NFL Playoffs 2016: Updated Divisional-Round Odds and Bracket Scenarios

NFL fans have endured subpar action throughout the 2015 regular season and Wild Card Weekend. Entering the divisional round, only the cream of the crop remains.

All of the eight Super Bowl hopefuls finished inside the top 10 of Football Outsiders' Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA), a measure of team efficiency. Every team standing exited the season brandishing at least 10 victories, with the opportunistic winners (the Washington Redskins and Houston Texans) of mediocre divisions  now eliminated.

With a little imagination, it's plausible to picture any of the eight hoisting the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 7. When the weakest team has Aaron Rodgers steering the offense, no scenario is off limits.

The midweek spreads, courtesy of Odds Shark, favor the home clubs to squash such uncertainty this weekend. Let's examine the updated schedule and divisional-round odds before dissecting this weekend's top storylines.

NFL Playoff Bracket

Divisional Round Odds

Away	Home	Odds
Kansas City Chiefs	New England Patriots	NE -5
Green Bay Packers	Arizona Cardinals	ARI -7
Seattle Seahawks	Carolina Panthers	CAR -2.5
Pittsburgh Steelers	Denver Broncos	DEN -6.5

Top Storylines

Is Peyton Manning Really Back?

Any storytelling novice could spin a gripping yarn around Peyton Manning's comeback.

Arguably the greatest quarterback ever returned at the final hour to participate in the Denver Broncos clinching of the No. 1 seed. "Participate" may seem passive, but he went 5-of-9 for only 69 yards during Week 17's 27-20 victory over the San Diego Chargers. It's not exactly a hero's return as much as it is solid game managing.

The 39-year-old passer had the opportunity to triumphantly return only because his putrid play earlier in the season forced head coach Gary Kubiak to sit the legend for Brock Osweiler. Manning then missed several weeks due to a plantar fascia tear. 

Through 10 ugly games, Manning completed 59.8 percent of his passes, his lowest clip since 1998. He threw for nine touchdowns and surrendered 17 interceptions, which remained the league's worst tally until Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles tossed his 17th and 18th picks in Week 17. 

If Denver didn't boast the NFL's premier defense, it may not have made the postseason.

Rank	Player	INT
1	Blake Bortles, JAX	18
2	Peyton Manning, DEN	17
T3	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	16
T3	Matt Ryan, ATL	16
T5	Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ	15
T5	Jameis Winston, TB	15

The Pittsburgh Steelers' No. 5 rushing defense can stymie Denver's on-and-off running game. It generated 30 takeaways during the season, tied for the third-most behind the New York Jets, whose playoff spot they stole when the Jets lost to Buffalo in the final week of the season. 

Denver largely managed to overcome Manning's turnover issues, and an injured Pittsburgh offense will struggle to capitalize on mistakes. Yet Manning still must prove the Broncos can run the gamut because of him rather than in spite of him.

Julian Edelman Returns

Stephan Savoia/Associated Press

For more than half the season, no defense could contain the New England Patriots. They stormed to a 9-0 start by averaging 33.7 points per contest, never veering below 27. They hobbled to the finish line, going 3-4 and recording 23.1 points per bout.

Although not the sole reason for such a seismic drop, receiver Julian Edelman's absence derailed New England's quest for another undefeated regular season. The star wideout, who was on pace for a 108-catch, 1,230-yard campaign, missed the final seven games due to a foot injury. 

Now he's chomping at the bit to suit up on Saturday. The 29-year-old discussed his pending return with the Boston Herald's Jeff Howe: 

"

I’ll tell you right now, it’s going to be exciting just to get back out there with the fellas. It’s more about the guys in the locker room and showing them that I’ve been working my tail off to try to come out and play with you guys, try to contribute and help you guys win ball games. That’s my mindset.

"

As illustrated by ESPN's Stats & Information data, relayed by ESPN.com's Mike Reiss, Tom Brady has posted MVP-caliber numbers with Edelman and star tight end Rob Gronkowski both at his disposal:

Stat	W/ Both	One/Both Out
CMP %	68.5	60.3
YPA	8.5	6.6
AVG Pass Time	2.14 Sec.	2.39 Sec.
Pressure %	20 %	32 %

Brady will need a full assortment of targets against the Kansas City Chiefs, who extended their winning streak to 11 by forcing five Brian Hoyer turnovers in a 30-0 laugher over the Houston Texans last weekend. Getting back his top-possession receiver will especially help combat an explosive pass rush with short strikes. 

Revived Running Games for Panthers and Seahawks?

Chris Keane/Associated Press

Russell Wilson or Cam Newton?

The Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers are two of the league's finest franchises and loaded with talent. But pundits will simplify this hard-hitting matchup as a showcase of star quarterbacks.

Thanks to their added efforts on the ground, the Panthers and Seahawks respectively finished the season ranked No. 2 and 3 in rushing yards behind the Buffalo Bills. Both NFC powerhouses, however, have spent the last few weeks shuffling their backfields.

Despite playing their final three games without injured running back Jonathan Stewart, the Panthers suffered no consequences. They averaged 145.7 rushing yards per game, slightly above their season average of 142.6. Yet they'll welcome back their starter against the NFL's leading rushing defense. Stewart scored twice in the Panthers 27-23 win over Seattle on Oct. 18.

“I plan to play,” he told Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer on Tuesday. ESPN's Adam Schefter later backed up the player's optimism:

Seattle originally didn't miss a beat without star running back Marshawn Lynch, who is recovering from a sports hernia. But his replacement, running back Thomas Rawls, went down in Week 14 with an ankle injury. 

Lynch practiced the week leading up to Wild Card Weekend but ruled himself out of the fortuitous 12-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday. Running back Christine Michael compiled an ineffective 70 yards on 21 carries.

Even though he hasn't played since Nov. 15, Lynch would be a welcome sight against Carolina's No. 4 rushing defense. Per ESPN.com's Rich Cimini, head coach Pete Carroll admitted to having no idea about his status.

"I don't even know," Carroll said. "Just wait and see, and take it one day at a time."

Including last weekend, Michael has notched 4.2 yards per run this year, higher than Lynch's 3.8 average in seven games this season. Given the small sample size, they'd still probably prefer the established veteran with nine touchdowns over 10 career postseason tilts.