NFL Divisional Weekend Picks

The NFL Playoffs move to the Divisional Round this weekend.

AFC

Kansas City Chiefs at (-5) New England Patriots: 1/16 at 4:35pm ET

This is an intriguing matchup that pits the hottest team in the NFL against a struggling Patriots team, which finished the regular season 2-4. The Patriots have dealt with key injuries to offensive players all season long, but still managed to go 12-4 and secure a first-round bye. This is in large part to the everlasting tandem that is QB Tom Brady and Head Coach Bill Belichick. Despite what Kansas City has been able to do in winning 11 straight games, including last week's drubbing of the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round, it is hard to bet against Belichick and Brady's 21-8 playoff record and 4 Super Bowl titles together. TE Rob Gronkowski is expected to play, and when Brady's favorite target is in the lineup, expect them to control the middle of field throughout the game. 

Pick: New England Patriots (-5)

Pittsburgh Steelers at (-2.5) Denver Broncos: 1/17 at 4:40pm ET

The Sheriff is back in town just in time for a home playoff date with QB Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers survived a dramatic, drama-filled Wild Card game with division rival Cincinnati. WR Antonio Brown suffered a huge blow to the head towards the end of the game, and is not expected to play. RB DeAngelo Williams is also out vs. Denver, which will leave Roethlisberger without two key weapons against a stout Bronco defense. Given the fact that this may be QB Peyton Manning's last hurrah, and the Steelers will not put up the type of points their dangerous aerial attack is normally accustomed to, I am going to to pick Denver to get the home win and advance to the AFC Championship Game and set up the final Brady-Manning showdown for the right to advance to Super Bowl 50. 

Pick: Denver Broncos (-2.5)

NFC

Green Bay Packers at (-7) Arizona Cardinals: 1/16 at 8:15pm ET

In a rematch of a 38-8 Week 16 pounding by the Cardinals, the Packers will look to enact some revenge and build on their solid performance against the Washington Redskins. The Packers offense seemed to get back on track against the Redskins, but will face a stern test against the 5th ranked Cardinal defense (321.7 YPG allowed). They will have to lean on a heavy dose of RB Eddie Lacy, in order to combat the inordinate amount of pressure QB Aaron Rodgers has been facing lately. Lacy hasn't been getting the workload he is accustomed to, but will need to be a huge factor in order for the Pack to have a different outcome this time around against Arizona. QB Carson Palmer is having a career year in his 13th campaign, posting 35 TD's to 11 INT's and 4,671 yards with a 104.6 QBR. He has gotten the most out of his relatively unknown WR corps, outside of an aging Larry Fitzgerald, and will have to once again against Green Bay. This is a tough game to pick, as you cannot ignore the fact that Palmer has never won a playoff game and Rodgers is a Super Bowl champion and MVP. I like the Cardinals at home, as they have been one of the best team in the league all year on both sides of the ball, but the Packers will cover the spread in a tight contest.

Pick: Green Bay Packers (+7)

Seattle Seahawks at (-1.5) Carolina Panthers: 1/17 1:05pm ET

The Seattle Seahawks will look to take a different route to their third consecutive Super Bowl appearance this year, as they will have to win every playoff game on the road. They survived a tight, defensive contest in Minnesota last week with a missed 27-yard field goal by K Blair Walsh. QB Cam Newton, an MVP candidate, will lead his unproven, 15-1 Carolina Panthers into a tough home matchup with the best team in the NFC the last few years. This should be a tight contest throughout, and could come down to another QB Russell Wilson-like play, similar to the botched snap throw he made to WR Tyler Lockett to in essence save the game vs. Minnesota, by either QB. Newton will want to prove he is on the same level as the accomplished Super Bowl champion Wilson, as this is a crucial point in his 4th NFL season. As we've seen in the past, the hot, experience road team will come in and upset the NFC's number one seed, who have had a few weeks to get stale. Seattle has too much championship pedigree on their current roster, and seem to be hungry to get back to the title game they so narrowly lost a season ago. 

Pick: Seattle Seahawks (+1.5)

NFL Wild Card Weekend Picks

The 2016 NFL Playoffs kick off this weekend with the Wild Card round.

AFC

Kansas City (-3) at Houston: 1/9 at 4:35 ET

The Kansas City Chiefs may be the NFL's hottest team entering the 2016 postseason, recovering from a 1-5 start to rattle off ten consecutive victories and finish 11-5 as the AFC's No. 5 seed. They come up against what some would consider a favorable matchup at Houston, but with JJ Watt on the field for the Texans nothing is advantageous for the Chiefs. The Chiefs will look to methodically move the ball and control the clock with a combination of RB's Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware. The Texans' defense is stout, but too much time spent on the field will doom them in this contest. Plus, given the lack of consistency with the Texans' QB situation, how can one have confidence in their offensive attack?

Pick: Kansas City Chiefs (-3)

Pittsburgh (-3) at Cincinnati: 1/9 at 8:15 ET

This AFC North rivalry has had many intriguing story lines this season. From Le'Veon Bell's season ending knee injury, to the pre game scuffle and Twitter trash talk along with QB Andy Dalton's season-ending thumb injury, it is only fitting that we get Round 3 this weekend. This one will initially look similar to the post-Dalton matchup, as backup QB AJ McCarron will spread the ball around well and keep Cincinnati close against the suspect Steeler secondary. QB Ben Roethlisberger will have to continue to air it out, which hasn't been an issue, with RB DeAngelo Williams inactive. Look for a high-scoring affair in this one, which will see Bengals' Head Coach Marvin Lewis finally get his first career playoff win.

Pick: Cincinnati Bengals (+3)

NFC

Seattle (-5) at Minnesota: 1/10 at 1:05 ET

This seems to be the "easiest" pick of the weekend by many. If Seattle's Week 13 38-7 drubbing of the Vikings is any indication, this will be a straightforward pick. But not so fast. Minnesota is playing with a ton of confidence after going into Lambeau Field last Sunday night and taking the NFC North crown away from the Packers with a ferocious pass rush that harassed QB Aaron Rodgers all night long. Being at home, in what is expected to be one of the coldest games in NFL history, with a raucous crowd should lead to a very competitive affair. The disadvantage for Minnesota is that they are coming up against an experienced, championship-caliber Seahawks team that, except for a Week 16 slip-up at home against St. Louis, seems to be rounding into their old form just at the right time. QB Russell Wilson is playing at an elite level, and their defense seems to be regaining that L.O.B. swagger. It would also be shocking if RB Marshawn Lynch doesn't find a way to play, as he has been a full participant in practice all week. This game will be won at the line of scrimmage, with two of the NFL's best RB's going head-to-head, but look for a few more big plays from the Wilson and the Seattle passing attack to be the difference.

Pick: Seattle Seahawks (-5)

Green Bay (-1) at Washington: 1/10 at 4:40 ET

YOU LIKE THAT?! Yes, somehow the Washington Redskins found a way to get themselves a 9-7 record and an NFC East crown that doesn't look all that impressive. But, when you consider QB Kirk Cousins' unexpected high performance, a four-game winning streak, a home atmosphere and a reeling Green Bay squad, this game is virtually a pick 'em. The Packers' offense has looked un-Packer like for some time, while the Redskins' offense has looked very un-Redskin like for the better part of a month. Cousins and TE Jordan Reed have developed confidence in one another, and WR DeSean Jackson always remains a deep threat. With some key guys in the Green Bay secondary questionable, notably CB Sam Shields, this could be an opportunity for Washington. Despite all the things pointing to a Redskins  win, I can't take Cousins over Rodgers in a playoff game. They have been trending in opposite directions, and the Pack may not lift the Lombardi Trophy this season, but they will find a way to advance to the Divisional Round.

Pick: Green Bay Packers (-1)