When Brees' Saints and Warner's Cardinals meet Saturday to open the second round of the playoffs, the scoreboard will get a workout. The defenses will get dizzy. The announcers might go hoarse.

New Orleans (13-3) scored a league-high 510 points, ninth most in NFL history. Arizona (11-6) had a mere 375, then Warner riddled Green Bay's second-ranked defense for five touchdown passes in a 51-45 wild-card overtime victory — the highest-scoring playoff game ever.

The Superdome could be a danger zone for defenders.

"I know what we're capable of and I know that if you just look at our track record, the last three out of four years we've had the No. 1 offense in the league," Brees said. "That's a body of work. That's not just a stretch of games here and a stretch of games there."

And it is no stretch to expect the top-seeded Saints to light it up Saturday. Sure, they averaged 307.3 yards and 14.6 points in the final three games, all defeats. But they had little on the line in those contests, and everything is on the line now.

FOR FURTHER READING:

• Strong hints from Kurt Warner regarding his retirement. Dan Bickley, Arizona Republic.
• Saints bring back Deuce McAlilister for inspiration. Smooth move, writes John DeShazier of the Times-Picayune.
• Arizona CB Antrel Rolle says he meant no disrespect toward Drew Brees, writes The Huddle.

The Indianapolis Colts are trying to repress those old playoff memories.

Despite having the most successful decade in regular-season history (115 wins), an NFL record seven straight 12-win seasons and the league mark for most consecutive regular-season wins (23), Indianapolis has won just one Super Bowl title.

Critics contend they've struggled in the playoffs because those long, late-season breaks made them rusty.

This time, they're at least healthy. Not one player missed practice this week, a first this season.

But the lesson is clear: Regular-season success, seeding and oddsmakers mean nothing in the postseason. Being sharp does.

"Don't go out there and look like you haven't played a game in six months," receiver Reggie Wayne said when asked what the Colts learned from their early exits. "As long as you can just go out there and play football and play all four quarters, somewhere in there you'll have the opportunity to win the game."

FOR FURTHER READING:

• Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star uncovers the unheralded key to Peyton Manning's success.
• Look for a chess match, with hitting. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times.
• Three things that need to go right for the Ravens from the Baltimore Sun.

Tony Romo is coming off the first playoff win of his career and going into a game against his childhood hero, Brett Favre.

How cool is that?

Romo isn't really saying.

As he's done all season, Romo is downplaying any excitement as the Dallas Cowboys prepare to face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

"I think any time you're playing in this type of game, it's going to be special," Romo said Thursday. "I like Brett. He's fun to hang out with and talk to and stuff. I think we're both going to be trying to win this game, for sure."

Romo has been better than ever this season because he's cut way down on his turnovers, making smarter decisions and taking fewer chances. In other words, he seems to have stomped out some of his Favre-like tendencies.

He wouldn't call it that, though.

"I would think you would want to have some, with the season that he's had," Romo said. "He takes chances when he thinks it's a healthy chance. I don't think he randomly throws the ball up in the air. If you feel like you can fit a ball through the hole, you throw it. If you don't, you don't. I don't know there's any big secret beyond that."

FOR FURTHER READING:

• Texas-shaped wounds still pain Minnesota sports fans, writes Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News.
• That's no guarantee, that's just Brett Favre, says the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• The Cowboys are back, and frankly, it's galling. John Gonzalez, Philly Inquirer.

Perhaps in his last few weeks with pass-happy San Diego, LaDanian Tomlinson is happy and healthy going into the Chargers' playoff opener against the New York Jets on Sunday. It could be the final game at Qualcomm Stadium for one of the city's most popular athletes ever.

Three years removed from winning the NFL MVP award and setting league records for touchdowns (31) and points (186) in a season, Tomlinson doesn't mind at all that Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers spends less time handing off to him and more time throwing to Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates, and 6-foot-5 wideouts Vincent Jackson and Malcom Floyd.

Handling the reduced role was easy for Tomlinson, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history.

"You prepare yourself for something and you accept it," Tomlinson said. "This train was going one way, and I wasn't going to be the guy to hold it up. I've never been that type of guy. I accept my role on this team and I play the best I can."

Tomlinson had 730 yards on 223 carries for an average of 3.3 yards per carry this season, all career lows. The lower numbers were due in part to the Chargers (13-3) relying more on their high-octane passing game, as well as L.T. missing the second and third games with a sprained ankle.

FOR FURTHER READING:

• Beyond Rex Ryan's bluster, there's reason to believe. Mike Lupica, New York Daily News.
• Are the Chargers in for a shining legacy? Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune.
• Bolts don't mind playing second fiddle to Jets. Scott Bair, North County Times.