NFL Playoffs 2016: Divisional-Round Schedule and Predictions

After a bizarre first weekend of the NFL playoffs, the divisional round should be just as intense with the four best teams in football now joining the action.

For the first time in history, four road teams won their games to create some intriguing battles in the upcoming round. While these squads obviously have talent, they are all in for a much tougher test this week against teams that had an extra week to rest and prepare.

Fans should be in for quite a treat, so take a look at the full bracket and schedule to make sure you don't miss a moment.

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

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The key for the New England Patriots is health, and the bye week went a long way toward improving this area. One of the biggest additions will be wide receiver Julian Edelman, who missed much of the second half of the season with a broken foot but should return to action Saturday.

Evan Lazar of NFL Network noted how important the receiver has been to the offense:

While Edelman isn't responsible for the entire difference, the team averages 2.2 more yards per play with him in the lineup. Quarterback Tom Brady will certainly enjoy having his safety net in the middle of the field and a player who can get open and make plays after the catch with regularity.

With the way the Kansas City Chiefs can rush the passer, having someone available in the slot will make a huge difference.

Meanwhile, the Patriots defense has been underrated this season. When healthy, the group also knows how to create a pass rush with Chandler Jones and Jabaal Sheard leading the way. With Kansas City wideout Jeremy Maclin dealing with an ankle sprain, quarterback Alex Smith will have few options in the passing game outside of tight end Travis Kelce.

Two weeks ago, this matchup might have favored the Chiefs, but one side getting healthier and the other getting worse could be the difference.

Prediction: Patriots 23, Chiefs 20

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals

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The Green Bay Packers finally looked like we expected last week in a win over the Washington Redskins, scoring 35 points, the most since Week 3. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers still wasn't as sharp as we have seen him (21-of-36 for 210 passing yards), but the offensive line gave him time to throw, and he took advantage of the opportunities.

Unfortunately, it will be much more difficult to beat a team that destroyed the Packers 38-8 just a couple of weeks ago.

The Arizona Cardinals embarrassed Green Bay in Week 16 thanks to eight sacks on Rodgers (plus one on Scott Tolzien), the defense giving the quarterback no time to throw and the receivers no time to get open. Time to look at the game film will help, but the aggressive nature of this defense will continue to cause problems in the passing game.

Offensively, quarterback Carson Palmer is coming off an awful game against the Seattle Seahawks but still had one of the best seasons passing the ball in the NFL. Green Bay simply doesn't have enough cornerbacks capable of sticking with Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown and others.

This game will definitely be closer than the last time these squads met, but the winner should be the same.

Prediction: Cardinals 31, Packers 17

Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers

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One of the biggest games of the Carolina Panthers' season was the Week 6 road win over the Seahawks. Quarterback Cam Newton led a game-winning drive in the final minute, and it became proof this team was a legitimate contender.

Carolina continued to play well after this moment en route to a 15-1 season, although the Seahawks have improved much more from that point, as noted by Pete Prisco of CBS Sports:

Seattle has transformed from a run-heavy scheme to Russell Wilson taking over down the stretch. Over the last seven games of the regular season, the quarterback (with some help from receiver Doug Baldwin) threw 24 touchdown passes and just one interception. The offense is no longer reliant on Marshawn Lynch to pick up tough yards and instead can stretch defenses all over the field.

The Seahawks defense also improved tremendously over the second half of the season. Since the loss to Carolina, it's held eight of the 11 opponents to 13 points or fewer, including the Minnesota Vikings last week.

While Seattle clearly was fortunate to survive the Wild Card Round thanks to Blair Walsh's missed field goal, that doesn't mean this team can't keep winning. The Panthers have had a great season, but this is a tough matchup even at home, and it could lead to a disappointing early exit in the playoffs.

Prediction: Seahawks 21, Panthers 20

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

The Pittsburgh Steelers survived a physical battle against the Cincinnati Bengals, but the game also resulted in some major injuries. ESPN's Bob Holtzman provided the latest on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and receiver Antonio Brown:

It's impossible to ever count out Roethlisberger, but he also wasn't too encouraging in his analysis Tuesday on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh (h/t ESPN.com):

"

I haven't tried to throw a football since the game, and maybe that's not even the right thing to do right away. I'll see the doctors and trainers tomorrow, we'll evaluate kind of how I feel. If anything, maybe I can practice and hand off and still get some mental reps that way. So we'll really just kind of see how it goes tomorrow.

"

Even if this duo does play, it doesn't seem like it will be at full strength against an elite Denver Broncos defense. Denver is also healthier than it was when the Steelers beat this group late in the year, especially with safety T.J. Ward back in action.

There are still question marks with the Broncos offense even with a healthy Peyton Manning at quarterback. The future Hall of Famer wasn't exactly playing well before missing time this season, and the offensive line still has major issues. However, there is enough talent on the field to pick up yards against an inconsistent Steelers defense.

If Denver's defense plays to its ability, it should carry the squad to a win regardless of who plays for Pittsburgh.

Prediction: Broncos 24, Steelers 16

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