Prisco: Breaking down the AFC

It's anyone's pick in the NFC. The only thing for certain here is that Chicago and Seattle have the weekend off. Otherwise, flip a coin.

Washington? Why not? The Redskins are riding the Acela into the playoffs. Tampa Bay? The Bucs have the league's top-rated defense. Carolina? The Panthers were a trendy pick to make it to the Super Bowl. The Giants? They go as far as Tiki Barber carries them, and nobody had more yards rushing and receiving this year.

The Bucs' turnaround this season began with a 36-35 victory over the Redskins. (AP)

I guess that's another way of saying the NFC is as stable as the price of gasoline. One week it's the Panthers; the next it's the Giants. This weekend, though, two fall off the radar for good, and you make the decision who it will be.

Seattle Seahawks

The skinny: I kept waiting for the Seahawks to suffer a midseason letdown, and they didn't.

And they didn't not because Shaun Alexander kept scoring touchdowns but because their defense refused to suffer the meltdowns that characterized it in past years. For the first time, Seattle has a defense it can lean on -- particularly against the run. Rookie Lofa Tatupu was a key addition; so were LeRoy Hill, Chuck Darby and Bryce Fisher. All I know is the Seahawks surrendered more than 20 points only six times this year; in 2004 it happened on 11 occasions -- including the final six games.

This is the most balanced team in the NFC and the best; you don't win 11 straight because you're lucky. Now it's up to Mike Holmgren to produce. He hasn't won a playoff game since coming here; this is his best chance.

Player on the spot: Alexander. There's so much expected of the guy, and why not? He set the league record for touchdowns with 28, and he led the NFL in rushing. But what happens if he's bottled up? What happens if he can't produce 100 yards? Meet Matt Hasselbeck.

Area of concern: I really don't know of any outside of Holmgren's playoff record, but I'll offer the team's secondary. The pass rush is outstanding, with the Seahawks, not the Bears or New York Giants, leading the league in sacks. But the secondary was hammered down the stretch, with Tennessee shredding it for 336 yards; Indianapolis for 344 and Green Bay for 246. The good news is that the injuries that plagued Seattle down the stretch won't be as much of a factor in the playoffs. Cornerback Kelly Herndon returned for the season finale, and Andre Dyson and Marcus Trufant are expected back for the first game of the playoffs.

Intriguing stat: Seattle and Denver were the only playoff teams to win all of their home games. Dating back to 1995 there have been 21 teams that went undefeated at home; only nine of them went on to the Super Bowl.

Will go to the Super Bowl if ... They keep doing what they're doing -- which is balancing a solid offensive attack with above-average defensive play. Seattle doesn't produce a lot of turnovers, but it doesn't commit mistakes, either. Its 17 turnovers are the fewest in the NFC. But here's what you like most about these guys: They're No. 1 in red-zone offense and No. 2 in red-zone defense. Yep, that's balance.

Chicago Bears

The skinny: Defense is back in Chicago, where the Bears weren't the No. 1-ranked unit but they did lead the league in the only department that matters -- points. They surrendered 202, and no one was close. They also led the league in red-zone defense. And in yards per play. And in yards per pass play. Look at the NFC Pro Bowl team, and you find Bears everywhere on defense. Five of them to be exact.

Now, look at the offense. There's center Olin Kreutz. Period. Until Rex Grossman stepped in at quarterback this team was tilted in one direction. Granted, Grossman has a total of seven starts in his pro career, but the club seemed to perk up with his arrival -- and the change was noticeable in his first start. Chicago's first score was a touchdown pass.

Player on the spot: It would have to be Grossman. The expectations are high, not so much because of what he can do but because of what rookie Kyle Orton could not -- namely, produce a bona fide passing attack. Now, let's get something straight: Orton deserves credit, and a lot of it, for leading the Bears to a 10-4 start. Without him, they're dead. But Grossman is an upgrade, even though he has seven starts in his three-year career. Now he learns on the job ... in the playoffs.