Divisional Round Preview and Picks

Last week during the Wild Card round, we got off to a great start going 4 for 4 in our picks. This week tings get a bit trickier. The Patriots essentially have a 2nd bye week this week, but the other 3 games are outstanding matchups and can all go either way. This is what the playoffs is all about, isn’t it?

Seattle vs Atlanta: The biggest story from their matchup during the regular season is whether or not Sherman interfered with Julio on the final Falcons play. In the end, Seattle came out on top 26-24 with a hobbled Russell Wilson and no Thomas Rawls, but they also had Earl Thomas on defense at that time and will be missing him this week. The game was also in Seattle, where Seattle is 8-1 this season against just 3-4-1 on the road. The game will be in Atlanta this time and Matt Ryan and the Falcons will be looking for revenge. Seattle’s defense has struggled some since Thomas went down with an injury, and they will have their hands full this week against the extremely high powered Atlanta offense. With Thomas, Seattle is one of the best at stopping the big play, but without him they are vulnerable to it. Atlanta had 69 pass plays of 20 or more yards this season and may be able to strike for a couple in this game. Will Richard Sherman and company be able to slow down Julio Jones and the Falcons? Our best guess is slow down: yes, but stop: no. Look for Atlanta to score enough to get bye

Prediction: Atlanta 27 Seattle 21

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Texans vs Patriots: The last matchup was just embarrassing. New England beat Houston 27-0 during the regular season behind rookie 3rd string quarterback Jacoby Brissett. This time around, New England will have a guy named Tom Brady at quarterback. There isn’t much to write about with this game, other than whether or not you think New England can cover the spread that has been floating between 15 and 18 points, currently at about 15.5. Our advice is to bet New England regardless.

Prediction: New England 31 Houston 10

Pittsburgh vs Kansas City: Pittsburgh easily handled Kansas City 43-14 during the regular season behind a dominant Le’Veon Bell. Pittsburgh is as hot as anyone right now and are fully healthy so it should be the same outcome this time, right? Not so fast. This time around the game is in Kansas City at the impossibly loud Arrowhead Stadium. While Pittsburgh is as hot as anyone, Kansas City is also 10-2 since that matchup with Pittsburgh and have suddenly found an explosive element to their offense in Tyreke Hill. Also factor in that Kansas City coach Andy Reid is 19-2 in his career following a bye week. There is very little chance this one is another blowout. Look for the Steelers to try to get Bell going again, and the Chiefs missing linebacker Derrick Johnson could be a big problem in trying to slow Bell down. They already struggle some against the run and Bell is as good as any back in the league. Will he and Antonio Brown each have another huge game? Time will tell. In the meantime, flip a coin to decide who will win this game, because it’s going to be a close one.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 24 Kansas City 23

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Green Bay vs Dallas: Dallas traveled to Lambeau week 6 and really handed it to the Packers, beating them 30-16 behind a monster game from Zeke Elliott. It’s easy to look at that game and say it will be much the same except this time in Dallas, but that was before the famous Aaron Rodgers run the table prediction. The Packers come in to this matchup as the hottest team in football, and Rodgers is playing like a man possessed. Yes, he has to travel to Dallas and face the incredible rookie duo of Elliott and Prescott, but do you think Rodgers cares right now who or where he is playing? He just hung 38 on the Giants last week when they had been dominant on defense for much of the 2nd half of the season. Dallas is going to have their hands full on defense, but at the same time, who on the Packers defense is going to stop the Dallas offense? Elliott very well may go for over 150 yards again, and so long as Prescott takes care of the ball as he has all season, this should remain a close game. Dallas will likely look to control the clock and keep Rodgers off the field, while Rodgers will put up as many points as possible. The higher the score, the more this game favors the Packers, but with Jordy Nelson unable to play, the edge has to go to Dallas.

Prediction: Dallas 28 Green Bay 25

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How do you think the games will play out tonight this weekend? Comment and let us know! Stay tuned for more current sports stories. Don't forget to follow us on social media. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram @beyondthemetrics, and Twitter @byondthemetrics