For a second straight week I pick all 4 NFL playoff games correctly. For the second straight week, I bet nothing on them. Probably for the best, given that the Pats didn't cover.

Should I be awed at my 8-0 run? Perhaps. Consider, though, that six of those games went to the home team, a position of such strength in the NFL playoffs that it's almost a no-brainer. Perhaps the more impressive thing was getting the "upset" wins right.

Clearly, there could be no better way for the Pats to bid adieu to Foxboro Stadium than Saturday night's winter carnival. That the win closed the circle opened by the Sugar Bear Hamilton roughing the passer call from back in 1976 makes it that much sweeter. An AFC title game would be nice, but it would either (a) end in a loss, which would suck, or (b) a win and a trip to play the Rams (more on that anon).

I have only one game experience at Foxboro, when I saw the Pats play the Seahawks. Thanks to the magic of Lexis-Nexis, I can tell you that Seattle beat the Pats 38-31 (I don't remember it as being that close, probably from the two punts that Rich Camarillo had blocked) on September 21, 1986. Tony Eason apparently set a Patriots record for passing yards that day (422). My greatest memory of the game was that is was raining and cold (much colder than it should have been for that time of year), and we had what might have been the world's most pathetic post-game tailgate. We tailgated better before the BU-Northern Iowa playoff game, for Pete's sake!

Anyway, time to put perfection on the line.

Philadelphia Eagles at St. Louis Rams The Eagles need three things to happen to beat the Rams:

1. Judicious use of tactical nukes in and around The Dome at America's Center.
2. A guy from the Far East deplanes in St. Louis and fails to declare the new and especially virulent strain of flu he's brought with him.
3. Mary Mallon gets hired as the new Rams clubhouse chef.

I like the Eagles, with their hard-nosed defense and one man gang in Donovan McNabb. But neither will be able to contend with the variety of challenges that the Rams throw at you. And when the Rams defense gets involved, like they did in the butt whuppin' they put on the Pack, well you got to consider yourself screwed. Can't imagine that the Eagles will let it get as ugly as that, but look out.

New England Patroits at Pittsburgh Steelers Here's where perfection may take a holiday.

I am, at the core, a homer. Year in, year out, it's root, root, root for the home team, and keep the faith even in the face of a clubhouse falling apart, more penny pinching by the King of Delaware North, or some school in Newton winning the NCAA hockey title. And so it continues here.

The Steelers are a tremendous football team. They've managed to revive their offense and create a hellacious defense out of the rubble of season past that would have claimed other coaches (good thing Bill Cohwer doesn't coach in Tampa). Kordell Stewart is back to his old tricks, and even has wideouts who can catch and run. Jerome Bettis may finally return to pound the ball, but even if he doesn't show Amos Zereoue seems competent (though his two best days as a running back came against the Ravens) and there's the Vanna White pleasing Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, who isn't a shrinking violet either.

Did I mention that Pittsburgh has the NFL's top defense?

So what are the Pats to do? The way I see it, the "bend but don't break" philosophy of the Pats defense will come into play, and neither team will establish itself on offense. Somewhere along the line the Steelers get one into the end zone (I'm guessing Plaxico Burress on a fade to the corner) and they chalk up a safety on a Kendrell Bell sack. The Pats stuff one in, too (Jermaine Wiggins on a curl, as he catches 15 balls for 47 yards) after settling for a field goal on their opening drive.

This sets things up for the shankadelic Kris Brown. 41 yards. Two seconds. Wide left.

At least someone else tabbed the Pats a team of destiny so I don't have to do so, thereby jinxing the whole lot of 'em.