After an historic Wildcard weekend in which all the away teams came out with the W, it was apparent that the playoff is a different animal from the regular season. Houston learned that quarterbacks, in fact, do matter. Washington learned that it’s not about how you start, but how you finish. Minnesota learned that sometimes, luck is simply not on your side. Cincinnati learned that in the playoffs, there is no tomorrow to look back on yesterday. So welcome to the Divisional Round, all the Wildcard teams. This is where the real heavyweights play. Will they once again overcome their underdog status or collapse at the hands of the Goliaths? The Knight Crier staff once again look into their magic crystal ball.

LEADERBOARD:
Dante: 4-0
Ryan: 4-0
Kee: 2-2

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots – Sat. 4:35
Kee: Are the Chiefs the best team in the AFC, no NFL right now? Maybe. They’re riding an impressive 11-game winning streak en route to their matchup against the Fightin’ Belichicks, New England. However, with Jeremy Maclin hobbled, Kansas City’s offense may falter, and that might be an understatement. Maclin, while not a go-to target in the passing game, frees up space for Travis Kelce and Co. If he can not play, it would be a detrimental blow to already low-powered Kansas City offense. While the Chiefs may not burn you with their firepower offense, they have the defense that can shut anyone down. As shown in their last matchup against Houston, they can force turnovers and get to the quarterback. They did not win 11 games in a row accidentally. The problem is that the guy they’re facing is someone named Tom Brady… Kansas City has shown that they can defend the deep ball, with the likes of Marcus Peters roaming the secondary. However, they have given up tons of short-passes under them and that is wear Brady lives. Sure, Brandon LaFell is not going to streak the sidelines for 40 yard bombs after another, but Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman, who is expected to play, will march the Patriots down the field. Throw in the beast that is Rob Gronkowski, and I have to give New England the edge here…. but my gut feeling says no. Kelce is a monster, Smith is a veteran quarterback, Ware and West are more than capable runners, and their defense can shut anyone down. If Eric Berry can control Gronkowski and limit their running game, Kansas City will be the winner.
Prediction: 24-21 Kansas City

Ryan: Despite the Chiefs impressive 11-game winning streak, I just find it hard to believe that they will be able to come into Foxborough with Maclin not at full strength against a well-rested and healthy Patriots squad. Brady will have Edelman back finally and of course Gronk, who are both going to tear into the Chiefs weak secondary. This will be a wake up call for the Chiefs, playing against a team who has the best quarterback of all time, instead of one who will cough up the ball five times and get shut out. Brady will throw 4 touchdowns if he has to, just like last year against the Ravens who were leading by two touchdowns twice in that game. Belichick & Brady always find a way to win and it looks as if they should breeze by in this one, unless Kansas City deflates some balls or something.
Prediction: 31-17 New England

Dante’: The Kansas City Chiefs shutout the Texans last week on the road. They’re defense looked impressive, they forced turnovers and got to the quarterback. However, it was the Houston Texans and Brian Hoyer. This week they are facing legendary quarterback and coach duo Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Belichick has a knack for deciphering opponents schemes (no pun intended) and take away their best playmaker. The Chiefs have Jeremy Maclin, but after an ankle injury last week his productivity and his snaps will likely decrease. Other than him though, they don’t have a solid go to guy, but that doesn’t matter because the team is just that— a team. They play team football. They don’t commit turnovers, whilst capitalizing on their opponents’. That is winning football. The formula for a Patriots win is to score at least 17 points on their first 3 possessions on offense. If the Patriots offense can get off to a hot start the defense can play relaxed and be good enough to hold the Chiefs to minimal points. The Chiefs don’t have an offense built to play from behind. With Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola expected to come back, the quick passing strike should look like it did at the start of the season. Because the Patriots do not have a running game, the Chiefs need to focus on stopping the short, quick passing attack of the Patriots. If they can do that then they have a chance to win. The matchup to watch is Eric Berry vs. Rob Gronkowski. Whoever wins this matchup, their team will win the game. The Patriots have been their before and I think experience will help them with this one, but the Chiefs will make it a ballgame.
Prediction: 34-31 New England

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals – Sat. 8:15
Kee: Let us take a trip down the memory lane to Week 16, when Arizona gave a royal beatdown on Green Bay, 38-8. That was three weeks ago. How much better are the Packers now than from three weeks ago? This a team that had to struggle to beat Washington. So how can they beat Arizona? Well, let’s start of with the obvious: Aaron Rodgers. He is one of the best quarterbacks in football right now, perhaps the best. If Green Bay has any chance of winning this game, it must be through their golden boy, and Rodgers have proven time and time again that he can put the team on the back. Last time these two met, the Packers ran the ball pretty well between Eddie Lacy and James Stark. Now, Green Bay running game has been anything but consistent, and they can’t be trusted. Now, the reality. The Packers offense has been on a backslide since October, and one flukish offensive performance against Washington should not be taken seriously. While Lacy and Stark woke up last week, it will be much harder against Calais Campbell and Co. Moreover, the Packers’ offensive line is still a mess, and the Cardinals D-line will have a field day against the vulnerable Rodgers. Carson Palmer is no scrub either, and one can argue that he has had a better season than the Wisconsin savior. The resurgence of Larry Fitzgerald and the breakout of John Brown has given Arizona a deadly combo of receivers while Green Bay must go on without DeVante Parker, who had the best game of the season at Washington. While it’s rare we see a blowout in playoffs, this one might get ugly.
Prediction: 35-14 Arizona

Ryan: The Arizona Cardinals have shown their dominance for the past two years, but last year they were riddled with injuries. This year with a fully healthy squad, the Cardinals ended up one game away from the best record in the NFL. The Green Bay Packers on the other hand have been battling injuries the whole season and hardly look like a team that was one onside kick stop away from being in the Super Bowl. Normally, I would say that the Arizona Cardinals should win and win big, just like in the regular season, but the way the Packers that played last week against the Redskins looked like the Green Bay Packers, and the Aaron Rodgers, we have all come to know and respect. Green Bay needs to come into the game, jump ahead early and protect Aaron Rodgers by limiting the sacks they allow, just like last week, and this could be a major upset. What better revenge than the playoffs baby. Either way, if we see the Pack from last week or not, this game has the potential to be a shootout.
Prediction: 35-31 Green Bay

Dante’: The Packers simply had the Redskins worn down by the fourth quarter last week. The Redskins had it close with the Packers until fatigue on both sides of the ball caught up to them. The Cardinals won’t have that problem, though. Their defense is aggressive, and their secondary can shut down any receiver in the league. They have flexibility on defense, as well, which allows them to show a lot of different looks and confuse a young opposing quarterback. On the other hand, Aaron Rodgers is very experienced, and there is not a defensive look he has not seen in his career. The key for the Packers is to establish the running game early with Eddie Lacy and James Starks. If they can get those two guys going early, it sets up play-action, and the deep shots downfield. The key for the Packers is to keep the Cardinals honest on defense and have them respect the run and the pass. On defense the Packers need to stop the aerial assault of Carson Palmer to all of his receivers. Michael Floyd, John Brown, and future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, are all capable number one receivers so to stop them zone defense will be the key, as well as blitzing, and putting some heat on Carson Palmer. The Cardinals are a very well-rounded team, so to stop them it is going to take a near perfect effort in all three phases of the game. I don’t think the Packers are capable of hanging with the Cards’ for four quarters.
Prediction: 38-20 Arizona

Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers – Sun. 1:05
Kee: The game ultimately comes down to Wilson vs. Newton, two perennial MVP candidates. So who is the true, top dog of the NFL? Is it Cam and his 15-1 Carolina Panthers? No. It must be Russell Wilson. His second half could only be described as magical and he has better stats, number-wise, than Newton, except for rushing touchdowns. While Newton was getting all the world’s attention with his winning streak, Wilson was quietly putting the team on the back and carrying the Seahawks to the playoffs. Yes, Seattle has struggled to cover TEs and Greg Olsen has been the only reliable receiver for Carolina, but there is so much one receiver can do. Both team has one of the best defenses in the league, but Seattle is just different in their mystique and confidence that makes them believe that they are the best team in the world even if they are 1-15. One problem Cam had is throwing under pressure, and the Seahawks can bring pressure to any quarterback, no matter how good the OL is or how mobile the QB is. The addition of Marshawn Lynch will only shed pressure off of the passing game with limited options. While it’s hard to go against a team that won fifteen games in the regular season, I have to go with Seattle.
Prediction: 24-21 Seattle

Ryan: The Seahawks can thank Blair Walsh for being able to play this game in Charlotte this week and if they do not see this as a sign that they need to make their third straight appearance to the Super Bowl, I would be shocked. Yes Cam Newton will probably win MVP. Yes they did beat the seahawks earlier. And yes they have the best record in the league, but if you were going to pick one team to eliminate the top dogs, it would be the Seahawks and their best defense in the league for four years straight. Marshawn Lynch is also making his return this week, so Seattle’s offense should be rejuvenated and Doug Baldwin can take some of the slack off his shoulders. As for the Panthers, Cam is going to have to do it all this game against a defense that allowed only 9 points last game. If you really look at the Carolina offense there isn’t much there, but Cam makes it work and has made it work all season. The other big factor will come down to the Panthers defense coming up big and providing some relief for the offense. It’s not a question, at some point the Panthers will score, but will it be enough to prevent them from getting eliminated two years in a row from the playoffs by the hands (or should I say talons) of the Seahawks.
Prediction: 27-24 Seattle

Dante’: The Seattle Seahawks did not win the game last week against the Vikings. The Vikings lost it. Seattle’s defense got exposed. Albeit they gave up 3 field goals, the Vikings offense drove down the field and managed to put points on the board. The Vikings defense also stopped Seattle for virtually the entire game except on a miraculous Russell Wilson scramble play. Without Marshawn Lynch the offense had no spark and no rhythm. Without Lynch the Seahawks offense is one dimensional. They don’t have the personnel to chuck the ball down the field all game. With that in mind, the Panthers defense is the best in the league and can stop any offense. They create turnovers and make opposing teams pay for their mistakes. Their offense, with front running MVP candidate, Cam Newton, is a balanced one. They rush the ball extremely well averaging around 180-200 yards a game, and with Jonathan Stewart coming back the rushing attack will be in full effect. Greg Olsen is the key though. If the Seahawks can limit his productivity, but I don’t see that happening. Cam Newton will find a way to get the ball in his Pro Bowl tight end’s hands. In addition, Cam’s overall athleticism and playmaking ability is just too much for the Seahawks defense.
Prediction: 30-20 Carolina

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos – Sun 4:40
Kee: If you are a Steelers fan, it’s been an emotional week for you. After miraculously winning against the division rival Cincy, injuries to Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger have dampened the mood. Throw in the fact that DeAngelo Williams is now out again does not help the case, with Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman once again need to carry the load against the beastly Denver defense. On the other hand, Denver had a week to rest, and now has Peyton Manning back under the center, whether or not that is a blessing or a curse. Emmanuel Sanders is having a fantastic season and Demaryius Thomas is always a dangerous threat. Throw in the fact that C.J. Anderson is gaining his momentum back, and this offense can be very scary. So let us just pencil in Denver and move on, right? Nope. Now, I hear you. Am I crazy? Maybe. Probably. Am I really picking the team that lost its No. 1 receiver, No. 1 running back, and banged up QB? You heard me right. Let me explain. I am not a believer in either signal callers in Denver, Manning and Osweiler. Peyton has been very ineffective in the beginning before shamefully being benched in favor of Osweiler, who by no means is a game changer. Demaryius Thomas has had a mediocre season, and a slot receiver, Sanders, can not take over the game like true elite receivers. The combination of Anderson and Hillman has been extremely underwhelming throughout the season. Finally, Big Ben is starting. As a Steelers fan myself, I am programmed to put unlimited faith on his broad shoulders. So do I really believe that the banged-up, crooked quarterback can beat one of the toughest defense in the league? It’s not like it never happened before.
Prediction: 17-13 Pittsburgh

Ryan: As soon as the Steelers won against the Bengals and were matched against the Broncos, I figured it would be an upset without a doubt. Pittsburg would win just like they did in the regular season, and they would win big. But during the regular season, they had Deangelo Williams and a healthy Antonio Brown. Now in this Divisional, Williams – OUT, Brown – under concussion protocol, and Ben Roethlisberger is having shoulder problems too. Roethlisburger is 99% playing and the Pittsburgh knows as well as we all do that without Antonio Brown, they stand a very small chance. This injured Steeler team is going to find it difficult against the Denver Broncos, a well-oiled and efficient team on both sides of the ball who also have a well-rested Manning too. steelers young wide receiver Martavis Bryant is going to have to come up big, just like last week except even better (maybe he can make two of those leg catches this time.)
Prediction: 26-21 Denver

Dante’: After a straight out war last week, the Pittsburgh Steelers are bruised and bleeding. Without Ben Roethlisberger being at 100% it will be hard to move the ball downfield on passes. Running the ball, they will have issues as the front seven of the Broncos are as good as they come. Antonio Brown has a concussion and without him, the big plays are limited. Should be easy pickings for the home team.
Prediction: 35-7 Denver