Ralph Vacchiano's post on New York Giants | Latest updates on Sulia

Two big games in the divisional playoff round today: Ravens-Broncos, Packers-49ers. … Here are my picks …

Denver Broncos 27, Baltimore Ravens 21 – Nobody’s hotter than the Broncos (11 straight wins) and very few are playing better than Peyton Manning, who is my clear pick for NFL MVP. The Ravens were unimpressive in their wild-card win over the Colts. Their defense, even with Ray Lewis, isn’t what it used to be and their offense was a couple of big plays from looking absolutely stalled against the Colts. They’re not good enough to stop Manning, and Joe Flacco doesn’t have the weapons to hang with him. This will look like more of a blowout than the final score indicates. Green Bay Packers 31, San Francisco 49ers 24 – I still admire Jim Harbaugh for what I think is the gutsiest coaching decision I’ve seen in years, benching Alex Smith and switching to Colin Kaepernick midway through the season. He’s been good and this 49ers team has everything else – a strong rushing attack, a strong defense. But is there any one more locked in right now than Aaron Rodgers? I know they lost in the regular-season finale to the Vikings, but they beat them in the playoffs, barely breaking a sweat. Rodgers has the same look in his eye (and in the offense) that he did in 2010. The 49ers’ defense is good, though they did give up 34 points to New England and 42 to Seattle in back-to-back games just three weeks ago. So they are vulnerable. To me that puts the game in Rodgers’ hands, and he’ll win a dual with Kaepernick any day.