NFL Divisional Playoff Weekend Preview

By Bayard Miller

After a wild first weekend of NFL playoff action that included a sub-zero game that was decided on a missed chip shot (Seattle over Minnesota), a sure victory turned into a brutal loss thanks to a fumble and 30 yards of personal fouls (Pittsburgh over Cincinnati), and an unheard of 0-4 record for the home teams, we gear up for another full weekend of high stakes professional football. Will the best teams in the league, who were absent from last weekend’s action, win as expected? Or will teams who snuck into the playoffs maintain their momentum and roll on towards Super Bowl glory? Let’s predict this weekend’s winners and losers, starting with….

Kansas City vs. New England

The weekend’s first game is in many ways its most intriguing. Kansas City is the league’s hottest team, winning their last eleven games and blowing Houston out of the water on the road on Saturday by a score of 30-0. Kansas City’s defense gave Brian Hoyer no quarter, picking him off four times and forcing a sack-fumble in an abysmal 15 for 34 effort. But Houston is not a representative opponent; they made it into the playoffs only because their division was awful, and Kansas City has a much tougher opponent this weekend as they travel to Foxborough, MA to play New England. The main question going into the game is the health of Brady’s best two receivers, Gronkowski and Edelman, who are both listed as questionable. While it is never a good idea to bet against Brady, I believe that Kansas City’s momentum will continue into this weekend and Kansas City will win this close game. Kansas City, 24-21

Green Bay vs. Arizona

Green Bay’s victory over Washington on Sunday was not exactly a shocker. After all, Washington made into the playoffs the same way Houston did: they were simply the least bad team in a horrible division. However, Green Bay limped into the playoffs with a 4-6 record in their last ten games and many picked them to lose against KC Masterpiece (Kirk Cousins) and a Washington squad that was very good at home throughout the 2015 campaign. Instead, Rodgers and Green Bay found a little life and squarely won 32-18. This weekend they take on Arizona, who dominated them less than a month ago to the tune of 38-8. I think that despite last week’s good showing, RB Eddie Lacy will not be able to replicate his performance and Arizona’s excellent pass defense will take care of the rest. Pitt Panther Larry Fitzgerald will have a touchdown or two in a big win. Arizona, 35-10

Seattle vs. Carolina

Seattle won Sunday on a miracle after a terrible offensive performance in which they produced a measly 10 points. Carolina, on the other hand, was the best team in the NFL during the regular season, finishing with a 15-1 record and Cam Newton atop the unofficial polls for MVP. While Seattle will play in a much more hospitable climate this weekend and their offensive efficiency is expected to rise alongside the temperature, Norman and the Carolina defense will be too stiff for Seattle to really get rolling. I expect Newton to have an excellent day, getting it done in the air as well as with his feet against the “Legion of Boom.” Carolina, 31-20

Pittsburgh vs. Denver

This weekend’s final matchup is also the most important for southwest Pennsylvania, as the beloved black and gold take on the blue and orange of Denver on the road. Pittsburgh barely made it into the playoffs thanks to a Buffalo victory over New York, and got extremely lucky last weekend in their unlikely triumph over Cincinnati. But Roethlisberger, head coach Mike Tomlin, and this Pittsburgh team have played lots of January ball and know how to get it done in winning time. They will face Denver and Peyton Manning, who hasn’t started a game since Week 10 as the result of an injured foot. Manning is in the conversation for greatest quarterback of all time, but he does not have the best track record in the postseason. Expect him to throw at least one pick against this Pittsburgh defense, who has 17 interceptions on the year as well as 13 fumble recoveries. Big Ben will toll the funeral bells for this Denver team on Sunday. Pittsburgh, 29-24