NFL Predictions: Divisional Round

Last Week: 2-2
Playoff Record: 2-2

Kansas City Chiefs @ New England Patriots (NE -5) -> Kansas City Chiefs
Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals (ARI -7) -> Arizona Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks @ Carolina Panthers (CAR -1.5) -> Carolina Panthers
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos (DEN -7.5) -> Denver Broncos

A couple notes...
- The Pats are banged up. Really banged up. Brady's hurting, Gronk's hurting, Edelman and Amendola are both questionable, and the defense is banged up too. Kansas City's defense is a tough draw for anyone, and unless Edelman is playing, the Pats will struggle to put points on the board. It's tough to pick against the Patriots in the playoffs, and as long as Brady is playing then they have a shot, but they are 2-4 in their last six games and this season has been taking a toll on them. Alex Smith will just need to do what he does best, limit mistakes. No matter who wins it should at least be a close game.
- The NFC just has more exciting games this weekend. Packers vs. Cardinals, Rodgers vs. Palmer, hell yes. Arizona is just the better more complete team in this game though. I think it'll be a lot closer than the blowout a few weeks ago, but Arizona's offensive and defensive talent will be too much for the Packers. The one thing that Green Bay has going for them is they do have Aaron Rodgers. Just like Tom Brady, you can never count Rodgers out. Even looking back at the blowout a few weeks ago too, up until two minutes before the half, Green Bay was completely in the game. If Rodgers turned the Mike Daniels screen into a touchdown, it's 10-10 going into the second half. This should be a very entertaining game, but Arizona is the more complete team.
- So the Seahawks snuck past the wildcard round thanks to a Blair Walsh missed kick, but they are going to have to bring a completely different team to the field if they want to have a shot against the Panthers. Seattle seemed to be missing a beat this past weekend, and Carolina will kick their ass if they play like that again. The Panthers match up pretty well against the Seahawks, with fast athletic linebackers to contain Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. Josh Norman leads a tough Panthers secondary and Wilson will have a hard time beating them. He'll have to rely on his ability to extend plays but this isn't the defense to do that against. Also Greg Olsen has a good matchup against Kam Chancellor. The Seahawks D is still terrific, but Chancellor has been very beatable recently (see Kyle Rudolph in the last series against Minnesota) and Cam Newton's favourite target could have himself a field day. Seattle seems more lucky then good in recent weeks, and they are going up against too good of a team to just be lucky. Give me Carolina.
- Peyton Manning is back! I really, really want Peyton Manning to go out on top with a Super Bowl win, and I'm not a Denver fan. How perfect would that be for one of the all-time greats. Either way, I think Denver beats up on Pittsburgh. Antonio Brown isn't playing Sunday, and Big Ben has a separated shoulder. Oh and the Steelers are going up against the best D in the league (you heard me). If Peyton Manning can be an adequate game manager, then this should be an easy win for Denver.