Line: Falcons by 1

Skinny: Atlanta makes its first playoff appearance since the 2004 season and is riding high behind RB Michael Turner, easily the biggest free-agent acquisition this season in the NFL, and QB Matt Ryan, the NFL offensive rookie of the year. Turner, who came from the Chargers, rushed for 1,699 yards (No. 2 in the league) and 17 TDs. But the Cardinals' run defense isn't bad, ranking 16th. Arizona is playing its first home postseason game since 1947, when the team was based in Chicago, after going 0-for-St. Louis (from 1960-87) and 0 for its first 20 seasons in Arizona. The Cards love to throw, with QB Kurt Warner leading the NFL's No. 2 aerial attack and key WR Anquan Boldin vowing to play after missing two games because of a shoulder problem. Atlanta ranks 22nd against the pass, which spells t-r-o-u-b-l-e.

Bottom line: The Cardinals are a different team at home (6-2) than on the road (3-5), although the Vikings proved a ground attack can win in Arizona in Week 15. However, Minnesota's defense (No. 6 in the NFL) is much better than Atlanta's (No. 24), and the Cards should be able to score frequently here.

Pick: Cardinals 31, Falcons 27

Colts AT Chargers

When: 7 p.m.

TV: KARE Ch. 11

Line: Colts by 1

Skinny: San Diego soared into the playoffs by winning its final four games and despite an 8-8 finish took advantage of Denver's mammoth collapse to gain a rematch of a November contest that Indianapolis won 23-20. The Colts have won nine in a row and have allowed just six passing TDs all year -- the least in a 16-game season. That's a bad omen for the Chargers, who have become an aerial team (seventh in NFL) behind QB Philip Rivers because RB LaDainian Tomlinson has had an off year (3.8 yards per carry) and nurses a groin injury that he said leaves him at less than 100 percent. San Diego has another key injury concern. TE Antonio Gates' sprained ankle kept him out of practice, and he might not play. Indy is fifth in league in passing, and QB Peyton Manning completed more than 71 percent of his passes, with 17 TDs and only three interceptions, in the nine-game spree. If he gets sufficient protection from an ailing offensive line, he should feast on the NFL's second-worst pass defense.

Bottom line: Colts middle linebacker Gary Brackett is out for the fifth game in a row because of a broken leg, leading to shuffling in the linebacker corps. But the makeshift group has gotten the job done, and should do so again.

Pick: Colts 27, Chargers 23

-- Dan Caesar, St. Louis Post-Dispatch