Summer means cricket for most New Zealand sporting fans, but for Robert van Royen and an exploding NFL fan base in this part of the world, it means playoff time. Van Royen offers a quick guide to crunch time in the biggest American sport.
How it works
Six teams from the both the AFC and NFC conferences make up the playoff bracket.
The four division champions from each conference are seeded one through four based on their regular season records, while the two teams with the best overall record of all remaining teams are seeded fifth and sixth.
While the top two seeds in both conferences enjoy a first round playoff bye, the other four teams battle it out in the wildcard round - where the the third and sixth seeds and fourth and fifth seeds are matched up.
The lowest seeded team to win in the wildcard round will play the top seed in the divisional round, while the highest seeded team to advance will play the second seed fresh off a bye.
The conference finalists will be determined by the winners of the two divisional playoff matches, with the higher seed hosting the match.
Teams for Super Bowl XLIX in Arizona on February 2 will be determined by the winners of the AFC and NFC conference finals.
Playoff teams
AFC: New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens.
NFC: Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions
The favourites
1 The Seattle Seahawks could become the first team to defend the title since the New England Patriots did it on February 6, 2005. As well as a brilliant secondary, the Seahawks, the top seed in the NFC, possess a stout front seven, a physical running game and Russell Wilson, a quarterback who can make plays through the air and on the ground.
2 Green Bay Packers fans have good reason to believe their side will win a second title in four years. After all, the Packers finished the regular season with a 12-4 record and enter the playoffs as the NFC's second seed. The Packers won all eight of their home games but will probably have to win in Seattle to make the Super Bowl.
3 With Tom Brady under centre and coach Bill Belichick on the sideline, the New England Patriots are always in the hunt. The franchise has just won the AFC East division a sixth straight year and finished as the top seeds in the AFC. When the AFC playoffs go through Foxborough, history tells us the Patriots make the Super Bowl.
Other serious contenders
Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys
Three players to watch
1 Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been brilliant this year. He and wide receiver Jordy Nelson have been scorching secondaries like no other. After taking a few shots last week, including a cheap one from Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, it is just as well Rodgers has a week off to rest up.
2 Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray is a huge reason why his side won 12 games and clinched its first division title since 2009. Murray racked up 1845 yards on 340 carries during the regular season, breaking Emmitt Smith's (1773 yards) franchise record in the process. Murray rushed for at least 100 yards in the first eight games of the season, and 12 in total. His presence out of the back field has taken the pressure off quarterback Tony Romo, who has enjoyed one of his best seasons in the league.
3 Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning has looked a bit scratchy of late. However, the 38-year-old is still coming off another fine regular season, during which he broke Brett Favre's record for most passing touchdowns in NFL history. Regular-season success has never been a problem for Manning, but he has struggled in the post-season. Time is running out for him to add to his sole Super Bowl ring.
The predictions
Wildcard weekend: All four home teams will win, setting up divisional matchups between the Patriots and Colts, Broncos and Steelers, Seahawks and Panthers, and Packers and Cowboys.
Divisional weekend: Again, it is all about the home advantage, as the top two seeds in both conferences triumph. That leaves the Patriots and Broncos to fight out a rematch of last year's AFC championship match, and the Seattle Seahawks to host the Green Bay Packers in the NFC title match.
Conference finals: The Patriots will reverse last year's loss to the Broncos in Denver to advance to their first Super Bowl appearance in three years. The Packers will do what few teams have done the past three years, and that is win in Seattle.
Super Bowl XLIX: Just like in week 13, when the Packers beat the Patriots 26-21 in one of the games of the season, the Green Bay Packers will get the better of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
Final score: Green Bay 31, New England 28.
