The Falcons are familiar with five of the eight teams facing off this weekend in the playoffs -- the start of the race for Super Bowl XLII, which will be played in Glendale, Ariz. in a few weeks.
In each game the Falcons played against these playoff teams, quarterback play was key.
So, it should be no surprise that quarterbacks figure to play an important role in this weekend's matchups.
Throughout the playoffs I'll give some of my thoughts on both AFC and NFC games.
You just got one... Now, here we go.
No. 6 Washington Redskins at No. 3 Seattle Seahawks
It was little less than a week ago when the Falcons upset the playoff-bound Seattle Seahawks 44-41.
It was a sweet victory to cap a rocky season for Atlanta and rattled a Seahawks team that, even with its playoff role sealed, wanted to go into the postseason on the wings of victory.
It's here we begin our focus on quarterbacks.
Seattle signal-caller
Matt Hasselbeck carried the offense through the last half of the season, closing out the year with 28 touchdown passes and team records for attempts and completions.
As odd as it may sound, running back
Shaun Alexander was a non-factor in several games.
On the flip side of that, however, the timing of the Seahawks offense has grown even more precise. Mike Holmgren even put the shotgun formation into his offense to further highlight Hasselbeck's skill.
The Redskins counter with quarterback
Todd Collins, who has stepped in from a backup role. He attempted only 27 passes in five seasons with the Chiefs, but has led the Redskins to victory of late.
Pair Collins' steady hand with running back
Clinton Portis, who has lifted his rushing average to 85.5 yards per game, and the Redskins may have the formula to calm one of the league's most aggressive defenses.
League sack leader
Patrick Kerney comes into the game with 14.5 sacks. The Seahawks secondary also ranks in the league's top five in interceptions.
Washington can also get a shot of inspiration following the death of All-Pro safety
Sean Taylor. The team was two games below .500 when Taylor was killed. They finished the season 4-0.
No. 5 Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers
Way back in Week 2 the Falcons traveled to Jacksonville to take on the Jaguars. There, they found a one-two running game of
Fred Taylor and
Maurice Jones-Drew.
So effective have the Jaguars been at running the ball this season, quarterback
David Garrad has just 2,509 passing yards and no receiver reached the 700 yard receiving mark in the regular season.
They'll run into the league's top defense this weekend, however.
Then again, the Jags ran all over the Steelers in a December win at Pittsburgh. The forecast for this weekend doesn't call for as bad conditions -- temperature in the 30s with a chance of showers.
That opens the door for the passing game, where Pittsburgh will need to be efficient given the absence of starting running back
Willie Parker.
The quarterback who could be key in this one?
Ben Roethlisberger, who has completed more than 65 percent of his passes and tossed 32 touchdowns this season.
No. 5 New York Giants at No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Falcons played both of these teams during the 2007 season, going 0-3 with a combined score of 99-20. That wasn't a work of offensive firepower however as it was solid defensive play from the Giants and Bucs.
Both teams have defensive lines with Pro Bowl talent and both have a secondary ready and able to take advantage of a solid pass rush.
That leaves this game hanging in the balance of offense and makes it likely the best playoff matchup of Wild Card Weekend.
Quarterback
Jeff Garcia is a big reason why the Bucs were able to turn around their misfortune from last season to an NFC South crown in 2007.
Eli Manning has continued to show flashes for the Giants, as well, notching 23 touchdown passes this season.
Both teams also have the means to put together a power run game with two big backs averaging more than 4 yards per carry --
Earnest Graham (Bucs) and
Brandon Jacobs (Giants).
Need more proof of mirror image?
Both teams have a deep threat at receiver that has more than 1,000 receiving yards --
Joey Galloway (Bucs) and
Plaxico Burress (Giants).
I wouldn't be surprised if both quarterbacks looked pretty plain in the first half before putting up big numbers with the play-action pass late in the game.
No. 6 Tennessee Titans at No. 3 San Diego Chargers
Plenty of grudge matches are in the every season in the playoffs. This game between the Titans and Chargers has a little more recent flavor, however.
The Titans blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter when the Chargers visited Nashville, Tenn. in December.
San Diego eventually won in overtime as an injured
Philip Rivers came back in the game and promptly fed the ball to a surging
LaDanian Tomlinson.
San Diego went on to win the AFC West behind Tomlinson's usually 1,474 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
Rivers also built more and more of a report with mid-season acquisition
Chris Chambers and worked with tight end
Antonio Gates over the middle for just less than 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns.
On the surface, it seems like a tall order for the Titans, who entered the playoffs with a Week 17 victory. But, they bring the league's fifth-best defense (fifth against the run) into the game and a blueprint for slowing the Chargers offense.
The real "X" factor in this game, however, could be
Vince Young.
The Titans quarterback has had his struggles with turnovers but he's known as one of the league's fiercest competitors.
The Titans also have a proven run game that could make for quite the field position, clock-eating battle in rainy conditions.
It could come down to the arm of Rivers, however, who must rebound from a season-high four sacks the last time these team's met.
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