by Peter Schrager

As absurd as the term sounded, it got me thinking. It was exactly those intangibles that ultimately ended the Colts' 2008 season in San Diego. Darren Sproles' kick and punt returns, Kassim Osgood's special teams play and five different Mike Scifres' punts landing inside the 20 — the stuff that doesn't show up on the back of football cards doomed Indy last weekend. It's those very factors — things like momentum, home-field advantage and invaluable special teams game-breakers — that put playoff teams over the top every January.

Which teams have the right mix of intangibles this year? Let's break down the NFL's Elite Eight, measuring different key immeasurables to the best of our ability.

Intangible # 1: Momentum: In a video game, this is the juice that gives you an edge over your opponent. In physics, it exists. In sports? Well, there's no real proof of it being a factor. You can point to the 2007 Giants or a hot goalie in a Stanley Cup run as evidence, but then there are others — Colts fans, perhaps — who may doubt its existence. Who's got the best and worst momentum heading into this weekend?

THE BEST:
1. Chargers: Winners of what's been essentially five straight playoff games dating back to Week 14, there's no hotter team in the league entering this weekend.

THE REST:
2. Ravens: Winners of five their last six, the Ravens look darn near impossible to beat these days.

3. Eagles: They've been red hot since their forgettable loss to Baltimore in Week 12.

4. Titans: Tennessee's still flying high off that Week 16 win over Pittsburgh.

5. Steelers: Tough loss to Tennessee in Week 16 and tense after the injury to Big Ben in Week 17.

6. Panthers: Lost to Giants in Week 16; struggled at Saints in season finale with division title on the line.

7. Cardinals: Despite last week's win, they faded down the stretch, and an Anquan Boldin injury doesn't help.

8. Giants: They have lost three of four and are banged up at key positions.

Intangible #2: Special Teams Game Breakers: These aren't just the best kickers, punters and return men. It's also the gunners and special teams "mavens" — as Al Michaels referred to both Kasim Osgood (San Diego) and Darrel Reid (Indianapolis) on Saturday night. The total package.

THE BEST:
1. Chargers: Osgood's arguably the best gunner in football, Nate Kaeding is money and there's no punter or return man comparable to Mike Scifres and Darren Sproles at the moment.

THE REST:
2. Cardinals: Steve Breaston and J.J. Arrington are gamebreakers, K Neil Rackers is reliable and Sean Morey is a Pro Bowl gunner who beat Dallas with an overtime blocked punt.

3. Titans: KR Chris Carr is steady, while K Rod Bironas and P Craig Hentrich are capable veterans.

4. Ravens: Solid across the board, with Brandon Ayanbadejo earning a Pro Bowl spot on special teams.

5. Eagles: Rookies DeSean Jackson and Quintin Demps are lethal on returns and you won't find a steadier postseason kicker than David Akers.

6. Giants: Forget Pro Bowls — the return game has struggled with Domenik Hixon more a receiver now and John Carney hasn't booted a kickoff past the 20 in weeks.

7. Panthers: Mark Jones is underrated on returns, while John Kasay can nail the big kicks.

8. Steelers: Solid in the return game and punter Mitch Berger and kicker Jeff Reed are reliable veterans.

Intangible #3: Home-Field Advantage: Clearly, only four teams can be ranked in this one, and none of the teams had more than two losses in their own stadiums this year.

THE BEST:
1. Panthers: 8-0 at home and playing a team that hasn't won any game it's had to take a flight of three or more hours to play in.

THE REST:
2. Titans: Lost only one game at home and have been downright dominant in all other games.

3. Steelers: Lost two close home games and San Diego is red-hot. Pittsburgh has also lost six home playoff games since the beginning of the Bill Cowher era.

4. Giants: The Eagles ran all over New York a few weeks ago and are familiar with the local elements.

Intangible #4: Playoff Experience: Who's been there before? This stuff matters.

THE BEST:
1. Giants: The majority of the Giants roster was on last year's month-long journey from Tampa to Glendale. All the same coaches and coordinators were too.

THE REST:
2. Steelers: Though some of the key leaders from '06 are gone, much of the core still remains.

3. Eagles: Between Brian Dawkins, Brian Westbrook, Donovan McNabb, Jon Runyan, Akers and Asante Samuel, you've got all the big-game experience you can ask for in one locker room.

4. Ravens: You've got Lorenzo Neal, Ray Lewis, Derrick Mason, Samari Rolle and Matt Stover.

5. Titans: Though some of the stars — Chris Johnson, Cortland Finnegan, Michael Roos — don't have a ton of experience, guys like Nick Harper, Jevon Kearse, Jake Scott, Keith Bulluck and Kerry Collins sure do.

6. Panthers: Jake Delhomme is 5-2 in playoff games and there's still a core from that 2003 Super Bowl team in the locker room.

7. Chargers: Though it may seem like the Chargers have all been around forever, they really haven't.

8. Cardinals: Kurt Warner has won five playoff games and a Super Bowl MVP, but who else has the big-game experience?

Intangible #5: Chips on Shoulders: Remember how no one thought Pittsburgh could beat Indianapolis on the road in '06? How the Giants had no chance against Dallas, Green Bay and New England last year? Yeah, that stuff.

THE BEST:
1. Giants: Entered the season ranked as low as fourth in the NFC East by some, and now Philly's everybody's sexy upset pick this weekend.

THE REST:
2. Cardinals: Arizona hasn't won a game on the East Coast all year. It's all they've heard from everyone about 50 times this week.

3. Titans: When you're the top seed and no one really thinks you're going to the Super Bowl, that's a certifiable chip on the shoulder.

4. Eagles: Wasn't the season supposed to be over, Andy Reid fired and McNabb playing for the Bears by now?

5. Ravens: Rookie quarterback, rookie coach, young offensive line — Baltimore's not "supposed" to be this good yet.

6. Steelers: Lots of questions in the media about the Steelers' offense this week.

7. Chargers: Sure, they can beat pass-first Indy in sunny SD. But can they win in frigid Pittsburgh?

8. Panthers: The media's sexy pick out of the NFC, Carolina's frustrating knock is that they "can't win on the road."

What's it all mean? Who knows until kickoff? After all, they're intangibles. But don't tell Colts fans they mean nothing.

On to the Divisional Round Cheat Sheet. Four picks from a guy who went 0-4 last week:

1. Baltimore at Tennessee, 4:30 PM: A rematch of the classic AFC Divisional battle in 2000 when the top-seeded Titans lost just their fourth game all year to a tough, talkative Ravens team in Nashville. Deja vu here? I don't think so. As absurd as Baltimore's D has looked and as impressive as Joe Flacco and the three-headed monster running attack has performed over the past few weeks, I like the Titans, their defense and their running attack on Saturday.
The Pick: Tennessee 20, Baltimore 17

2. Arizona at Carolina, 8:15 PM: You know that scene in all those "Gran Torino" ads where Clint Eastwood screams, "Get off my lawn!"? That's the Panthers this year. Carolina hasn't lost at home all season, Arizona hasn't won on the East Coast and the Panthers beat the Cardinals when they met earlier this year. Carolina beats up Arizona at the line of scrimmage and wins this one going away.
The Pick: Carolina 30, Arizona 17

3. Philadelphia at New York Giants, 1:00 PM: Unlike the last time these two met, the Eagles won't manhandle New York on Sunday. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has his players thinking "22 eyes on 36," and Brian Westbrook will be focused on from start to finish. New York needs a mistake-free day from its quarterback, and the defense and running attack are going to need big days. Call me all the filthy things you usually do each week, Iggles fans, but I think the Giants escape a close one in East Rutherford.
The Pick: New York Giants 20, Philadelphia 16

4. San Diego at Pittsburgh, 4:15 PM: A ton of good subplots here. A rematch of that wacky 11-10 "Vegas" game from earlier in the season; Rivers vs. Roethlisberger in a battle of class of 2004 quarterbacks; Tomlinson's injury. I just can't see Darren Sproles running all over the Steelers on that Heinz Field surface though, and for as good as the Chargers D looked on Saturday, they're not the Pittsburgh 3-4. This one will be a dandy. Give me the Steelers on a last-minute Big Ben-led drive, and a last-second Jeff Reed field goal.
The Pick: Pittsburgh 17, San Diego 16