Playoffs Produce Leading Questions

Is this the season St. Louis Coach Mike Martz escapes the long shadow of Dick Vermeil?

Can Denver's Mike Shanahan win a playoff game without John Elway?

What's Mike Holmgren without Green Bay? For that matter, what's Green Bay without Holmgren?

Some answers will come in the next few weeks.

Until then, here are 20 more questions about the postseason:

* 1. Should Eagle fans do the unthinkable and root for Dallas today?

Of course they should. The Cowboys are in a position to help Philadelphia in a big way. If they win at Carolina, they move on to a conference semifinal in Philly -- one the Eagles should win with relative ease. But if Carolina wins -- and Green Bay beats Seattle -- the Eagles will play host to the Packers, and that's a much tougher matchup. The Eagles haven't proved they can stop the run, and the combination of Ahman Green and Brett Favre could spell doom for them. A Web site poll this week asked Eagle fans which potential playoff opponent they fear most, and 97% said Green Bay.

* 2. Are the stars aligned for any playoff team?

Yes, Green Bay. Not only did the Packers have a squishy-soft finish to the regular season -- against the Raiders, then Denver's scout team -- but they backed into the playoffs by virtue of Arizona's stunning, last-play victory over Minnesota. On top of that, the Packers open the playoffs against Seattle, a team they beat by three touchdowns in October.

* 3. Which Harrison will have the biggest impact on the postseason, Indianapolis receiver Marvin or New England safety Rodney?

Rodney, although both are poised for big games. Marvin caught 94 passes this season, a ho-hum total for him, and barely made a peep -- two catches -- in the finale against Houston. That's because the Texans double- and triple-teamed him, often leaving open underneath receiver Brandon Stokley, who caught nine passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. The Broncos did a pretty good job of containing Harrison two weeks ago, giving up a 63-yard reception but limiting him to 22 yards on his other five catches.

Rodney, who somehow was overlooked in Pro Bowl voting, led all NFL defensive backs in tackles this season. The last time he participated in the postseason was when the Chargers reached the 1995 Super Bowl, so he's itching to make up for lost time.

* 4. Who's under more pressure to win Sunday, Peyton Manning or Shanahan?

Manning. Yes, Shanahan hasn't won a playoff game since Elway retired, and, yes, that gnaws at him. But Denver's coach has two Super Bowl rings to salve the sting. Manning has zilch. He's 0 for 3 in postseason appearances as the Colt quarterback, something he has been asked about all season.

* 5. Which NFL teams could break USC's heart?

Atlanta and Arizona come to mind. The way I hear it, Pete Carroll would give serious consideration to an offer from the Falcons if the money's right. They've got a good owner in Arthur Blank, a good general manager in Rich McKay (son of legendary USC coach John McKay), and a superstar in Michael Vick. St. Louis defensive coordinator Lovie Smith is the front-runner for the Falcon job, but Carroll is on the radar screen.

As for the Cardinals, they've been considering USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow. They're probably thinking about him as an offensive coordinator, but his name also has come up as a head-coaching candidate, even though he has never been a head coach in college or the pros.

* 6. What about the Raiders?

Don't rule out Rick Neuheisel. The Raiders are taking a hard look at him.

* 7. What's the worst coaching opening out there?

It's a tossup between Oakland and Washington. In Al Davis, the Raiders have a meddlesome owner who knows football but doesn't pay. In Dan Snyder, the Redskins have a meddlesome owner who pays but doesn't know football.

* 8. Which team should top-seeded New England be dreading?

Denver, which, if it wins at Indianapolis on Sunday, will advance to a conference semifinal at New England. The Broncos should worry the top-seeded team because they have a strong running game, an excellent defense and are used to playing in the cold. They won at New England last season and almost beat the Patriots in Denver this season with Danny Kanell at quarterback. Also, Denver's Clinton Portis is the only back to run for 100 yards against New England this season.

* 9. Is having home-field advantage important to the Patriots?

You bet. Tom Brady had 12 passes intercepted this season -- all on the road. And the Patriot defense has surrendered one touchdown at home in the last six games -- by Jacksonville in garbage time. The Patriots are 17-3 in their last 20 home games.

And have you seen that field after the first quarter? It's a muddy mess. Just as the old Celtics knew all the dead spots in the Boston Garden floor, these Patriots know where all the loose sod is on their home field.