2016 NFL Playoff thread

[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.

[troutman]

Patriots vs. Seahawks, Part Deux.

Russell's Revenge.

[Spuds_Buckley]

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

Chiefs should win this one because they have more talent at most skill positions, so I think they win as long as they don't turn over the ball. They do have a history of choking in playoff games, so this could be a closer game than some predict.

10-6 Pittsburgh (-2.5) at 12-4 Cincinatti.

Cincy finally shakes the playoff drought. The Steelers are flawed on defense, the Bengals are not. Having McCarron in is a good thing... as playoff / primetime Andy Dalton has proven to be brutal time and time again.

10-6 Seattle (-5.5) at 11-5 Minnesota

Vikings have been frisky all year, but have played a lot of weak opponents. I think Seattle takes care of business here.

10-6 Green Bay (+1) at 9-7 Washington

The Packers have been very underwhelming all year. The Redskins took advantage of a weak division, and Cousins has really come into his own. That being said, Cousins tends to collapse when things don't go according to plan, so if GB can get some turnovers early then look out. I predict the Pack win. No more "You like that!"

[Sylvanfan]

The AFC to me is pretty fascinating this year with how banged up the Patriots could be. If I thought they were healthy they would be the only team who could win the Conference. But I have doubts about health to a lot of key guys which opens it up to the point where any team is a Joe Flacco like run from being able to go thru.

The last time I saw Brady walk that gingerly as he did from that press conference on Sunday was when he went off the field in week one of the 2008 season. He'll start for sure when they play next, but Peyton Manning looked just fine until the St.Louis Rams racked him up at mid season last year. Ever since he hasn't been the same guy physically. Brett Farve...after the bounty gate game against the Saints, there was a noticeable decline in him physically. Will we see the same thing in Tom Brady in two weeks? As much as Edelman should be back, how recovered and effective will he be? Will Amendola be as good timing wise? The Patriot passing game will be challenged with their O-Line issues and if these guys aren't running as precise as they usually do, and Brady's throws aren't in the same rhythm, their offence loses a fair bit.

Pittsburgh has the QB that the other teams seem to be lacking. But they don't have the defence the Cincinatti, Denver, Houston, and Kansas City do.

The McCarron situation is quite intriguing....if he beats Pittsburgh, how do you go away from him the next week?

[Jbo]

Im going to go Houston, Cincinnati, Seattle, Green Bay

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

The McCarron situation is quite intriguing....if he beats Pittsburgh, how do you go away from him the next week?

Obviously will depend how they win. A 38-14 or 35-31 game where he plays quite well and he's gotta stay. A 17-16 win where he does enough and it's probably back to Dalton.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Supposed to be below zero at game time in Minnesota. I think that could really favor the Vikings

[TheAlpineOracle]

The Viking are nothing but a speed bump for the Seahawks. I understand winning the division gave the Vikings a home playoff game, but I personally think they would have been better off playing Washington on the road.

[Sainters7]

Chiefs
Steelers
Seahawks
Skins

Just feels wrong going against A-Rodg - especially against the NFC Least - but that offence is a mess. Still wouldn't be surprised if he pulls it out.

Chiefs/Texans was my toughest one, but with Duane Brown out, I think the Chiefs are going to cause that OL fits.

[Pagal4321]

The cold weather might help Minnesota a little bit but I'm not sure it will be enough, unless they can mimic the Rams game plan from a few weeks ago. Run the hell out of the ball and keep a spy on Wilson at all times, hopefully with Barr.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Kc 20 hou 13
pitt 28 cindy 24
was 31 gb 27
min 21 sea 19

[Senator Clay Davis]

KC 27 HOU 13
PIT 21 CIN 16
MIN 19 SEA 14
WAS 30 GB 17

Lynch is now out for Seattle as well.

[Sainters7]

Ohh how I hope you're all right about the Vikes game.. I'd happily be wrong on that one.

[transplant99]

KC 31 HOU 17
CIN 23 PITT 20 (In OT)
SEA 13 MIN 10 (Game time wind chill will be -30C or so)
GB 23 WASH 17 (Pure homerism here, likely Skins move on)

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Houston 21-17
Cincinnati 28-21
Seattle 24-13
Washington 31-14

I'm cheering for the winner of the Houston-KC game to win the AFC.

[Sylvanfan]

Justin Houston will return for KC. Starting center Mitch Morse is out. Texans will play without Jadevon Clowney as usual.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Justin Houston will return for KC. Starting center Mitch Morse is out. Texans will play without Jadevon Clowney as usual.

That's huge for KC if he is even relatively healthy. Great player.

Losing Clowney sure doesn't help the Texans either but as you say its far from unusual for them to play without him.

[GirlySports]

That seemed like nothing. One move and he was gone

[transplant99]

Thats one way to start a game...holy smokes.

[Tyler]

awww man