The NFL playoffs arrive on Saturday afternoon, as the AFC sends out it’s four Wild Card teams to go head to head for the right to take on the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos in round two. Sunday the action intensifies, as the NFC showcases four more teams fighting for the right to travel to Carolina and Arizona, as well.
It’s highly possible the victors this weekend only prolong their fate of experiencing an inevitable playoff loss, but on the other hand, many champions have come from the first round. It’s anyone’s guess if the Texans, Chiefs, Steelers, Bengals, Packers, Redskins, Seahawks or Vikings can go the distance, but in what feels like a fairly wide open field, who is to say they can’t?
We’re getting a little ahead of ourselves, though. Regardless of whether any of these teams can or will make it to the Super Bowl, they play this weekend and we’re all going to be watching because post-season football is about as intense as sports get. To gear up for the playoff matchups, let’s break down all four games and pick a winner:
Chiefs @ Texans
This might be the ugliest (and most unpredictable) game of the week, as two elite defenses face off in what should be a pretty low-scoring game. That doesn’t mean it won’t be interesting, as the 9-7 Texans have one of the best defenders in the game in J.J. Watt trying to take down the Chiefs at home. KC got the best of Houston in week one and comes in hot with 10 straight wins, however, so they hold a mild edge.
Pick: Chiefs 17, Texans 13
Steelers @ Bengals
Divisional matchups are always tough to gauge, as anything could happen in the third meeting of the year between the Steelers and Bengals. Andy Dalton and DeAngelo Williams will both sit this one out, leaving Cincy with a backup quarterback to guide their offense at home against what could be a very one-dimensional Steelers offense with no running back. Many peg the Bengals as the winner here due to Pittsburgh’s suspect pass defense, but their pass rush and run defense may be enough to keep them in the game. Then it could just come down to who can make a big play between the seasoned Ben Roethlisberger or the inexperienced McCarron. It’s almost impossible not to pick Big Ben.
Pick: Steelers 19, Bengals 13
Packers @ Redskins
This is another tough one to pick, as Green Bay has looked extremely pedestrian for a good 10 weeks now (4-6 over that stretch), but still finished a respectable 10-6 and nearly won the NFC North. They back into the playoffs and will be on the road, but it’s still awfully hard to see Aaron Rodgers bowing out against Kirk Cousins. Cousins isn’t trash, though, as he’s really turned things around and has the Redskins coming in ablaze with four straight wins to close out the regular season. It’s Washington’s 6-2 mark at home that could be the difference in this one, although this game does have the tools of a shootout.
Pick: Redskins 23, Packers 20
Seahawks @ Vikings
Seattle will be without running back Marshawn Lynch when they travel to Minnesota on Sunday, where they’ll be greeted by a mad Vikings team and negative temperatures. It’s going to be a very tough spot for both teams, while we’re going to have to lean hard one way or the other: banking on Adrian Peterson having a huge day or Seattle’s defense putting the clamps down just like they did a few weeks ago. When it comes playoff team, always bet on the elite defense.
Pick: Seahawks 31, Vikings 16
Think this weekend’s NFL games end differently? Give us your picks and analysis in the comments below!
