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What a week folks.  As if there aren't enough headlines for the Super Bowl, we get slapped in the face with allegations from SI that Ray Lewis used a banned substance.  It seems no sport, including golf, is safe from PED's.  Vijay Singh also admitted that he was using the same product Lewis has allegedly used.  Miami New Times also released a story this week that a company down in Florida was selling PED's to several MLB players.  It is a sad state of affairs when every sports accomplishment seems tainted these days.  At some point I think we all just have to accept that PED's have been and will always be prevalent in professional and collegiate sports.  The drive to be the best is what put these athletes in the position they are in and many times an athlete will compromise integrity for success.  We can sit here and judge all day but can you honestly say you would do different?  I would like to think I would but until put in that position I'm not sure how I would respond.  We now know how athletes like Alex Rodriguez and Ray Lewis allegedly responded.

I was really hoping that my predictions would hold on last weekend but I ended up at .500 after going 2 out of 4.  The good news I am still 6-2 in the 2013 playoffs so I can at least hang my hat on that for another day or so.  Last weekend was one of the best playoff weekends that I can remember in a while.  The Patriots and Texans game was the only one that wasn't up to playoff excitement standards.  The outcome of that game was pretty clear from the first quarter on.  The Texans just didn't have enough to beat New England at home.  It just seems like the Patriots have this whole football thing figured out.

Before I get to this week's games I do want to review the other 3 games briefly.  The Broncos and Ravens game was great and I like seeing Ray Lewis continue his swan song but that was ridiculous.  The Broncos flat gave that game away and it was hard for me to see Peyton Manning contribute so much to a loss.  Manning will receive a ton of MVP votes this season and had an amazing season this year but he kinda choked at the end.  Sad to seem him struggle in the clutch like that.

The opening weekend of the NFL playoffs ended up about how I expected.  I felt pretty good about going 4 out of 4 with my picks last week but I will also admit that the choices seemed pretty easy.  The major disappointment of the weekend was the status of the clearly injured RGIII.  I was really looking forward to that game but it proved to be pretty lack luster after Seattle gained their composure.  I'm not sure where I stand on the issue with starting Griffin, but if they knew the extent of the injury then there is no excuse for starting him.  I don't think we will ever know for sure how much information the Redskins had on his injury but we can be certain that RGIII is a competitor and will be a force in the NFC for years to come.

This week the picks are a little harder to make but I feel confident with my football instincts at the moment.  I'm hoping to make it a perfect 8 for 8 so without further due lets take a look at each game this weekend.

The grind of the NFL regular season has come to an end.  The slates have been cleared and nothing from the regular season matters any more.  This is what is known as "crunch time".  We are now in the 2 minute drill of the NFL season and its win or go home.  It is hard to believe that this incredible season is already over.  There were stories of triumph, episodes of tragedy, as well as many amazing achievements in 2012.  One of the most intriguing stories this season has been the success of 3 rookie quarterbacks.

The first and second overall picks in last year's draft have already brought their teams to the post-season.  Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III have been tremendous for their teams but ROY honors might go to third rounder Russell Wilson in Seattle.  All three sensations will be in action on Wild Card weekend including a showdown between RG3 and Wilson in Landover, MD.

Here is a detailed look at the NFL Playoff games this weekend and a look ahead to Divisional match-ups.

Its crunch time.  Who will bring home the Lombardi Trophy this year?  There are only a few spots left to fill this weekend and the scene for the NFL playoffs will be set.  There may only be a few invitations left to the postseason but there is still plenty availability at Sports Traveler for your trip to any playoff game including Super Bowl XLVI.  We are less than 2 months away from the greatest annual sports event in the world.  Many millions watch the Super Bowl every year and even more millions are spent on the vastly entertaining commercials that we all greatly anticipate.  Looking for a new way to experience the Super Bowl outside your living room?  Maybe its time you treat yourself and take a trip to mecca of North American sporting events.  We have travel packages available that feature comfortable lodging, tickets to the Super Bowl, 4 day Avvis car rental, and the experience of a lifetime.  Need tickets?  Check out our great selection of Super Bowl tickets

There are only 2 weeks left in the NFL regular season and the playoff picture is beginning to fill out.  So far this season has been full of great story lines that generate lots of excitement for some and loads of disappointment for others.

On the historical side of things the Green Bay Packers started off the season 13-0 on their way to possibly being the first repeat champion since the Patriots ('04, '05).  Unfortunately the team hit an unexpected road block this past Sunday on their way to perfection.  Their first loss of the season came to the 5-8 Kansas City Chiefs who were just coming off a week where they fired their head coach Todd Haley.  Go figure.  Although the season is far from over, the 2011 Packers loose out on football immortality by coming up short in their quest for 19-0.  Either way the goal for any NFL is to win the Super Bowl.  If you go undefeated while doing so its a bonus, but no one cares what their record is after the Super Bowl champion has been crowned.

You can now reserve your package for the Divisional Round Playoffs next weekend. Divisional Playoff Round Packages are available for the Colts, Chargers, Vikings, and Saints.

Each package includes accommodations in the host city near the stadiums, guaranteed tickets to the playoff game, and more. Availability is very limited.

The games will be held on January 16 and 17. The NFL has not yet determined the exact day each team will be playing.

View Divisional Round Packages

Football Wild Card Playoff Travel Packages are now available for all the playoff games this weekend. See the Packers vs. Cardinals, Eagles vs. Cowboys, Patriots vs. Ravens, or Jets vs. Bengals.

All packages include hotel accommodations near the stadium, guaranteed game tickets, and more.

View All Football Playoff Packages

After an exciting week 17 in the NFL, we now know which teams will be playing in the playoffs.  In the AFC, the Tennesee Titans have locked up the #1 seed with the Pittsburgh Steelers right behind them at 2.  These teams will be playing the winners of the wild card round.  The Miami Dolphins will be hosting the Baltimore Ravens on January 4.  On Saturday January 3, the division winning San Diego Chargers will be playing the Indianapolis Colts.  On January 18, the two remaining teams will be in the AFC Championship.  The winner goes to the Super Bowl in Tampa.

In the NFC, the defending champion New York Giants are the #1 seed after a great season.  The NFC South Champion Carolina Panthers will be the two seed.  In the wild card matchups, the Atlanta Falcons will be traveling to Glendale to play the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings will be hosting the Philadelphia Eagles.  The NFC Championship will be held on January 18 with the two best teams playing against