NFL Divisional Picks 2016

New England Patriots VS Kansas City Chiefs

This is one of the two games this week that I think could go either way.  The Chiefs are currently the hottest team in football but the Patriots have had 2 weeks to prepare.  Those 2 weeks off were crucial to the Patriots who have been riddled with injuries all season.  Gronkowski and Edleman are both active for the first time since week 10.  Jeremy Maclin for the Chiefs is officially a game time decision, but recent reports are expecting him to play.  This game comes down to New England's offense verses Kansas City's defense.  If Tom Brady can get the ball out routinely around the 2.5 second mark, the Patriots win the game.  I predict he will do just that.

New England Patriots win 24 - 20

Arizona Cardinals VS Green Bay Packers

Is Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense back?  The offense that Mike Mccarthy claimed at the beginning of the season had the potential to be the "greatest offense the NFL has ever seen".  Things haven't quite panned out for the Packers like they may have hoped, but nevertheless, they're still alive in the chase for Super Bowl 50.  Until after tonight.  The Arizona Cardinals, in my opinion, are the most complete team in the NFL.  They don't have one clear weakness on their entire team.  The good news for the Packers is that they have a few key offensive line pieces coming back that should help protect Aaron Rodgers at least a little better than the last time these teams met.  I don't see the Cardinals getting 8 sacks again, but I think that the Cardinals stellar secondary should produce some coverage sacks on one of the worst offensive lines in football.  If the Packers can establish the run early and run for over 150yds, they may have a chance to pull this one off.  A strong running game is the only way they can win this game and that hasn't exactly been the Packers most consistent aspect.

Arizona Cardinals win 31 - 24

Carolina Panthers VS Seattle Seahawks

This is the most intriguing matchup of the divisional weekend to me.  The former NFC champions facing the 2016 league MVP.  This isn't the Seahawks vs the Panthers.  This is the Seahawks vs Cam Newton.  After an extra week of rest, Marshawn Lynch is ready to go for the first time in weeks.  Seattle's defense hasn't allowed a road touchdown in 5 straight match-ups.  If I'm going through who has the edge in every position, I give Seattle an overwhelming majority of the categories.  Carolina's defense isn't playing at the same level they started the season.  I can think of about 6 different ways Seattle can win this game and I can only think of 1 way Carolina wins: Cam Newton plays at an MVP level.  Which he can do by the way.  To beat Seattle, Newton has to play a nearly flawless game.  In Carolina's biggest game of the season, I don't think Newton can pull this off by himself.

Seattle Seahawks win 20 - 17

Denver Broncos VS Pittsburgh Steelers

I was really looking forward to watching one of the NFL's best secondaries facing off against the NFL's most explosive offense.  With Antonio Brown and DeAngelo Williams both ruled out, that's not what we're going to get.  You have to think that after 2 weeks of rest, Peyton Manning will be ready to go and prove that he can still play this game at a high level.  The one thing that may be in Pittsburgh's favor this game is that, while one of Denver's biggest strengths is their pass rush, Roethlisberger is maybe the hardest quarterback in the NFL to take down.  In the end, I can't see any way that the Steelers can pull off a win in this game without their best offensive weapon in Brown.

Denver Broncos win 31 - 20