With a 28 - 0 shutout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the Patriots are undoubtably one of the hottest teams in the NFL heading into the playoffs. Unless the Bengals lose their next two games and we win our next two (if I have done my research correctly), the Patriots are a lock to be the number 4 seed in the AFC Playoffs. This means we will host the #1 wild card team, which at this point is completely up in the air but looks as though it will be the Jaguars. This matchup definately favors the Patriots for these reasons: 1) It is a home game; and all the other things associated with it (crowd, climate will be important, etc...) 2) Tom Brady is perhaps the best quarterback in the league, and if not he is in the top 3 or so. Not taking anything away from Byron Leftwich but he isn't going to be 100%, and he may not even play but even if he was it is still a mismatch; also no backup can take a team far into the playoffs unless his first start was in the first five games of the season (i.e. Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady). 3) and, the Patriots have a LOT more experience in the playoffs. The Patriots are starting to get their groove on again and anything can happen. Unless the #6 seed wins it will be a classic Division Matchup of old AFC East foes as the Patriots will take on the Colts. I'm rooting for that last wild card team to pull it out because it is just not right for the Patriots and Colts not to play for the right to go to the Super Bowl. Happy football!