The 2016 NFL playoffs have made it through a crazy wild card weekend, and we are ready to move on to the divisional round. It was impressive work by road teams, as all four traveling teams pulled off wild card wins.
The round ended with a resurgent performance from the Green Bay Packers. It looked like Green Bay was showing more of the same poor offense of late, but they busted things open in the second half. They advance to face the Arizona Cardinals next weekend. One line had the Cardinals at -6.5 for this one, and we'll keep an eye out for more lines.
Both six seeds advanced, and both happened to come via crazy circumstances. The Steelers benefited from a pair of last second personal fouls against the Bengals to advance. They face the Denver Broncos in the divisional round. Peyton Manning will start for the Broncos, while Ben Roethliaberger's status is dependent upon what some are describing as a separated shoulder. I imagine he'll play, but it will be something to track this week. The Broncos opened as a 6.5-point favorite, according to OddsShark.
The Seahawks could not get anything going through three quarters, and as is so often the case, things started to fall their way. It all culminated with Blair Walsh missing a 27-yard field goal. The Seahawks won 10-9, and advance to face the Carolina Panthers. If they look like they did for much of the game against Minnesota, Seattle will be in trouble against the Panthers. The Panthers opened as field goal favorites, according to OddsShark.
The Chiefs rolled through the Houston Texans, thanks in large part to an awful Texans offense. The Chiefs offense made some things happen, but they face a slightly better offense in the divisional round. Kansas City will be traveling to face the New England Patriots. While the Patriots are not quite at 100 percent, they will likely have Julian Edelman back. That would be a huge return for Tom Brady. The Patriots are a five-point favorite, according to OddsShark.
NFC
No. 6 Seattle Seahawks @ No. 1 Carolina Panthers - Sunday, January 17, 10:05 a.m. PT - FOX - Joe Buck, Troy Aikman
No. 5 Green Bay Packers @ No. 2 Arizona Cardinals - Saturday, January 16, 5:15 p.m. PT - NBC - Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth
AFC
No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers @ No. 1 Denver Broncos - Sunday, January 17, 1:40 p.m. PT - CBS - Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs @ No. 2 New England Patriots - Saturday, January 16, 1:35 p.m. PT - CBS - Ian Eagle, Dan Fouts