The winning teams now must take on the big guns on their own turf if they are to make their Super Bowl dreams in 2014 reality.
Here is a look at the big match-ups on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday -
New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks - 4:30pm
The New Orleans Saints showed that they could win outdoors in the cold winter with a superb win over the Eagles in Philadelphia built on solid defence as well as their tremendous passing game orchestrated by MVP QB Drew Brees.
However, the Saints should expect a tougher time at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, the loudest stadium in the NFL against undoubtedly the best team in the NFC all season. The Seahawks have only lost once at home this season, albeit against the Cardinals but that was pretty much after the Hawks had wrapped up the division and a playoff spot.
Sean Payton's Saints were thrashed in the regular season here but Hawks fans will be expecting a much sturdier team and one that will be high in confidence after their tight win last weekend on the road. However, Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch and the defence should be fresh after their bye week with Pete Carroll having had time to work on the flaws that dogged their finish of the regular season to get the Hawks machine back and running to perfection.
Hawks to win by 7
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots - 8:15pm
In seasons gone by, this was the decider for the AFC Championship with Peyton Manning's Colts taking on Tom Brady's Patriots. Now the Colts are back albeit without Manning to take on the effervescent Brady, after probably his worst season as Patriots QB. Instead of Manning, they have Andrew Luck who recovered from those turnovers to lead the Colts from 28 points behind to beat the Chiefs at home.
The Colts must keep the turnovers to a minimum if they are to have any chance to beat the Patriots who specialise in those. On the other hand, you feel that the Pats haven't quite their best form yet this season having been hampered by injuries to key personnel in the offence, i.e. Rob Gronkowski. On the Pats' side could be the weather and - Boston would have been just recovering from the latest cold vortex - and the fact that they will be used to playing outdoors compared to their opponents.
Patriots to win by 3
Sunday -
San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers - 1:00pm
Who would have thought the 49ers would be forced to make their Super Bowl dreams true for the 2nd year running by playing their entire playoff series on the road? Not that that is putting off Jim Harbaugh's 49ers who defied the predictions of many to win at a freezing Lambeau Field.
They now travel to take on the Panthers, back in the playoffs for the first time in a long time, and a QB who is making his debut in the big time. However, if this season is anything to go by, nothing will faze Cam Newton and this defence who can claim an edge on the 49ers - they beat them at Candlestick Park in the regular season albeit by not a lot of points.
The 49ers might very well have the edge on paper with their experience but they are missing key personnel who stood out in the defence, e.g. Aldous Smith. But Colin Kaepernick is running better than he has been all season and that could make the difference as the 9ers rely on their powerful running game.
49ers to win by 3
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos - 4:40pm
Back in 2010 when the Seattle Seahawks and St Louis Rams were battling to make the playoffs despite a losing record, you'd have been sent in a straight jacket if you said that the NFL playoffs would be dominated by the West Coast. You'd be put in isolation too if you said that 3 AFC West teams would be playing in the new year.
But alas this is the case, with the Chargers now taking on the Broncos after being given a free pass to the next round by a generous Andy Dalton and the Cincinnati Bengals.
The odds are pretty much against the Chargers who just crept into the playoffs, up against an opponent widely tipped as favourites for the Super Bowl and who have been consistently better than the rest - and more importantly, have had the edge over their big AFC West rivals.
The Broncs may not have Von Miller to guide them to New York but they still have Peyton Manning and a whole array of weapons in the attack to ensure that opponents will need to win a shootout to cause an upset.
Broncos to win by 7
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