NFL Playoffs 2016: TV Schedule, Early Odds and Predictions for Divisional Round

Kirk Cousins, AJ McCarron and Brian Hoyer exit the stage and give way to Cam Newton, Tom Brady and Carson Palmer.

It's almost as if the 2016 NFL playoffs have done this before.

The postseason is about to get a whole lot more interesting, not that the first round didn't have its moments. Choking kickers, downright unacceptable violence and more highlighted the nail-biting first round.

But if it's any sign of things to come, the next round will provide a serious treat for onlookers who had to charge through an iffy season. Here's everything to know about the upcoming games and how Las Vegas feels about each.

NFL Playoff Bracket

Matchup	Time (ET)	TV	Pick
No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs vs. No. 2 New England Patriots (-5)	Sat, Jan. 16, 4:35 p.m.	CBS	NE 33-17
No. 5 Green Bay Packers vs. No. 2 Arizona Cardinals (-8)	Sat, Jan. 16, 8:15 p.m.	NBC	ARI 24-17
No. 6 Seattle Seahawks vs. No. 1 Carolina Panthers (-3)	Sun, Jan. 17, 1:05 p.m.	Fox	CAR 30-24
No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. No. 1 Denver Broncos (-6.5)	Sun, Jan. 17, 4:40 p.m.	CBS	DEN 28-20

Analyzing Early Odds

No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs vs. No. 2 New England Patriots (-5)

Talk about an unpredictable encounter.

Normally it wouldn't be too hard to write in the New England Patriots at home against the Kansas City Chiefs and call it a day.

There isn't a whole lot normal about these Chiefs, though. Andy Reid's team has won 11 games in a row, topped off by a laugher against the Houston Texans, 30-0. Road game or not, Alex Smith threw for a score, the team rushed for 141 yards and picked off Hoyer four times.

Even New England coach Bill Belichick didn't sound encouraged when it came time to explain how he would figure out the Chiefs, according to Randy Covitz of the Kansas City Star:

"

So we’ve got to figure out a way, and there’s not a great example on film. There are different things we can point to and different ideas or concepts of a certain part of the game that went well for one of Kansas City’s opponents. But overall, there’s nothing really to say, ‘This team found a way to do it.’

"

If there's a quarterback who can, though, it would be Tom Brady. 

Brady has thrown for 36 touchdowns to seven interceptions this year with big names in and out of the lineup. He even had a slight ankle issue as the team closed the season on a two-game skid, losing divisional contests to New York and Miami.

But an extra week makes all the difference. Kansas City might have had the third-ranked scoring defense at 17.9 points per game allowed, but New England isn't far off at 19.7.

With both ground games stifled against defenses allowing 98.8 rushing yards per game or less, this one comes down to quarterback play. While Smith and Co. have shocked the world, Brady's been here before, he will be at home and has had extra time to diagnose the situation.

Look for Brady to pull the Patriots away in the second half after making some adjustments.

Prediction: Patriots 33, Chiefs 17

No. 5 Green Bay Packers vs. No. 2 Arizona Cardinals (-8)

A rematch isn't a bad thing in the NFL postseason, but observers have every right to wonder if it might be here.

The Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals met in the desert back in Week 16—a game many hailed as a potential NFC title game encounter. It wasn't even close, ending in a lopsided 38-8 outcome in favor of the home team, as Green Bay continued its odd slump to end the season.

Arizona cruised to a bye week behind 265 yards and a score from Carson Palmer. The real star of the show was the defense, though, which sacked Aaron Rodgers eight times while limiting him to 151 yards with a score and a pick.

Despite the atrocious showing, Rodgers made it clear to the media after the loss that his team would put up a fight when it really mattered.

ESPN.com captured his thoughts: "This was a playoff-style game and we played terrible but we have won a lot of games here. When you play long enough you are going to be on the wrong side at times, but I am confident that we have guys and myself that, when it matters for all the marbles, guys will show up."

Maybe that wasn't just a well-tuned PR spiel. Rodgers and Co. just went to Washington and dropped a 35-18 beating on the opposition behind two scores from Rodgers and a surprise two rushing scores. The defense, as expected, held up well.

It makes for an interesting situation this weekend. Green Bay's defense has always quietly been able to put up a fight against almost anyone. The miserable offense around Rodgers was the problem, but running for 141 yards and two scores on the road is a good sign.

The problem, again, might be the week off for the hosts. That and the fact everything the Green Bay defense does, Arizona typically does better. Palmer didn't have many issues moving the ball last time, and he doesn't figure to here.

While a newfound ground game for the Packers might keep this one close, Palmer has the comfort of home and a week off, not to mention the recent success against this same team. Look for the Cardinals to pull off the late victory, though not by as much as Las Vegas would suggest.

Prediction: Cardinals 24, Packers 17

Stats courtesy of NFL.com and accurate as of January 10. All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus. All betting information courtesy of Odds Shark.