Scouting this weekend's NFL playoff games

Falcons at Cardinals

Local flavor: Waukegan native and North Chicago High School graduate Michael Turner, who attended Northern Illinois, led the Falcons' offense, finished second in the NFL with 1,699 rushing yards and was voted to his first Pro Bowl.

Cardinals PK Neil Rackers, who connected on 25 of 28 field goals (89.3 percent) played at Illinois, as did long-snapper Nathan Hodel, who attended downstate Belleville East High School. LG Mike Gandy attended Notre Dame and played his first four seasons with the Bears, starting 30 games.

Keys to the game: Falcons DE John Abraham (161/2 sacks) must pressure Cardinals QB Kurt Warner, who directed the No. 2 passing offense in the NFL. If Warner has time, his trio of 1,000-yard receivers - Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston - will easily win matchups with the Falcons' mediocre secondary.

If the Falcons can establish the No. 2 rushing offense, featuring Turner and big-play threat Jerious Norwood, it will open up the passing game for rookie QB Matt Ryan against a weak Cardinals secondary. It will also keep Warner and Co. off the field.

By the numbers: Cardinals lost 2 of their final 3 games and 4 of their last 6. Falcons have won 5 of 6.

LeGere's pick: Falcons 27, Cardinals 20.

Colts at Chargers

Local flavor: Colts ORT Ryan Diem in a Northern Illinois product who graduated from Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream. CB Kelvin Hayden played for Ron Turner at Illinois after graduating from Chicago's Hubbard High School.

Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera played nine seasons for the Bears and later spent six years coaching there, the last three as defensive coordinator. DE Luis Castillo was a first-round pick out of Northwestern in 2005. P Mike Scifres attended Western Illinois. OG Mike Goff is a graduate of LaSalle-Peru High School.

Keys to the game: Only one team in the NFL allowed more passing yards then the Chargers - not a good quality in a defense facing Colts QB Peyton Manning, who threw for 4,002 yards and has been the ramrod behind Indy's current nine-game win streak, the best in the NFL.

Only one team in the NFL ran for fewer yards than the Colts, and they need to get a little production from RB Joseph Addai to keep the Chargers' pass rush off Manning.

By the numbers: Chargers have averaged just over 37 points per game while winning 4 straight to sneak into the postseason with an 8-8 record, the worst of all the playoff teams. Manning has thrown 17 TD passes and just 3 interceptions during the Colts' nine-game win streak.

LeGere's pick: Colts 28, Chargers 24.

Ravens at Dolphins

Local flavor: Ravens FS-KR Tom Zbikowski attended Buffalo Grove High School before playing at Notre Dame. LB Bart Scott played at Southern Illinois.

Dolphins 6-foot-4, 275-pound LB Matt Roth is a graduate of Willowbrook High School in Villa Park. OG Ike Ndwuke played at Northwestern.

Keys to the game: Dolphins QB Chad Pennington doesn't have a strong arm, but his 97.4 passer rating was second best in the NFL because he has great accuracy, and the Dolphins were usually able to establish a strong running game with Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, but that will be difficult against a Ravens run defense that was No.3 in the league.

The Ravens are No. 4 in rushing yards but only 22nd in average gain per rush, and they may have to run more effectively than that to take pressure off rookie QB Joe Flacco, who is best at managing games, not winning them.

By the numbers: The Ravens' defense was also No. 2 in total yards allowed and No. 3 in points allowed. In a 5-1 finish, the defense allowed less than 14 points five times. Even thought the Dolphins lost to the Ravens 27-13 in Week 7, Miami had 359 total yards, the most the Ravens allowed all season.

LeGere's pick: Ravens 27, Dolphins 16.

Eagles at Vikings

Local flavor: Eagles QB Donovan McNabb and WR Greg Lewis are both Chicago natives. McNabb attended Mt. Carmel High School, and Lewis went to Rich South in Richton Park and then to Illinois.

The Vikings' two leading receivers, Bernard Berrian (48 catches, 964 yards) and Bobby Wade (53 catches, 645 yards), are both former Bears.

Keys to the game: Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, the league's leading rusher (1,760 yards) and fumbler (9), must hold on to the ball against the NFL's No. 4 run defense.

Vikings quarterbacks Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson, combined to finish No. 30 in interception percentage, and Minnesota was 28th in allowing sacks. The Vikings must do a much better job of protecting Jackson against the Eagles, who were No. 3 in sack percentage.

McNabb and the passing game have to carry the Eagles' offense against a Vikings run defense that is the league's best, as long as NT Pat Williams (shoulder) is healthy enough to play, but only 18th in passing yards allowed.

By the numbers: In their last eight games, the inconsistent Eagles scored 30 points or more in four games but 13 or less is three others. The Vikings have allowed between 14 and 19 points in six of their last seven games.

LeGere's pick: Vikings 23, Eagles 20.