NFL Playoffs: Everything You Need To Know About the Upcoming Divisional Round

As the Wild Card round ends, the tournament is trimmed to eight remaining clubs vying for a trip to Dallas this February.

With the weight of expectations on the Jets, Mark Sanchez was able to drive down the field in the last minute of their Wild Card game with the Colts to set up their rubber match with the New England Patriots in Foxboro. The Jets got the best of the Patriots in their first meeting this season as they won 28-14 at the Meadowlands but the joy of that win in September wasn’t duplicated in their December rematch.

The Patriots did everything right in that wintery game as they blew out the Jets in a 45-3 rout. The play of both signal callers will be the key to who will be advancing to the AFC championship game next week.

In another AFC divisional rematch, the Ravens were able to run past the youthful Chiefs Sunday to set up a return trip to the Steel City this Saturday to attempt to replicate their week four win in Pittsburgh, not their week 13 loss at home in December.

On the NFC side, the top seed Atlanta Falcons will have a rematch of their own on their hands this weekend as they welcome Aaron Rodger and the Packers after they beat the NFC East champion Philadelphia by terrorizing Michael Vick all night long with blitzes by Clay Matthews and the rest of the Green Bay defense.

In the final divisional round matchup, Chicago will look back to their mid-season loss to the underdog of this postseason, the Seattle Seahawks, who beat the Bears this season and will look to continue their Cinderella course to a NFC title game berth this weekend.

With that being said, let’s get to the breakdowns of the divisional round match ups and who will be competing for their respective league championships next week.

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New York Jets at New England Patriots

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JANUARY 08: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets drops back to pass against the Indianapolis Colts during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 8, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Jets won 17-16. (Pho

Time/Channel: Saturday Jan. 15th – 4:30 PM on CBS

Regular Season for the Jets: 11-5, 2nd in the AFC East

Regular Season for the Patriots: 14-2, AFC East Champions

Previous Game for the Jets: Win - Jets 17, Colts 16

Previous Game for the Patriots: First Round Bye

Last Meeting: New England 45, New York 3 – Dec 6th, 2010

Who Has The Edge?

Quarterbacks: Tom Brady - 324-492 Attempts, 3,900 Yards, 36 TDs, Four INTs
Running Backs: LaDainian Tomlinson – 219 Carries, 914 Yards, Six TDs
Receiving: Wes Welker – 86 Catches, 848 Yards, Seven TDs
Defense: New York Jets – Ranked third in the NFL – 291 yards per game this season
Special Teams: Nick Folk – 30-39 Field Goal Attempts, 37-37 PAT Attempts

Prediction: New England 28, New York 10

Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 02: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons reacts after a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers at Georgia Dome on January 2, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Time/Channel: Saturday Jan. 15th – 4:30 PM on CBS

Regular Season for the Packers: 10-6, NFC North Champions

Regular Season for the Falcons: 13-3, NFC South Champions

Previous Game for the Packers: Win – Green Bay 21, Philadelphia 16

Previous Game for the Falcons: First Round Bye

Last Meeting: Atlanta 20, Green Bay 17 – Nov. 28th, 2010

Who Has The Edge?

Quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers - 312-475 Attempts, 3,922 Yards, 11 INTs
Running Backs: Michael Turner - 334 Carries, 1,371 Yards, 12 TDs
Receiving: Roddy White – 115 Receptions, 1,389 yards, 10 TDs
Defense: Atlanta - Ranked sixteenth in the NFL - 332 Yards per game this season
Special Teams: Matt Bryant - 28-31 Field Attempts, 44-44 PAT Attempts

Prediction: Atlanta 24-14

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 02: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws as outside tackle Jonathan Scott blocks linebacker Matt Roth #53 the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Pho

Time/Channel: Saturday Jan. 15th – 4:30 PM on CBS

Regular Season for the Ravens: 12-4, 2nd in the AFC North

Regular Season for the Steelers: 12-4, AFC North Champions

Previous Game for the Ravens: Win – Baltimore 30, Kansas City 7

Previous Game for the Steelers: First Round Bye

Last Meeting: Steelers 13, Ravens 10 – Dec. 5th, 2010

Who Has The Edge?

Quarterbacks: Ben Roethlisberger - 240-389 Attempts, 3,200 Yards, 17 TDs, Five INTs
Running Backs: Rashard Mendenhall - 324 Carries, 1,273 Yards, 13 TDs / Jamaal Charles - 230 Carries, 1,467 Yards, and Five TDs
Receiving: Dwayne Bowe – 72 Catches, 1,162 yards, 15 TDs / Anquan Bolden – 64 Catches, 837 yards, and Seven TDs
Defense: Pittsburgh – Ranked second in the NFL – 276 yards per game this season
Special Teams: Billy Cundiff – 26-29 Field Goal Attempts, 39-39 PAT Attempts

Prediction: Baltimore 20, Pittsburgh 17

Seattle Seahawks at Chicago Bears

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SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 08: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck #8 of the Seattle Seahawks throws the ball in the second half against the New Orleans Saints during the 2011 NFC wild-card playoff game at Qwest Field on January 8, 2011 in Seattle, Washington. (Phot

Time/Channel: Saturday Jan. 15th – 4:30 PM on CBS

Regular Season for the Packers: 7-9, NFC West Champions

Regular Season for the Bears: 11-5, NFC North Champions

Previous Game for the Seahawks: Win – Seattle 41, New Orleans 36

Previous Game for the Bears: First Round Bye

Last Meeting: Seattle 23, Chicago 20 – Oct. 17th, 2010

Who Has The Edge?

Quarterbacks: Jay Cutler – 261-432 Attempts , 3,274 yards, 23 TDs, 16 INTs
Running Backs: Matt Forte - 237 Carries, 1,069 yards, Six TDs
Receiving: Mike Williams – 65 Catches, 751 yards, Two TDs
Defense: Chicago - Ranked ninth in the NFL - 314 Yards per Game this season
Special Teams: Robbie Gould – 25-30 Field Goal Attempts, 35-35 PAT Attempts

Prediction: Seattle 17, Chicago 14