Playing at home in the NFL playoffs guarantees nothing, but it does mean something.

The higher-seeded teams earn that home field in the regular season by virtue of their record and in some years the advantage seems more significant than others.

The four home teams in the divisional round of the postseason that begins on Saturday combined to go 30-2 at home this season. The Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos were both  8-0, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots 7-1, and the Patriots basically gave away that one game in the regular-season finale when they had nothing further to gain and Tom Brady sat out the second half against the Buffalo Bills.

SATURDAY

Baltimore Ravens (11-6) at New England Patriots (12-4): They are playoff opponents for the fourth time in six years and the Ravens have won twice in Foxborough. Baltimore is the better running team, which could matter in cold weather. The Patriots are well-rested. Pick: Patriots 20, Ravens 13.

Carolina Panthers (8-8-1) at Seattle Seahawks (12-4): The Seahawks have won six in a row, the Panthers five (counting the playoffs). Seattle has won seven consecutive home playoff games. The Panthers allowed only 78 yards in beating the Arizona Cardinals last week. Pick: Seahawks 26, Panthers 14.

SUNDAY

Dallas Cowboys (13-4) at Green Bay Packers (12-4): The Packers never lost at home this season and the Cowboys never lost on the road. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a calf injury that limits his mobility. The Cowboys are the more physical team and have the better running game. Pick: Cowboys 27, Packers 23.

Indianapolis Colts (12-5) at Denver Broncos (12-4): It’s the relatively new QB of the Colts, Andrew Luck, against the old QB of the Colts, Peyton Manning. The Broncos beat the Colts 31-24 in the season opener. Indy’s lack of a running game will hurt it. Pick: Broncos 34, Colts 21.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .