This year's playoffs will be the most exciting in a long long time for one major reason... there is no clear cut favorite who stands head and shoulders above everybody else. So here's a preseason look at the postseason...

San Diego and Chicago appear to be the frontrunners with their 12-2 records, but both Rivers and Grossman are unproven in the playoffs. Althought Marty Schottenheimer may be due for a Super Bowl berth, he has had two 13-3 Kansas City Chiefs that couldn't even advance to the AFC Championship. Meanwhile, the Bears' defense has been nursing several injuries and don't appear as dominant as the first eight weeks.

In the NFC, where 6-8 San Francisco still has a chance to win their division, you know that things are really that bad. The Cowboys are the only legitimate contenders against the powerful AFC, since they offer the most balanced attack. I like the Bears, but I don't really think their offense is enough to get them where they want to be. Then again, who needs to score a lot of points when your defense and special teams are liable to score two or three touchdowns and you may be playing the likes of underachieving Seattle, overachieving New Orleans, inconsistent Atlanta, and the McNabb-less Eagles? Cowboys vs. Bears in the NFC title match with Dallas advancing.

The AFC has the best chance to again capture the Super Bowl simply because they have the best quarterbacks. The Chargers may be for real. L.T. is the sh*#. 'Nuff said. New England continues to contend because of cool Tom Brady, who is the closest thing to Joe Montana. The only problem is that he doesn't have his Jerry Rice. Indianapolis will contend because of Peyton Manning, who is the closest thing to Dan Marino. Problem is that Tony Dungy ain't no Don Shula. The rest of the field involves Carson Palmer's Bengals, Steve McNair's Ravens, Pennington's Jets, Garrard's Jags, and Cutler's Broncos. The QB who steps up and takes it to another level will determine who advances amid the chaos that is the AFC. I'll put my money on San Diego and New England, with the Chargers moving on to play in Miami. Yes, I'm from California so I'm biased.

Super Bowl pick:  Chargers 34, Cowboys 24