Playoffs? You kidding me?

The beginning of the year is the best season for sports in America. College football bowl games are finishing up. College hoops are gearing up for conference play. The NHL and NBA are approaching the mid-season. NASCAR is not on "SportsCenter." Most everybody who cares about sports loves January. That is, except for Jim Mora.

A former NFL coach who is better known for his actions after games than during them, Jim Mora has to hate the NFL playoffs. After a loss in 2001 while coaching the Indianapolis Colts, Mora was asked about his team's chances of playing after the regular season and famously shrieked, "Playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope to win a game!" Ever since then, frat boys and radio personalities have imitated Mora whenever the word "playoffs" is used. Mora probably has nightmares of the word "playoffs."

Ironically, Mora is now working for NFL Network as an analyst covering the playoffs. Whether or not Mora really cares, at press time there are seven teams remaining in the playoffs, just hoping to "win a game" and, ultimately the "Big Game." Here are each team's chances of winning the Super Bowl, ranked from "most likely" to "potential Disney movie":

1. New England Patriots: Obviously a great year for the Pats, going 16-0. I'm not worried about Tom Brady or his excellent receivers. I don't worry about Belichick, who is the best coach in the league. I worry about the Patriot's defense. Their 3-4 base includes aging linebackers who struggle against the run. Their secondary has made several average quarterbacks look great this year. Weather is also an issue. They will play three games in chilly Foxboro in order to get to the Super Bowl. If it's too cold, or snowy, their offense will rely more on the run, which has been average all year. Likewise they will need to stop the run, which is their Achilles heel on defense. The Patriots should win their fourth championship in seven years, but they aren't as invincible as their record indicates.

2. Indianapolis Colts: Faced with multiple key injuries and playing in the league's toughest division, Tony Dungy has done his best coaching job of his career to get the Colts to 13-3. This is a scary team and no one is talking about them. Payton Manning is still the best QB in the league. Reggie Wayne can be very dominant as can running back Joseph Addai. It will be interesting to see how effective Marvin Harrison is coming off that injury. The Colts defense is fast and mostly underrated, but they can be beaten on short curl routes and runs to the sides, as they have young cornerbacks and outside linebackers. This team is hungry for a repeat.

3. Green Bay Packers: Perhaps the most unlikely team this far in the playoffs, the Packers are well-balanced in all phases of the game. Brett Favre is having a record-setting year and one of his best in his famed career. His receivers are the most dangerous in the NFL after the catch, especially Greg Jennings. Ryan Grant is running very well for an undrafted rookie third-stringer. The defensive front seven is very talented and Charles Woodson and Al Harris are great corners, but their safeties are young and vulnerable to the big play. If Favre plays smart and makes good throws, like he has this season, the Pack should be able to overcome their youth to get to the Super Bowl.

4. New York Giants: Yes, the Giants have lost to the Cowboys twice already this season, and yes this game is at Dallas, but New York hasn't lost on the road since that first game of the season at Dallas. Their defense is playing as good as any group right now. Brandon Jacobs is a big, strong back who is dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield. Eli Manning is certainly inconsistent, but has played two very strong games in a row. Watch out for this team. Dallas is in for a tough game.

5. Dallas Cowboys: "America's Team" might look very average if Terrell Owens can't play with his ankle injury. Tony Romo has looked great this year, but he is still dating that distracting bimbo, Jessica Simpson. Marion Barber doesn't get enough snaps to be the dominant runner he should be and the defense gives up way too many yards.

6. San Diego Chargers: Finally, they win a playoff game! I think if Antonio Gates is out, Phillip Rivers will have a long day against the Colts. He did look good against Tennessee, but his inconsistency is worrisome. LT struggled last weekend they need him to have a big game against the Colts to have any kind of success. If their defense blitzes like they did against the Titans, they could create enough pressure to cause turnovers and carry the team. In the end, there's just too many "if's" with this team to count on them to beat the Colts.

7. Seattle Seahawks: Matt Hasselbeck needs to be near perfect for the 'Hawks to have a shot. Their run game is almost non-existent. They averaged over 100 yards rushing this year, only because they play in the worst division in football. Your grandma could jump 100 yards in a sack against the St. Louis Rams. The defense is pretty stout (Patrick Kerney is a monster), but I just don't think they'll have great success playing at Lambeau Field in January.

Enjoy the playoffs folks!