NFL Playoffs 2016: AFC, NFC Schedule, Odds and Predictions

The NFL playoffs continue on Saturday afternoon, with the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs kicking off the action. 

Unfortunately, injuries are playing a significant role in the playoffs this year. 

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams are just two of the most recent additions to the growing injury list. 

Here's a look at the updated playoff bracket, the spreads for each game and predictions on who will advance to the conference championship games. 

Matchup (Spread)	ATS Pick
Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots (-5)	Patriots
Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals (-7)	Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers (-2.5)	Seahawks
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos (-7)	Steelers

Divisional-Round Matchups

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

A number of key Patriots have been nursing injuries in recent weeks, but it's tough to read anything into their notoriously cryptic injury reports. 

According to BJ Kissel of the Chiefs' official website, Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola and offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer were all "limited" in practice on Wednesday. 

Losing all four players would be devastating to the Patriots offense, but since Gronkowski and Amendola were healthy enough to play in Week 17, that seems unlikely. 

Given what's at stake, it's reasonable to assume the entire injured crew will at least give it a go, and if all are healthy, the Patriots should be considered heavy favorites. 

Prediction: Patriots 21, Chiefs 13

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

On December 27, the Cardinals handled the Packers 38-8, and it's difficult to find a reason to believe this matchup should yield a different outcome. 

The Cardinals defense shut down the Packers' passing attack in their previous meeting, holding signal-caller Aaron Rodgers to just 151 yards on 15-of-28 passing. 

It won't be any easier for Rodgers this time around, as Davante Adams, who caught three passes for 42 yards in the last meeting, is likely out with an MCL sprain, according to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky.

Prediction: Cardinals 31, Packers 20

Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

The Seahawks are on an impressive three-year run in the playoffs, but they're in uncharted territory as the sixth seed. 

In their first two trips to the Super Bowl, the Seahawks played every game prior to the Super Bowl at home. So to win two road games in the playoffs is a challenge quarterback Russell Wilson and company have yet to face. 

In fact, the Seahawks haven't won a road game in the divisional playoffs since Dave Krieg led them to an upset over Dan Marino and the Dolphins in 1983. 

That said, Seattle won't be intimidated by quarterback Cam Newton and the Panthers. 

When the teams met in Week 6, Seattle led throughout the entire second half until Carolina took the lead with 32 seconds on the clock. 

Seattle, winner of six straight road games, is playing its best football and is in position to pull off the upset. 

Prediction: Seahawks 31, Panthers 28

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

One of the major keys to this matchup is the health of Antonio Brown, who suffered a concussion against the Bengals. 

ESPN's Bob Holtzman reported Monday that Brown's status is "not looking good." On Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin followed up, saying, "We're hopeful, but we're always [hopeful]," per Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Losing Brown would force a dramatic change to the Steelers' personnel usage on offense. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Brown rarely came off the field this season: 

Losing Brown obviously hurts the Steelers' chances of pulling off the upset, but it's difficult to envision the Broncos covering the seven-point spread. 

Denver won by more than seven points just three times this season and only once in its last nine games. 

Prediction: Broncos 17, Steelers 14