Right now, Pittsburgh and Seattle fans alike are getting especially jazzed up for the biggest game of the year.

The Super Bowl will still be watched by most other football fans since it is an event that cannot be missed.

However, the sting for fans of Denver, Carolina, Indianapolis, Chicago and the other 26 teams who will be watching the Big Dance from their couches like the rest of us takes some of the fun out of it.

So, before I discuss who I think will be hoisting the silver trophy with a football on top three days from now, here are the teams who should be expecting to be among the 12 playoff teams come next December.

My predictions for the 2006 divisional winners and wild-card teams:

NFC East: Washington will take it with Dallas pulling in a wild-card berth. With coaches like Joe Gibbs, Al Saunders and Gregg Williams, this should be one of the most consistent and disciplined teams in the league.

If that offense can play better than it did in these past playoffs — which they should, with Mark Brunell, Clinton Portis and Santana Moss — the stout defense should put them in the postseason. The Cowboys have enough talent to slide into January as well.

NFC South: Carolina wins the South, and Atlanta will get the other wild-card spot. The Panthers have been inconsistent, yes, but I believe they simply ran out of gas against Seattle. They have a load of talent and should fight off Michael Vick and the Falcons for the top spot in this competitive division. I'm just not impressed enough with Tampa Bay at this point.

NFC North: Minnesota. Seriously, there's no real reason for picking these guys. But Detroit is a joke, and Green Bay isn't going anywhere without #4 (start making your peace with that, Packer fans. Brett's NOT coming back). And I just didn't feel like saying the Bears will return to the playoffs, because this may have been a once-in-a-decade type of year with that D.

NFC West: Seattle. Win or lose the big one on Sunday, they've simply got no competition for next year's division title. I can see the Rams giving them a run, but in the end, while the 'Hawks might lose Shaun Alexander, their core team is enough to return to the playoffs.

AFC East: New England, with Miami getting in as well. Here's my one bit of reasoning: Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and company are hurt right now (literally, in Brady's case). I don't think they will allow themselves to miss the playoffs.

However — and this is a shout-out to my good friend and colleague "Miami" Dave — I really like the way the Dolphins ended the season, and I think they were underrated. It wouldn't surprise me to see them knock out the Pats, and since Buffalo and the New York Jets are the spitting image of the word "disastrous," they'll get some easy wins en route to the AFC's fifth seed.

AFC South: Indianapolis. I'm not going to say that next year is their year — yet. But Jacksonville benefited from a laughable schedule, and while I do believe Tennessee has upside, the Colts have too much to play for and enough weapons to use, as they will get a first-round bye.

AFC North: Well, I've got a hunch the Steelers are in for a down year. With Palmer out or hurting, the Bengals are reduced to dust. The Ravens are still a year away, so that would leave … Cleveland?

That's right, you heard me. My eye-popping pick of the column, the Browns will win this very good division. Charlie Frye has much confidence, Reuben Droughns is a solid running back and Braylon Edwards is a budding star who returns from injury next season. Don't forget, Romeo Crennel was the mastermind behind the defense of New England's three Super Bowls, so any impact he can make on the Browns' unit will get Cleveland its first division title since 1989.

AFC West: Denver, with a nod to San Diego. Believe it, BroncoNation. T.O. is coming to the Mile High City, and he's the shot in the arm we need to get the big one. I just hope Mike Shanahan keeps him from becoming a shot in the Broncos' head.

The Chargers will get the job done this year, actually reaching the postseason as the conference's other wild-card representative.

So who will be in Super Bowl XLI? My early thoughts say Washington and Denver, but that's another debate for another time.

Enough about next year. We've got a great game on the horizon here, two teams that have been impressive on their way to Motown.

It really speaks volumes about the two conferences that the number six seed in the AFC is favored over the top seed in the NFC. Don't read too much into that. While the Steelers pulled off the improbable run of three wins over the top three seeds — all on the road — they've done so in a flashy manner, giving them the "favorite" status.

But the Seahawks have done very nice work quietly, like it was an expectation that they would run over their competition. They did so, and that shouldn't take away from their ability to play with the NFL's best.

I love the way Seattle is playing right now, I really do. I think Shaun Alexander will have the best statistical game, the Steeler blitz won't be able to combat the running game. Matt Hasselbeck will play nicely as well.

But, good readers, there's a thing about destiny that seems to exist in the National Football League. Two things: Jerome Bettis has had an unbelievable career, and he has the chance to one-up John Elway — go out on top, in his own hometown. And Bill Cowher, after defeating the Broncos, told his owner "one more."

The road that his team has taken, it's hard to believe the Bus that is the Pittsburgh Steelers will break down without completing the job.

Steelers 27, Seahawks 23.

Enjoy the game, and remember: There's always next year.