NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Preview

By: Lucas Kochevar

     This past weekend was just awful. The Wildcard had zero interesting games. This weekend should be more fun as it includes a several good matchups. The first one on Saturday is between the Falcons and Seahawks. The Legion of Boom comes to Atlanta to face the Falcons high-flying offense. These teams played in week 6 and Seattle beat Atlanta after the most obvious pass interference ever. Seattle won 26-24. The Falcons look to get revenge. The Falcons have the offense to beat the Seahawks. The biggest key for the Falcons is going to be the ability to contain Seattle's run game. This means the Falcons will likely have to spy Russell Wilson with a linebacker. The Falcons can't let Thomas Rawls explode for 161 yards like he did last week. I believe the Falcons can do that and they can win this game. I like Atlanta to win this game.

     The next game on Saturday is between New England and Houston. The Texans enter Foxboro as 17-point underdogs. The Texans have a lot of adversity that they have to overcome. The key for the Texans is to try and slow down the New England offense a little bit and they need Brock Osweiler to find Deandre Hopkins like he did when they played the Raiders. The Patriots simply need to play like the Patriots. I don't see the Texans having a chance in this game and I can see this one getting ugly pretty quickly.

     The first Sunday game is between the Steelers and Chiefs. I think this is a very interesting game in the sense that the Steelers great offense enters Arrowhead Stadium against Eric Berry and a very good defense. The Steelers need their offense to show out again like they did against Miami. They really need Le'Veon Bell to perform because we don't know how hurt Big Ben is after he came to the press conference in a walking boot. The Chiefs need Tyreek Hill to make big plays for their offense if they wnat to have success. He is their big play machine and if he can get a big play Kansas City will have a bunch of momentum. I liked the Steelers in this one simply because they have the best QB-RB-WR trio with Big Ben, Le'Veon Bell, and Antonio Brown.

     The last game of the weekend is the Packers and Cowboys. This is a battle between the two hottest rookies and the hottest QB in the league. The Cowboys need to keep the ball away from Aaron Rodgers if they want to win. The good thing for the Cowboys is that they are one of the best teams at time of possesion. The Packers key id to stop Eziekiel Elliot because if he can get it going he is bound to have a great day. The last time the Cowboys played the Packers this year he rushed for 157 yards. I think that this game will be a good game and I just don't see the Cowboys slowing down Aaron Rodgers even without Jordy Nelson. Jordy Nelson might play but I think he is very doubtful. I think the MVP level of play from Aaron Rodgers is too much for the Cowboys to handle and I like the Packers to end the Cowboys season.

---