NEW ORLEANS (11-5) AT SEATTLE (7-9)
When: 2:30 p.m.
TV: KUSA-9
The spread: Saints by 10
Saints win if: They simply stick to their business. The defending champions are playoff-tested and have the most accurate passer in the league in QB Drew Brees (68.1 percent). Their run game took a hit when Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory went on injured reserve this week, but they have too many options in the passing game for the Seahawks to handle.
Seahawks win if: They find a little good fortune in front of what figures to be a raucous home crowd. Brees did throw 22 interceptions this season — he’s had at least one in each of the last 12 games — and the Seahawks need at least two in this one.
Saints player on the spot: RB Reggie Bush. With the injuries the Saints have in the backfield and the fact Bush is largely the player who got USC in trouble and sent Seahawks coach Pete Carroll to the NFL, he is the centerpiece of this game. He needs a big day.
Seahawks player on the spot: QB Matt Hasselbeck. He missed the season finale with a hip injury and threw 10 interceptions in his last five starts. Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will certainly turn up the heat, and Hasselbeck will have to get the ball out of his hands.
Bet you didn’t know: The Saints have never won a true road playoff game — the Super Bowl win was a neutral site. They are 5-6 overall in the postseason, with three of those wins in last season’s run to the title.
Key matchup: Seahawks LT Russell Okung vs. Saints DE Will Smith. Hasselbeck has limited mobility even when he feels good, so with the veteran at less than 100 percent Okung is going to need the best day of his young career. The rookie has struggled at times this season — he started 12 games — especially against the stronger defensive ends he has faced. Smith is active, and the Saints will overload gaps to rattle young linemen.
The call: Saints 31-14.
N.Y. JETS (11-5) AT INDIANAPOLIS (10-6)
When: 6 p.m.
TV: KUSA-9
The spread: Colts by 2 1/2
Jets win if: QB Mark Sanchez is healthier than he has appeared. With a sore shoulder, Sanchez hasn’t been full speed of late, and he is another quarterback who didn’t finish strong down the stretch. He threw just one touchdown pass in his past five starts.
Colts win if: They can slug it out on defense, at least a little. This is a classic case of a speed defense facing a power offense. The Jets are the league’s No. 4 rushing team (2,374), and they were No. 2 in carries (534), so they will pound the ball plenty. The Colts were 25th against the run.
Jets player on the spot: CB Antonio Cromartie. Colts QB Peyton Manning is one of the best at winning with an offense’s Plan B or C or D. So, while the Jets may match up Darrelle Revis on Reggie Wayne, Manning will always attack where he sees the opening. Cromartie is a top-tier athlete but will gamble some, so look for the double-move routes.
Colts player on the spot: RB Joseph Addai. If one thing is clear after the regular season, it’s that even Peyton Manning needs help from time to time. Addai missed eight games with a shoulder injury this season and played in the last two — wins more than Oakland and Tennessee that earned the Colts the division title.
Bet you didn’t know: Manning is 5-1 against teams with Rex Ryan running the defense. And in the last five weeks of the season, Tom Brady and Jay Cutler threw a combined seven touchdown passes on the New York defense.
Key matchup: Colts RBs vs. Jets defense. When the Colts are healthy enough and committed enough to run the ball, they usually win. In games where they have attempted at least 22 carries this season, they are 10-0. The Colts averaged just over 133 yards rushing a game over their past four — all wins. Addai, Donald Brown and Dominic Rhodes have split the work, though Rhodes was limited some this week with a hip injury.
The call: Colts 24-21.
Last week: 9-6 (.600).
For the regular season: 145-95 (.604).
