Jets (9-7) at Bengals (10-6)
New York must take the second half of a de facto home-away series after blanking the Bengals, 37–0, at home in Week 17. The rookie coach and quarterback duo of Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez hope to re-create the first-year success of Baltimore’s John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco last season. The Gang Green (or Rex-ecutioner) defense and the league’s top-ranked running game must dominate. Cincinnati needs to forget last week’s humiliating effort. The beating was so bad, Chad Ochocinco will have to change his name back to “Chad Johnson” after being locked down by Darrelle Revis. By any name, the Bengals must bounce back from their Bungles outing. Coach Marvin Lewis — like Ryan, a former Ravens defensive coordinator — needs his D to force rookie mistakes from Sanchez.

Ravens (9-7) at Patriots (10-6)
Technically, Baltimore lost at New England, 27–21, in Week 4. But in reality, the Ravens had control of the game until an uncharacteristic dropped pass on fourth down with under one minute. If second-year quarterback Joe Flacco can protect the football like he did during his AFC title game run as a rookie, the Ray Rice ground game and Ray Lewis defense will give Baltimore a chance to advance. Coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have never lost a playoff game at home since teaming up in New England, but winning the rematch will be easier said than done without injured go-to receiver Wes Welker. Randy Moss will have to come up big — something he certainly has done before. The defense also must find a way to slow down the Ravens’ powerful running game.

Eagles (11-5) at Cowboys (11-5)
Philadelphia will need to execute better than it did in two losses to NFC East rival Dallas this season — a 24–0 shutout on the road in Week 17 and a 20–16 defeat at home in Week 9. Quarterback Donovan McNabb was sacked seven times, with one TD, two INTs and two fumbles against the Cowboys’ Big D this year. It starts in the trenches, where the Eagles have been outplayed by the Boys. Jerry Jones has a new $1.2 billion stadium, but the high-profile owner-GM hasn’t been able to buy a playoff win since 1996. In order for that stat to change, Dallas must beat Philadelphia for a second straight week and the third time this year. All-Pro pass rusher DeMarcus Ware (6.5 sacks in nine games vs. Eagles) and quarterback Tony Romo (0–2 career playoff record) must rise to the occasion.

Packers (11-5) at Cardinals (10-6)
Aaron Rodgers’ first playoff game will have to be Favre-ian. After posting video game-gaudy numbers (4,434 yards, 30 TDs, seven INTs) this season, Rodgers will need to bring that same heat to the desert, where Green Bay took a 33–7 victory in Week 17. The Packers’ new-look 3-4 defense has been opportunistic all year and will need to continue to be against a high-octane Cardinals offense. Arizona needs to regain last season’s Cinderella Super Bowl form, which was sparked by veteran quarterback Kurt Warner, All-Pro receiver Larry Fitzgerald and a ball-hawking desert swarm defense. Warner has made it to the Super Bowl every season he’s stayed healthy enough to play 15 or more games, but the Cardinals enter with a mediocre 4–4 record at home and 6–2 mark on the road.