NFL Playoffs 2016: Dates, Matchups and Bracket Breakdown for Weekend

The NFL playoffs are about to get real. 

The final eight teams remaining are all legitimate threats to reach the Super Bowl. The parity in the matchups set for the divisional round makes the upcoming weekend of football must-see TV. Here's a look at the matchups and viewing information.

Saturday, Jan. 16

AFC Divisional Round: Kansas City Chiefs vs. New England Patriots, 4:35 p.m. ET, CBS
NFC Divisional Round: Arizona Cardinals vs. Green Bay Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC

Sunday, Jan. 17

NFC Divisional Round: Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks, 1:05 p.m. ET, Fox
AFC Divisional Round: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos, 4:40 p.m. ET, CBS

There's one key question hanging over all four games. Here's a closer look.

Can Chiefs Take Advantage of Patchwork Pats O-Line?

The New England Patriots have overcome injuries on both sides of the ball all season. They've earned the right to host a playoff game at Gillette Stadium, where they are 4-1 in the postseason since 2012.

Still, there's a serious question as to whether the less than intimidating offensive line can protect quarterback Tom Brady against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that ranked fourth in the NFL in sacks.

The Chiefs are getting little respect thus far in the postseason. Despite Kansas City's 11-game winning streak and 30-0 rout of the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round, the majority of the conversation around this game is centered on the defending champions.

According to Odds Shark, the Patriots are five-point favorites. Brady and head coach Bill Belichick have found a way to get it done all season under less than ideal circumstances, but as the Chiefs' official Twitter account noted, the Hoodie knows K.C is on fire:

No matter who wins and in what fashion, no outcome would be a total surprise in this one.

Can Green Bay's Offense Continue Its Resurgence?

Before the Green Bay Packers' 35-18 win over Washington in the Wild Card Round last Sunday, the Pack offense wasn't looking too dangerous. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was coming off one of the worst seasons of his career from a statistical standpoint, and the team's 368 total points scored was its lowest since 2006.

Green Bay will need to be at its best to go into the desert to knock off the Arizona Cardinals. 

The Cardinals are the most complete team in the NFC, and they have all the tools on offense and defense to not only beat Green Bay, but to blow them out. Unless Rodgers and Co. have it clicking, this could be a long weekend.

Will the Seahawks Build on Their Good Fortunes from Wild-Card Win?

The Seattle Seahawks were fortunate to win last week's Wild Card Game against the Minnesota Vikings, but that's in the past. The team has to focus on the 15-1 Carolina Panthers.

Seattle was playing lights-out heading into the postseason, and it looked like the favorite to reach the Super Bowl from the NFC. After its narrow victory over the Vikings, there's room for doubt.

The Panthers didn't finish the season 15-1 by accident, but like the Chiefs, the team still isn't being respected as much as some of the other teams that contend more regularly. That's nothing a win over the Seahawks couldn't fix.

Per Max Henson of the Panthers' official website, Carolina quarterback Cam Newton is ready for the marquee matchup between him and his team vs. the Seahawks and Russell Wilson:

What could be better than a game that pits two of the NFL's best quarterbacks and stout defenses against each other?

Can a Banged-Up Steelers Offense Beat Peyton and Denver on the Road?

Per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is banged up, but most expect he'll play on Sunday in the Mile High City against the Denver Broncos:

The outlook isn't as positive for his favorite target, wide receiver Antonio Brown. Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network reported Thursday that Brown has yet to pass concussion protocol after being injured in the wild-card matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals last week:   

With the potential absences or hindered nature of Big Ben and/or Brown, the Steelers could have an even tougher impediment to overcome. The Broncos arguably have the best defense in the NFL.

Getting the best of it at full strength is a challenge. Doing it without the Steelers' two best players available or at full strength might be impossible. Peyton Manning will be back under center for the Broncos, and the chance that he'll produce one of his final memorable performances is up in the air.

There's a ton of drama and intrigue surrounding this game. Like every contest on the weekend schedule, it shouldn't be missed.