collective records that good among the four hosts who sat out wild-card weekend, according to STATS. In neither of those postseasons did any of the four win it all. Pittsburgh, the AFC's No. 6 seed, won in the 2005 season and the Giants, the NFC's No. 4 seed, won to close out the 2011 season.

Without further ado, let's get to the divisional-round matchups.

COWBOYS AT PACKERS

Sunday, 1:30 p.m. Ch. 5

Packers by 6; O/U: 53

Two of the NFC's most iconic teams meet for the sixth time in the postseason. Interestingly, the last time these two teams met in the playoffs in Green Bay was Dec. 31, 1967. Current Packers coach Mike McCarthy was 4 years old and Jason Garrett was a 9-month-old. In one of the NFL's greatest games, the Packers won the "Ice Bowl," 21-17, for the NFL championship (pre-Super Bowl, youngsters). Game-time temperatures were -15 degrees and players on both teams suffered frostbite. Luckily, Sunday's forecast calls for fog and temperatures around 21 degrees. Still, the weather could be a factor, especially for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, who is dealing with a calf injury that could limit his mobility.

This is the first time in NFL history that a postseason game features a team that went 8-0 at home (Packers) vs. one that went 8-0 on the road (Cowboys), and it's just the third time in NFL history that two teams meet with unblemished home-and-away records. Dallas' best chance for a win is a steady running game that controls the clock and keeps Rodgers & Co. on the sideline.

Dallas is 7-1 ATS on the road this season, but historically, they struggle in the playoffs: The Cowboys are 2-7 ATS in their last nine playoff games. The Packers are 6-3 ATS in their last nine playoff games, but even better, they are 22-8 ATS in their last 30 games against winning teams. How long, or well, will Rodgers' calf hold up? Who knows?

The real question is: How many times will we see New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie huddled up with Jerry Jones & Co.? I guess about a half-dozen. Even Christie's "mojo" is not enough to derail these Packers at Lambeau. Green Bay, 28-20.

The pick: Packers

RAVENS AT PATRIOTS

Saturday, 4:35 p.m., Ch. 2

Patriots by 7; O/U: 47 1/2

I heard Patriots QB Tom Brady say last week that it serves no purpose for a team with a first-round bye to "root" for teams in the wild-card game. But, c'mon, Tommy Boy! You and the Patriots had to be hoping for a Steelers' win against the Ravens last week. After all, Baltimore has beaten the Patriots twice in three playoff meetings: in the 2012 AFC Championship Game and a wild-card game in 2010. The Ravens are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four games in Foxborough. Joe Flacco has the most playoff wins by a QB (10) since 2008 and most road wins (7) in NFL history. Wow! I think the Ravens have the best shot at an upset in the divisional round. But I just can't take them to win against one of New England's best squads since 2004. Ravens cover, but New England prevails, 27-24.

The pick: Ravens

PANTHERS AT SEAHAWKS

Saturday, 8:15 p.m., Ch. 5

Seahawks BY 10 1/2; O/U: 39 1/2

On paper, this one might look like a yawner. My interest is that the last time a .500 or lower divisional champ won in the wild-card round -- before the Panthers did it last week -- was the Seahawks in January 2011. The Seahawks topped the Saints in the "Beast Quake" game when Marshawn Lynch's 67-yard TD run caused a small tremor at Seattle's Qwest Field. The Panthers could keep things close for a while with their gritty defense, guided by Luke Kuechly (NFL-best 473 tackles since 2012). But the Seahawks' "D" is too strong, and Lynch and Russell Wilson will do enough for the defending champs, who are 24-2 at home (including playoffs) the past three seasons. Seattle has won seven straight playoff games in the Emerald City. Make it eight. Seattle, 26-9.

The pick: Seahawks

COLTS AT BRONCOS

Sunday, 4:40 p.m., Ch. 2

Broncos BY 7; O/U: 54

The NFL bigwigs and talking heads got what they wanted when the Colts beat the playoff-challenged Bengals. Now we can listen to Jim Nantz and Phil Simms talk for three-plus hours about the matchup of the former Colts (and current Broncos) QB Peyton Manning vs. the current Colts QB Andrew Luck. Quick aside: The Colts' horseshoe sure is lucky, isn't it? First Peyton, and now Luck? The Broncos beat the visiting Colts, 31-24, back in Week 1. The Broncos are 15-4 overall at home in the franchise's postseason history. I've never seen a team rely more on one player (see: Luck) than these Colts, who are 15-6-1 ATS in last 22 games. Still, I think Indy's porous O-line and defense finally meets its match vs. Broncos, which, after you get past that high-powered offense, has a legit defense, too. The Broncos are 8-0 at home this season. Denver, 34-23.

The pick: Broncos

STAFF PICKS (against the spread; best bets in caps)

JOHN BOELL (Regular season: 137-118-5; Playoffs: 0-4): Ravens Seahawks Packers Broncos

BOB GLAUBER (Regular season: 127-128-5; Playoffs: 2-2): Ravens Seahawks Packers Colts

TOM ROCK (Regular season: 121-134-5; Playoffs: 1-3): Patriots Seahawks Cowboys Colts

KIMBERLEY A. MARTIN (Regular season: 122-133-5; Playoffs: 1-3): Patriots Seahawks Packers Colts