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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.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Baltimore Ravens
Jim vs. John
Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh
Brother vs. Brother
Brah vs. Brah

Unless you have been living under a rock, you should be quite aware that this year's Super Bowl will feature a showdown between brothers Jim and John Harbaugh.  Twitter peeps have been going hastag crazy with orginials such as #superbaugh, #harbowl, and#superbraugh.  One fan even tried to go as far as trademarking "Harbowl" but the NFL has discouraged him from continuing his efforts.  I think for the first time in Super Bowl history the coaches might be more of a story than the 2 teams.   The circumstances are incredibly unique and I think this is great for the league.  I hoped for this last year and we all got lucky to have the opportunity again this year.  Amazingly I got my wish and we have an all-Harbaugh Super Bowl.  So in spirits of the Harbowl I would like to offer a tale of the tape for these two brothers as they head into the game of their life.  Think of all the times these two have competed.  Whether its a card game, board game, a romantic interest, or even the love of their parents.... I wonder if there is a favorite in this long history of competition?  The brothers seem so similar but is there a historical advantage in this match-up?  Either way I think the loser of this game will face an uphill battle in trying to deal with defeat.

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.

What is now known as the Mercedes-Benz Superdome was opened on August 3, 1975.  Since that time it has been the host of 6 Super Bowls and this season's finale will bring the total to 7.  The home of the New Orleans Saints already owned the distinction of hosting the most Super Bowls so the super-structure only adds to its lead.   A lead that it holds over the Orange Bowl and Sun Life Stadium.  Both of which are located in Miami, FL and have hosted 5 each.  In honor of the seventh time hosting the event, I have sent the Sports Traveler Blog through a time machine as we take a trip back through the last 6 Super Bowls in New Orleans.

*The Superdome has also hosted the BCS National Championship on 2 occasions. (2008, 2012)

The football draft has come and gone and teams are now beginning to prepare for the upcoming season. With training camp almost two months away, it's not too early to start planning your weekend trips!

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