NFL Playoff Picks 2016: Updated Super Bowl Odds, Wild Card Round Analysis

The NFL playoff seeds are decided, the matchups are set and the Super Bowl odds are updated.

Let's take a look at those odds, along with a breakdown of each of the Wild Card contests.

Odds

Team	Odds
New England Patriots	+450
Arizona Cardinals	+450
Carolina Panthers	+450
Seattle Seahawks	+600
Denver Broncos	+600
Pittsburgh Steelers	+900
Kansas City Chiefs	+1600
Green Bay Packers	+2200
Cincinnati Bengals	+2500
Minnesota Vikings	+2800
Washington Redskins	+4000
Houston Texans	+6600

Matchups

AFC

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Two teams that didn't look like playoff contenders early in the year will open the postseason on Saturday, when the Houston Texans host the Kansas City Chiefs in a matchup between teams with a lot of parallels.

The Texans have won three straight games and seven of their last nine, while the Chiefs have won a stunning 10 games in a row after starting 1-4.

The Chiefs beat the Texans, 27-20, in Week 1, though that game feels like it was played in an entirely different season. And the Texans don't appear to have a major home-field advantage in this one, as the team went 5-3 at NRG Stadium this season, and Kansas City has gone 5-3 on the road.

Both teams win with defense. The Texans are third in the NFL in yards allowed per game and tied for seventh in points allowed, while the Chiefs are seventh in yards allowed and third in points sacrificed.

Part of that success has come from an ability to successfully rush the passer. Kansas City is fourth in the NFL with 47 sacks, while Houston is right behind them, in fifth with 45 sacks.

The parallels don't end there. Both lost superstar running backs for the season earlier in the year (Jamaal Charles for the Chiefs; Arian Foster for the Texans). Both are led by veteran quarterbacks. While Kansas City relies on Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce in the passing game, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has established himself as a star this year for the Texans. 

Because the Chiefs have been so hot to close the season, they'll likely be the popular pick. But this one could truly go either way. Ultimately, it's easier to trust Alex Smith than Brian Hoyer, which is likely the difference here. On the other hand, you never know when J.J. Watt will decide to completely dominate a game. 

This one is going to be a heck of a matchup.

Frank Victores/Associated Press

Of course, the Pittsburgh Steelers traveling to face their bitter rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, should also be fun. So much of this game depends on the health of quarterback Andy Dalton, of course. If he can't play, it's pretty tough to pick the Bengals. 

But both teams are dealing with injuries, as Tony Dungy of NBC Sports noted:

Cincy is 2-2 with AJ McCarron at the helm, though the wins came against the cellar-dwelling San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens. Pittsburgh has won six of its last eight games, meanwhile, including victories over the Bengals and Denver Broncos. And you get the sense they could survive without running back DeAngelo Williams better than the Bengals will fare without Dalton.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Bengals are planning on being without Dalton for one more week, but the quarterback is meeting with doctors on Monday and may have his cast removed. With his status still up in the air, however, the Bengals have to proceed as though McCarron will be the starter.

And NFL fans should proceed as though the Steelers will beat their rivals on the road. McCarron isn't going to outduel Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown.

NFC

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The Seattle Seahawks are going to be a popular pick against the Minnesota Vikings in Sunday's first game, and for good reason. The Seahawks have won eight of their last 10 games, already went to Minnesota this season and hammered the Vikings and are led by Russell Wilson, who has been playing out of his mind in the second half of the season.

Much of the MVP talk this season has been centered around Carolina's Cam Newton and Arizona's Carson Palmer, but Wilson deserves to be a part of that conversation. After all, according to ESPN Stats & Information, Wilson is the first player in NFL history to register 4,000 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns and 500 rushing yards in a season.

Oh, and he also set an NFL record by throwing for 24 touchdowns and just one interception over his last seven games, per Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times.

And lest Vikings fans forget, Wilson threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another 51 yards and a score when the teams met in Week 13.

What makes Seattle so dangerous is that, while they still have an excellent defense and are capable of running the ball, Wilson has improved to the point that he can put the team on his back and lead them through the passing game.

He can beat teams with his legs, yes, but he's also capable of torching teams with just his arm. Add in the play of wide receivers Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett, and the Seahawks are humming on offense despite playing without Jimmy Graham and Marshawn Lynch.

Minnesota shouldn't be taken lightly. They won three games down the stretch—including a Week 17 victory at Lambeau Field to win the NFC North—and they have Adrian Peterson leading the way. But the Seahawks are one of the hottest teams in football and have been to consecutive Super Bowls, making it nearly impossible to bet against them.

The matchup between Washington and Green Bay is much tougher to call. Conventional wisdom would suggest backing Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, but a closer look at the game defies conventional wisdom. 

Washington is at home, where they are 6-2 this season. They've won four straight games, while the Packers have gone 4-6 in their last 10 and have lost two straight. Kirk Cousins and Washington's offense have scored 34 or more points in three straight games. Green Bay has scored a total of 21 points in its last two contests. 

It's easy enough to say that Washington has played better than Green Bay down the stretch. But watching the Packers, they just seem to lack any fluidity or rhythm on offense. Losing Jordy Nelson took away the player that could stretch the field. Injuries, in general, have hurt them. Eddie Lacy has played poorly for long stretches. 

“I think we’re in a situation where we have to prove to ourselves, again, that we can win the big games," Rodgers said after the Minnesota loss, via Jason Wilde of ESPN. "I think there’s a belief in there, but we’ve got to prove it to ourselves. We can go on a run, but it’s going to start with a good performance in Washington. And then hopefully we’ll be able to talk about the next opportunity.”

Rodgers is always capable of carrying the Packers to a victory, but the way Green Bay has played down the stretch, it's very tough to trust this team. Washington has peaked at the right time and is capable of hanging with the Packers if the game becomes a shootout.

Don't be surprised if Washington ends Green Bay's season earlier than expected.