NFL Playoffs 2016: TV Schedule, Bracket Predictions for AFC and NFC Games

As disappointing as it is, injuries will play a major role in the divisional round of the 2016 NFL playoffs. Every team still alive has what it takes to make a run, but a lot of the discussion in each game will be about who is not there rather than who is.

Of course, with so much uncertainty about who will or won't be on the field, it is difficult to predict which teams will come out victorious and head to the conference title games. Even in a sport with 22 men on the field at each time, the absence of one or two key players could be the difference.

The four matchups will be entertaining regardless, but here is a look at the schedule and predictions based on what we know heading into the weekend.

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots

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The injuries to focus on in this game are to the top receivers for each team. Julian Edelman appears ready to make his way back for the New England Patriots just in time for Jeremy Maclin to miss a game for the Kansas City Chiefs.

While New England's offense has struggled as of late, adding Edelman will be a huge boost. The slot receiver can get open in a hurry to provide Tom Brady with a quick target. This will be necessary against a tough Chiefs pass rush that could cause the quarterback problems all game.

Kansas City cornerback Marcus Peters has proven to be one of the best young players in the league at his position, but the rookie could struggle to stick with Edelman if the receiver is at full strength. Adding in the completely unguardable Rob Gronkowski, and the Patriots offense could be back in business.

The same cannot necessarily be said about the Chiefs if Maclin's high-ankle sprain keeps him out Saturday. Matt Williamson, a former NFL scout for ESPN, noted how important this loss is for Kansas City:

Maclin was the only real deep threat on the roster, and he helped keep defenses honest, which in turn improved the run game for Kansas City. All of a sudden the only real threat in the passing game is Travis Kelce, and the one-dimensional attack could be easy for the Patriots to defend.

Although Kansas City's defense is good enough to keep this game close, the offense might not be able to do enough to win.

Prediction: Patriots 23, Chiefs 20

Green Bay Packers at Arizona Cardinals

Although injuries to linemen don't get as much publicity as the skill players, the Green Bay Packers will be dependent on David Bakhtiari getting back into the lineup this weekend. The left tackle has missed the past few weeks and is questionable for Saturday, although head coach Mike McCarthy provided the latest:

Without Bakhtiari, the Cardinals had a field day against the Packers in a 38-8 blowout in Week 16. Aaron Rodgers was sacked eight times before sitting out the last few minutes for his own health. The quarterback was also taken down five times against the Minnesota Vikings in a Week 17 loss, and the lack of protection has generally been an issue for this offense for much of the year.

While Green Bay appeared to get back on track offensively against the Washington Redskins, this is a team that hadn't beaten an opponent with a winning record all season. Any win over the NFC East isn't exactly a transformation.

Arizona will keep blitzing Rodgers and force the receivers to make plays on their own, something they haven't done all year long. The Cardinals will miss Tyrann Mathieu in the secondary, but Green Bay hasn't shown the ability to attack this hole in the defense.

With Carson Palmer and David Johnson playing extremely well offensively, this could be another easy win for the Cardinals.

Prediction: Cardinals 31, Packers 17

Seattle Seahawks at Carolina Panthers

Chris Keane/Associated Press

While the Carolina Panthers will have Jonathan Stewart back at full strength this weekend, according to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer, the Seattle Seahawks have more questions at running back.

Marshawn Lynch appeared ready to return last week but ended up not making the trip to Minnesota. Now Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reports Beast Mode could be back for Sunday:

A bigger question, however, might be whether the Seahawks even want him back. With Lynch on the sidelines, Russell Wilson has become a much bigger threat in the passing attack. The quarterback had 24 touchdowns and just one interception in the final seven games of the regular season, and while he struggled in the ice cold last week, he should be back to being a threat Sunday.

The Seahawks offense has improved tremendously since Week 6 when the Panthers beat them, and the same could be said about the defense which ended the year No. 1 in points allowed.

Perhaps most importantly, Seattle's No. 1 rush defense can slow down both Cam Newton and Stewart and force Newton to win the game with his arm, not easy against this secondary. The Panthers have had an excellent season, but this is just a bad matchup for this talented team.

Prediction: Seahawks 21, Panthers 20

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

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While every game has some sort of big injury news, no one is holding their breath more than Pittsburgh Steelers fans. They are looking at the possibility of both Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown being out, removing arguably the top quarterback-receiver tandem in the NFL.

Earlier prognosis was that Roethlisberger has a better chance of playing than Brown, although missing the receiver alone would still be a major loss. Tight end Heath Miller discussed Brown's importance but noted the team will get through it, per Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune:

"

We voted him our team MVP for a reason. He is productive every week for us. He makes plays every week for us. We would prefer him to be in the lineup, for sure. We certainly have faith in the other guys in the locker room. We see everyone work on a daily basis. If he isn't able to go, it's not like we aren't going to make the trip.

"

The positive spirit is a good thing, but Brown is the one who torched the Denver Broncos for 16 catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns last time out. Without him the Steelers will have a lot of trouble against this talented defense.

At the same time, Brown's success the last time out came against a Denver defense missing a key piece in T.J. Ward. The talented safety was inactive when these teams played, and his presence will be felt this time around.

Peyton Manning has his question marks along with the rest of the Broncos offense, but this game will be decided by whether the Steelers can score. Injuries or not, this doesn't seem likely.

Prediction: Broncos 24, Steelers 16

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