Jan. 19, 2008 - A look at this weekend's AFC and NFC Championship games. Can the banged up Chargers give unbeaten New England a run? Do Eli Manning and the Giants have enough magic left to overcome the Packers at Lambeau Field? Check out the answers to these questions and more.

San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots
When: Sunday, 3 p.m. on CBS
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
Line: New England -14

THE CHARGERS: The injuries to quarterback Philip Rivers (knee), running back LaDainian Tomlinson (knee) and tight end Antonio Gates (toe) are keys in this one. Gates and Tomlinson are both expected to play, but Rivers is extremely questionable with what Butch Stearns of WFXT Fox TV in Boston reports to be a partially torn ACL.

The Bolts' defense matches up well with the Patriots, excelling at rushing the passer and capable of making big plays in its secondary.

It's a shame that the offense is so banged up because this one would have had upset written all over it. Too many variables are working against San Diego, though: on the road in Foxborough, limited versions of Gates and Tomlinson simplifying New England's defensive scheme, and backup QB Billy Volek likely to play.

THE PATRIOTS: New England got familiar with San Diego in Week 2 when the Patriots walloped the Chargers 38-14. The loss, which also came in Foxborough, sent San Diego into a tailspin with three straight losses and was part of New England's red-hot start to the year.

The Patriots became the first NFL team to go undefeated in the regular season since the Dolphins went 14-0 in 1972. Tom Brady, Randy Moss and the offense set new NFL scoring records, but they weren't done after Week 17.

Last week in a 31-20 win over Jacksonville, Brady set two more NFL records - 16 consecutive completions (new postseason record) and a 92.9 percent completion percentage (26-of-28).

NFL Coach of the Year Bill Belichick won't allow his team to be distracted by Randy Moss's off the field issues (he was accused of committing battery against a Florida woman). This team will be as prepared as ever and ready to finish the job on its undefeated season.

PREDICTION: The San Diego defense will show up valiantly and cause a couple of turnovers that keep the team's head above water. But, the limitations of Gates, Rivers and Tomlinson will be too much. New England should nurse an early lead and force the Chargers to play catch-up. Patriots 27, Chargers 14.

New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
When: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisc.
Line: Packers -7

THE GIANTS: A year after Peyton shed his "can't win the big one" tag, is it Eli Manning's turn in 2008? He's playing as efficiently and with as much confidence as ever, but the Giants face a tough task at frigid Lambeau Field against Brett Favre and the Pack.

Turnovers will hurt the outmatched G-men, so it is imperative that Manning doesn't make mistakes. As much as recent performances against New England, Tampa Bay and Dallas have boosted his confidence, he will only be as good as his next performance.

If he lays an egg in this one, Manning's reputation will be back to square one. He'll need the thunder and lightning combination of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw to soften a Green Bay defense that is tough in the secondary.

The Giants defense can play with the Packers offense. It is capable of stopping the run and pressuring Favre, though Green Bay's ability to establish both presents a difficult task.

THE PACKERS: Everyone - media, fans, other players - wants to see Brett Favre get to the Super Bowl. Let's just get that out of the way. And he's got a pretty good cast to help get him there.

Wideouts Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and James Jones have been superb. Running back Ryan Grant has given the offense a shot in the arm, and the defense has two of the toughest, most physical cover corners in the league in Charles Woodson and Al Harris.

The group put forth a dominant effort last week against Seattle, overcoming a 14-0 and rolling to a 42-20 win.

With single-digit temperatures expected in Green Bay, the Pack is looking like a good bet to advance to its first Super Bowl since winning 1997. The weather will be tough, but Green Bay has scored at least 30 points in each of its last five home games.

PREDICTION: The Giants have tied an NFL record with nine road wins this season (9-1), but are outside of their comfort zone in the freezing temperatures. Under the circumstances, the game will come down to quarterback play, and yeah, we'll take Favre over Manning in that one. Packers 28, Giants 17.