Yep, the 2008 NFL playoffs continue and unfortunately for some, some people were already left for dead.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, along with the probably still emotional Washington Redskins ended their respective seasons Saturday when the Jaguars and the Seahawks took them down for good. (Well, at least until September again…)

What’s left is a battle between the New York Giants and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC and part 2 of what is being dubbed as the ‘’Smash-Mouth war'’ between the Tennessee Titans and the San Diego Chargers in the AFC.

People, this is the final part of a two-part NFL playoffs wild card saga before we make our way to the NFL divisional playoff games where guys like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Brett fucking Favre awaits.

First, from the NFC, the New York Giants visit the Buccaneers in Tampa, hoping that this playoff run will finally make THIS young Manning worth your while.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Ronde Barber ain’t buying in to the hype yet. He claims Manning ‘’can be had,'’ probably because of the inconsistent play we’ve all seen from the Giants QB.

Manning’s boy on the other hand, Giants wideout Plaxico Burress, find this amusing.

‘’I really didn’t know what he was trying to say,'’ Burress said. ‘’But it’s fun to me. You can laugh at it and we can have conversations out there on the field, and you know, see who’s winning.'’

And people, if I was a betting man, I’d probably except the Bucs to pound the little Giants because as focused as Plaxico will be coming into this one, Eli Manning, as always, won’t.

Meanwhile, Smash-Mouth II will happen when the Tennessee Titans and the San Diego Chargers try to keep their campaign alive in the AFC Wild Card game.

On Dec. 9 at Nashville, the Titans dominated the San Diego Chargers for three quarters in a virtual slugfest. The Chargers rallied from 14 points down in the fourth quarter to force overtime, then won it 23-17 on LaDainian Tomlinson’s 16-yard touchdown run.

In the second quarter, Merriman, San Diego’s three-time Pro Bowl outside linebacker, collided with Tennessee’s Vince Young after he handed off, sending the QB to the sideline for a spell. Merriman hobbled off the field with a sprained left knee later in the period, the result of what he claimed was a retaliatory ‘’hit'’ ordered by Titans coach Jeff Fisher.

Merriman said his collision with Young was accidental. While lauding his teammates for coming back, Merriman took a swipe at the Titans.

‘’We’re going to fight you to the end, regardless of what they do. There were a bunch of cheap shots out there, but they can get some cheap shots on the sofa at home while they watch us,'’ Merriman said.

So imagine the reaction when the Titans (10-6) squeaked into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed, earning a trip to face AFC West champion San Diego (11-5).

This one could go either way. One thing’s for sure though, this is shaping up to be the most intense game in the NFL Wild Card weekend.