[Sylvanfan]

Saturday January 9th 2:30 MDT

11-5 Kansas City -3.5 @ 9-7 Houston

Chiefs finished the season on a 10 game win streak to finish 11-5. Houston won their final three games to take the AFC South with a 9-7 record. These two teams met in week one with the Chiefs opening up a 27-7 half time lead and holding on for a 27-20 win. Both teams losttheir star running backs and came back from awful starts to get to this game. These two teams had the top pick in the 2013 & 2014 drafts.....neither got the type of player they wanted with that pick. Houston just lost Duane Brown and Justin Houston should be returning for KC.

I'm a jaded Chiefs fan and want a win here...no pick, I remember a Houston team who had won 9 straight with Buddy Ryans defence being KC's last playoff win. I fear the tables turning here.

Saturday January 9th 6:15 MDT
10-6 Pittsburgh (-2.5) at 12-4 Cincinatti.

Pittsburgh squeeked in with help from Buffalo to claim the final playoff spot in the AFC. Cincinatti was a missed week 16 field goal away from beingthe top seed and not playing this week. Now they're an underdog with a can't win in the playoffs reputation and playing a backup QB. Pittsburgh may be going into this game with its third string running back making them the same one dimensional team they were last year. This to me is a fascinating game. Cincinatti is pretty solid on D and could cause havoc on Big Ben if he has no run game. Still the plyoff ghosts and QB doubts linger....what if McCarron does win...does that get him the start in Foxboro next week?

I will say Pittsburgh wins 24-17. Bengals offence lacks that splash play to keep up in this one.

Sunday January 10th 11:00 MDT
10-6 Seattle (-5.5) at 11-5 Minnesota

Another rematch game from earlier in the season when Seattle started to get out of neutral. Russel Wilson had a big day and the Vikings did squat in a blow out win for Seattle. The Seahawks finished strong save a mis step against the Rams. The Vikings also played well after that fighting he Cards to the end and than winning their last three. Both teams have strong defensive units and rushing offences.

I think Minnesota will be in this one and are trending in the right direction. But the Seahawks have one final hurrah in them and take this 17-13.

Sunday January 10th 2:40 MDT
10-6 Green Bay (+1) at 9-7 Washington

The only game where the two teams have yet to meet and the only one with a home favorite. Green Bay goes into the playoffs flat having lost 2 straight and 6 oftheir final 10. The offence has disappeared as they struggle to run and Jordy Nelson has proven to be irreplacable for Rogers. Washington comes in pretty hot with Kirk Cousins almost as hot as Russel Wilson despite losing the support of his run game. This is a tough one to gauge as Washington had an easier schedule but built up momentum through the season. Both teams are 2-1 against common opponents.

Green Bay should win this, but right now they don't seem like a team to me. To many good parts not functioning together. Washington on the other hand seem to be feeling it. I'll go 35-27 for the Red Skins with Green Bay getting a TD late to make it closer than it really was.