Is Darrelle Revis the best cornerback in the NFL? Many, including Jets coach Rex Ryan, believe that to be the case.

Revis has held many of the NFL’s top receivers in check this season, and his reputation as a true shut-down corner continues to grow. The 2009 All-Pro will be tested Sunday when he matches up with Reggie Wayne and the other Colts receivers in the AFC Championship Game.

During his weekly live chat on NFL.com Thursday, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock examined why he believes Revis is the best in the game.

“He can play press-man coverage and shut down your best wide receiver,” Mayock explained. “He can play off-man coverage at the same high level. He understands zone concepts, and prioritizes the team when playing zone. He has great ball skills, and is a sure tackler, too. The majority of cornerbacks in the NFL would love to be great at one or two of those categories. Revis grades out at the highest level in every single category.

“They don’t move him around like the Packers do with Charles Woodson, but for my money he’s easily the best pure cornerback in the NFL. And oh, by the way, he can run with any receiver in the NFL.”

Mayock also discussed why he is picking the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game, and ventured into some draft prospect discussion, including Tim Tebow’s decision to participate in the Senior Bowl. You can read the full chat transcript here.

For the fourth consecutive year, NFL Network introduces viewers to the NFL’s next generation of talent with exclusive coverage of the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl from Mobile, Ala.

High-definition coverage begins with practices on Monday, Jan. 25 and culminates with the 60th annual Senior Bowl game Saturday, Jan. 30 at 4 p.m. ET. More …

NFL Network analyst and draft expert Mike Mayock will chat live with NFL.com users on Thursday, January 21 at Noon ET. Submit your questions now and then check back in for Mike’s opinions as he answers your questions on the NFL playoffs, draft prospects and more.

Don’t forget to check out Mike on NFL Network’s Playbook. This week, Playbook will debut its AFC title game preview on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The NFC preview will debut Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET. A combined AFC and NFC preview will air on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

NFL Network’s Playbook analysts have differing opinions on both conference title games this weekend. Brian Baldinger and Brian Billick are picking the New York Jets to win on the road, while Solomon Wilcots has the host Indianapolis Colts defeating the Jets in the AFC Championship Game.

In the NFC Championship Game, Baldinger and Wilcots are both picking the host New Orleans Saints to win, while Billick likes the Minnesota Vikings.

This week, Playbook will debut its AFC title game preview on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The NFC preview will debut Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET. A combined AFC and NFC preview will air on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Here are the Conference Championship Game picks:

Playbook airs Tuesday through Friday at 6 p.m. ET, and Saturday at noon. It combines Xs-and-Os analysis of each game with roundtable debates on the NFL’s hottest topics. For more information, check out NFL Network’s broadcast schedule.

The 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl will be played in front of a sold-out crowd, game officials announced Monday.

The Senior Bowl is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, Jan. 30 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. The game and accompanying practices will be broadcast on NFL Network.

NFL Network analyst Warren Sapp checks in to chat live with NFL Nation on Monday, Jan. 18 at 5 p.m. ET. Get your questions in early and don’t miss Warren’s takes as he discusses the latest from the playoffs and around the NFL.

You can get more from Warren on Monday’s NFL Total Access (7 p.m. ET) and later this week on NFL GameDay Morning (Sunday at 11 a.m. ET).

Click here to send in your questions for Warren, and be sure to check in at 5 p.m. ET to follow the chat live.

Cardinals QB Kurt Warner has the decision to make — retire, or come back for a 13th NFL season in 2010. Warner hasn’t put a timetable on his decision, but said Saturday he won’t draw-out the process, either.

The NFL GameDay Morning crew took up the topic on Sunday, as Marshall Faulk, Steve Mariucci, Warren Sapp and Michael Irvin debated Warner’s decision and his Hall of Fame potential.

“Knowing Kurt, I’m going to say this is probably it for Kurt,” said Faulk, a teammate of Warner’s for five seasons in St. Louis. “Coming back this year, after last year’s Super Bowl run, was basically to get back to the playoffs and get back to the Super Bowl. Kurt is a competitor. He wants to get out there, and he wants to compete. But he understands that there is a family at home.”

Regardless of his decision, Mariucci believes Warner has a Hall of Fame credentials, and he wasn’t alone — Sapp and Irvin agreed.

“Can he still play? Absolutely. He has Hall of Fame written all over his resume,” Mariucci said. “But does he have anything left to prove? I don’t think so. The guy has done it all for a long time. … He probably could freshen up and do this again, if he chooses. My guess says that he walks away on top. He’s had a great career.”

We just finished the 4.5-hour NFL GameDay pregame show. Hope you enjoyed it on NFL Network!

I’m here on location at the Superdome, and as the teams take field, here are a couple thoughts:

• Saints QB Drew Brees and Cardinals QB Kurt Warner looked sharp in warmups, as you’d expect.

• No Anquan Boldin for the Cardinals … no surprise (I was at the divisional-round playoff game last year when the Cards came on the road as underdogs and — without Boldin — beat the Panthers. Possible repeat scenario??).

• Saints coach Sean Payton came to the stadium OVER FIVE HOURS BEFORE KICKOFF (the players usually arrive 2-3 hours before kickoff). If you have any jewelry that needs shaping, bring it on by … his intensity could cut diamonds.

• It’s an open press box here at the Superdome. I’ve been to just about every stadium in the NFL … this one is top three when it’s cranked up.

• Saints RB Deuce McAllister, who was re-signed for this occassion, just lead team onto the field … this place is ROCKIN!

• There was a trumpet solo for the National Anthem, and when the crowd realized it, most started singing the lyrics out loud. GOOSE BUMPS!! Of course, this is coming from a guy who’s ex-girlfriend dubbed him “Captain America” because of my zealous patriotism. Ha!

– Scott Hanson

NFL Network’s Playbook analysts like the Cowboys to knock off the host Vikings, and the Colts to fend off the Ravens, but there are differing opinions on the other two games.

Brian Baldinger and Michael Lombardi (filling in for Sterling Sharpe) expect the Saints to win, but Joe Theismann predicts a victory by the Cardinals. Baldinger, meanwhile, is on his own in thinking the Jets can upset the Chargers.

This week, Playbook will not air based on conference games, but rather based on the date. The show about the two Saturday games (Cardinals-Saints, Ravens-Colts) will air on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET, while the show about the two Sunday games (Cowboys-Vikings, Jets-Chargers) will air on Friday at 6 p.m. ET.

Here are the Divisional Weekend picks:

Playbook airs Tuesday through Friday at 6 p.m. ET, and Saturday at noon. It combines Xs-and-Os analysis of each game with roundtable debates on the NFL’s hottest topics. For more information, check out NFL Network’s broadcast schedule.

Seattle fans should temper their expectations for an immediate turnaround under Pete Carroll. While the Seahawks’ new coach comes with an impeccable reputation as a college coach, he faces a challenge that might be insurmountable for even the most astute rebuilder.

The Seahawks’ roster is littered with holes that could prevent Carroll from duplicating his collegiate success. Any franchise that has playoff aspirations must have building blocks in place at several key positions — and the Seahawks are lacking in each of those areas.

Offensively, the team must address its left tackle situation because of Walter Jones‘ looming retirement. Further complicating matters is the fact that the Seahawks’ offensive line has been ravaged by injuries and inconsistent play in recent seasons. That performance along the line has dropped the Seahawks from the ranks of the offensive elite.

Additionally, the Seahawks are devoid of playmakers at the skill positions. While QB Matt Hasselbeck has earned three Pro Bowl berths during his career, he’s 35 years old and clearly on the backside of a solid career. Injuries have robbed him of some of the skills that made him an elite quarterback during the middle part of the decade, and the team needs to find an eventual successor.

The Seahawks also need to address an aging receiving corps that has failed to perform to expectations. The trio of Deion Branch, Nate Burleson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh doesn’t strike fear among defensive coordinators across the league, and an infusion of dynamic playmakers would alleviate some of the pressure on Hasselbeck.

The team also could use a franchise-caliber back to anchor its suspect running game. Veteran Julius Jones struggled mightily as Shaun Alexander’s replacement, and his inability to produce big games resulted in a woeful attack that became one-dimensional.

Defensively, Carroll inherits a unit that doesn’t have a legitimate pass rusher. Although Aaron Curry, Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill are outstanding rushers from their linebacker spots, the Seahawks could use the presence of a big-time edge rusher along the front line. Patrick Kerney, Lawrence Jackson and Darryl Tapp aren’t intimidating pass rushers, so the team needs to identify a stud in the immediate future.

Carroll’s arrival has been widely hailed in Seattle, but until his soon-to-be-appointed general manager overhauls the team’s roster, he is another college coach destined to fail.

– Bucky Brooks

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Just to give you an idea of how far Patriots rookie Julian Edelman has come …

In training camp, the crowd laughed at Edelman because he couldn’t catch punts. With five and a half minutes to go in the first half of Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff game against the Ravens, he returned a punt 28 yards, breaking tackles along the way. The Gillette Stadium crowd gave him the biggest cheer of the game so far.

– Kara Henderson

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — After a horrific start to Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff game, it hasn’t taken Patriots fans long to become dissatisfied. The boos began raining down after a long Ravens kickoff return with nine minutes left in the first quarter.

It’s fair to say the first three plays from scrimmage were the Patriots’ worst nightmare: Ray Rice long touchdown; pass for a loss to Wes Welker’s replacement, Julian Edelman; and Terrell Suggs‘ strip sack of Tom Brady that led to a touchdown.

Now, after throwing his second interception of the game, Brady was booed. That I haven’t heard before.

– Kara Henderson

CINCINNATI — As my NFL Network colleague Rich Eisen likes to say: “Kickers are people, too.” And right now, they’re the people having an interesting impact on this Jets-Bengals game.

Jets P Steve Weatherford has an “illness” and is out (In the press box, we’re all talking about what type of illness would make a punter unable to punt, but still able to jog back into the lockeroom).  So Jay Feeley has had some good and bad punts, and had two field goal attempts go by the wayside because of penalties.

Then the Bengals finally put together their best drive of the game, and K Shayne Graham leaks one barely wide left to still keep it a TD difference.

This has to be maddening for those who don’t think kickers are people.

– Scott Hanson

CINCINNATI — I spoke with Jets coach Rex Ryan and Bengals coach Marvin Lewis before the game.

Rex told me he wants his guys to know they are four wins away from the Super Bowl. He doesn’t mind them thinking about the ultimate prize. To that point, he gave the team an itinerary that included a trip to the Super Bowl, and a date for a Championship Parade back in NY/NJ after they win.

Lewis told me he didn’t shy away from using game tape of the 37-0 blowout from Sunday while preparing for this game. He didn’t want his guys to act like it didn’t happen.

I went into the Bengals’ lockeroom a few hours before the game. Seeing Chris Henry’s locker still intact — with personal effects still inside — really gave me pause. Such a sad loss.

Pregame really picked up when the gates opened. There’s something about the hunger of a crowd who’s team hasn’t won a playoff game in 19 years.

Lewis uses and loses both his challenges in the first quarter — wow. The groans in the press box were audible (FYI, press boxes are usually very quiet, and there’s no “cheering” allowed. Grumbles however…).

Braylon Edwards’ touchdown drop… I think I heard laughter and “We told ya so’s” coming from the North.

– Scott Hanson

NFL Network’s Playbook analysts are almost unanimous on their wild card picks. They all expect the Cowboys, Jets and Packers to march on in the postseason. The only place in which not all three agree is in the Patriots-Ravens matchup. While Brian Baldinger and Sterling Sharpe like the Patriots to advance, Joe Theismann is going with the Ravens.

This week, Playbook will not air based on conference games, but rather based on the date. The show about the two Saturday games (Jets-Bengals, Eagles-Cowboys) will air on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET, while the show about the two Sunday games (Ravens-Patriots, Packers-Cardinals) will air on Friday at 6 p.m. ET.

Here are the Wild-Card Weekend picks:

Playbook airs Tuesday through Friday at 6 p.m. ET, and Saturday at noon. It combines Xs-and-Os analysis of each NFL game with roundtable debates on the NFL’s hottest topics. For more information, check out NFL Network’s broadcast schedule.