NFL Playoff Schedule 2016: TV Info and Predictions for Wild Card Weekend
Momentum is important heading into the NFL playoffs, especially when it comes to Wild Card Weekend. Each of the four games should be close, but look for the hottest teams to have a leg up in a few contests.
A year ago, the Carolina Panthers were just 7-8-1 in the regular season, but that included four wins in a row to end the year. They kept up the hot streak with a win in the first round before eventually falling to the Seattle Seahawks.
Carolina doesn't have to worry about this weekend thanks to a first-round bye, although a few other teams are hoping their recent success will carry over into the playoffs. It won't always be the difference, but here is a look at predictions for each game as we continue the march toward the Super Bowl.
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| Sat., Jan. 9 | No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs at No. 4 Houston Texans | 4:35 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sat., Jan. 9 | No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals | 8:15 p.m. | CBS |
| Sun., Jan. 10 | No. 6 Seattle Seahawks at No. 3 Minnesota Vikings | 1:05 p.m. | NBC |
| Sun., Jan. 10 | No. 5 Green Bay Packers at No. 4 Washington Redskins | 4:40 p.m. | Fox |
Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans
Both these teams had a terrible start to the season before turning things around in dramatic fashion. The Kansas City Chiefs began the year 1-5 while the Houston Texans were 2-5, each squad also losing star running backs to season-ending injuries.
The difference in the turnarounds was the play of the defense.
In the last nine games of the season, the Texans allowed just 12.7 points per game. Six of the opponents failed to score more than 10 points against J.J. Watt and company.
The Chiefs have been just as good, allowing 12.8 points during a 10-game winning streak to close the season. With both squads having elite talent at every level of the defense, there won't be too many big plays for either side.
This close game could be decided by one mistake, which gives the advantage to Kansas City. Alex Smith takes care of the football, helping the Chiefs finish the year with the fewest giveaways in the NFL. That could be enough to come away with a close road win.
Prediction: Chiefs 17, Texans 13
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have had a great year, but questions remain about the quarterback position. Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reports the team is preparing for AJ McCarron to start in the playoffs:
Much has been made about Andy Dalton's struggles in the postseason (0-4 as a starter), but the team will likely learn it is in much worse shape without him. Even with McCarron playing well at times and generally avoiding mistakes, the offense has been limited lately and, in turn, will be extra reliant on the rushing attack.
Against the No. 5 run defense in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers should at least be able to hold this unit in check.
This should be enough for Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense to do the rest. With the quarterback spreading the ball around to Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and others in the passing attack, there will be quite a few big plays regardless of what the Bengals try to do defensively.
It will be a physical battle representative of the AFC North, but the road team should get a win in this one.
Prediction: Steelers 24, Bengals 20
Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings had to be excited to get a win over the Green Bay Packers and finally earn an NFC North title. As Robert Mays of the MMQB noted, however, the result isn't necessarily a favorable one:
Even as the No. 6 seed, the Seattle Seahawks are arguably one of the scariest teams in the entire postseason. The defense led the NFL in points allowed for the fourth year in a row, and the offense might be as good as ever with a dominant Russell Wilson. The quarterback is no longer a game manager, throwing 24 touchdown passes with just one interception in the final seven games.
Considering Wilson still has the ability to make plays with his legs, it will not be easy for any defense to stop the Seahawks.
The impressive play on both sides of the ball has led to six wins in the final seven games of the year, including a 36-6 rout over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17 and a 38-7 road victory over the Vikings in Week 13.
You can be certain Minnesota hasn't forgotten about this embarrassing loss, but there isn't a whole lot the team can do differently. Seattle can stop the run and limit Adrian Peterson, putting pressure on Teddy Bridgewater to make plays against the Legion of Boom. This likely won't lead to much success.
Prediction: Seahawks 27, Vikings 21
Green Bay Packers at Washington Redskins
It's difficult to doubt any team with Aaron Rodgers under center. The former NFL MVP is still one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL and always has the ability to turn it on and lead the offense to a big effort.
Rodgers explained there is at least some faith within the locker room heading into the playoffs, per Vic Ketchman of Packers.com:
"We have to prove to ourselves we can win the big games. There’s belief there, but we have to prove it to ourselves.
We were 5-3 on the road this year. We had some good wins there. The defense is playing great right now. We can’t give up points on offense. We have to be more consistent. If we do that, we have a chance to make a run.
"
The problem is we haven't seen much of a reason to believe as of late.
Green Bay has scored just 21 combined points over the last two weeks, with Rodgers being sacked 13 times in this stretch. He doesn't have time to find his receivers, and those players aren't getting open even when given the chance. The Washington Redskins have played good enough defense to keep this trend alive.
Meanwhile, Kirk Cousins has played well in the second half of the season with all of his targets now healthy. DeSean Jackson, Jordan Reed, Pierre Garcon and others create a formidable group of receiving targets, and the quarterback has put up big numbers by spreading the ball around to each of his playmakers.
Fans will still look at the quarterback battle alone in the playoffs, but that won't be the deciding factor in this game.
Prediction: Redskins 23, Packers 14
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