That's what it is, I suppose, but let's stick with calling them the playoffs.

It sounds funny to say the Dallas Cowboys aren't in the Super Bowl tournament.

It sounds familiar to say the Dallas Cowboys aren't in the playoffs.

Plus, in a tournament, the brackets are set before they start.

The NFL, perhaps taking a cue from NASCAR, shuffles the brackets from week to week.

The idea is to give the top seed the most advantageous route to the Super Bowl, a just reward for a season's worth of good luck. Or, in the New York Giants' case, the payoff for a well-timed wind gust two weeks ago against the Panthers.

Unlike some tournaments, I mean playoffs, every team in this one can win the championship. Except the Cowboys.

It all starts with wild card weekend:

INDIANAPOLIS at SAN DIEGO: It doesn't get much better than this, does it?

The Colts have won nine in a row. The Chargers have turned into Lazarus. And either could be in Tampa the first weekend of February.

The Chargers can be maddening. They spent most of the season underachieving, then found their mojo when it mattered. And Philip Rivers is due to get some MVP votes.

The Colts, meanwhile, look menacing again. Once Peyton Manning got healthy, so did the Colts.

Keep an eye on them. Colts 32, Chargers 23.

BALTIMORE at MIAMI: What the Dolphins did this season, transforming themselves from a south Florida version of the Lions into AFC East champions, was Disney Channel stuff.

They occasionally ran an offbeat offense, turned Chad Pennington into a star again and reinforced the idea that Bill Parcells is a mastermind at building franchises.

They've become the feel-good story of the year in the NFL. But they've gone as far as they're going this season. Ravens 24, Dolphins 20.

ATLANTA at ARIZONA: As a consolation prize for finishing second in the NFC South and winding up the fifth seed, the Falcons got a trip to Phoenix. It beats going to Minneapolis.

But, I'm thinking, they're not going out there for the golf courses and desert resorts.

Here's the danger for the Falcons: Seemingly everyone has written off the Cardinals, who tanked it down the stretch after clinching their first division title since the days of leather helmets. Only the Jets (among decent teams) were worse at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, the Falcons have turned into Carrie Underwood -- everyone likes them. And why not?

Matt Ryan. Michael Turner. Mike Smith. And onion rings from the Varsity restaurant.

This one isn't as automatic as some think it will be. Falcons 31, Cardinals 27.

PHILADELPHIA at MINNESOTA: If the Vikings win, they come to Charlotte to play the Panthers next week. If the Eagles win, they go to the Meadowlands to torment Tom Coughlin and the Giants.

The Vikings have beaten the Panthers once this season and despite issues at quarterback, they've been good to very good from start to finish.

However, the Eagles might be playing better than any team in the league. Six weeks ago, Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb were being run out of town. Now they're adored again. And they're not finished yet. Eagles 27, Vikings 17.

Last week: 14-2

Season: 152-93-1

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