An unprecedented wild card weekend sets up four more mouthwatering clashes as the NFL looks to discover its final four.
It was the first time in NFL history that all four wild card teams advanced to the second week of the postseason, but the four of the best teams in football are lying wait after having a week of rest.
1. Kansas City Chiefs @ New England Patriots, Saturday, 9:35pm
Can the Chiefs repeat last season’s humiliation of the Pats?
It was game which prompted many to write off Tom Brady and the Patriots, but New England would follow up the 41-14 home defeat by only losing one more meaningful game all year en route to Super Bowl success.
On that occasion, the Chiefs put on a defensive masterclass, shutting down the ground game and running roughshod over the Pats’ offensive line whenever Brady dropped back to pass. Brady was picked off twice, including a pick six, and was also strip-sacked.
The water-tight Chiefs defence, which turned the ball over five times last week against Houston, will need to conjure a repeat performance this weekend as the New England offence finally nears full strength.
Having spent parts of the season without receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola and the NFL’s top tight end Rob Gronkowski, all three look set to play this Saturday for the first time in two months, while a patchwork offensive line, which was dominated by the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, could welcome back left tackle Sebastian Vollmer.
2. Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 1:15am
Can Aaron Rodgers stay on his feet?
Rodgers threw for two TDs and the Packers scored two more on the ground in a 35-18 wild card victory over Washington, with his offensive line recovering from giving up an early safety to play a relatively clean game.
However, the sight of the Cardinals’ D is likely to bring on bouts of PTSD in the Packers linemen as they recall the harrowing outing they had on their last trip to Arizona just three weeks ago.
That night, Rodgers was sacked eight times, and the Cards returned a pair of the quarterback’s fumbles for touchdowns in a 38-8 rout that suggested the Pack were a long way away from contending for the NFC crown and they have it all to do with just six days to recover from Sunday’s win to face rested opposition.
3. Seattle Seahawks @ Carolina Panthers, Sunday, 6:05pm
Which defence can better slow down Cam Newton and Russell Wilson?
The Panthers made the NFL sit up and take notice with a Week 6 victory in Seattle that featured MVP favourite Cam Newton leading a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives in a 27-23 win.
The Seahawks had, to that point, kept Newton in check with two interceptions and three sacks, but the 26-year-old produced key plays with his arm and his feet to help his team find a way to win on the road.
Newton’s day was somewhat mirrored by Wilson’s outing in frigid Minnesota on Sunday, as Seattle’s offence was held scoreless for three quarters until Wilson turned a broken play into a 35-yard gain that set up the only touchdown of the game.
https://twitter.com/iamjoonlee/status/686281732073631745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Of course, the Vikings had the chance to end the Seahawks season only to miss a 27-yard chip shot field goal at the death, but Seattle are the type of team take advantage of that good fortune.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos, Sunday, 9:40pm
Has a Cincinnati Bengal handed Denver a ticket to the AFC title game?
Both quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receiver Antonio Brown are dealing with injuries sustained in Saturday night’s amazing victory over Cincinnati, and Denver can thank Vontaze Burfict if either is less than 100 per cent.
The Bengals linebacker, who has a record of dirty plays in his short career, has been suspended for the first three games of next season for this hit to the head of Brown, but he was also captured appearing to deliver a knee to the shoulder of Roethlisberger after a sack.
https://twitter.com/TheCauldron/status/686049059174510592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Watch what Burfict does after he sacks Ben #Steelers pic.twitter.com/kr2vnfhXAN
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) January 10, 2016
Roethlisberger was replaced by back-up Landry Jones before re-entering the game to lead the game-winning field goal drive, but he revealed the extent of his injuries in a radio interview earlier this week.
BREAKING: #Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger said on @937theFan that in addition to sprained AC joint he has torn ligaments in right shoulder.
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) January 12, 2016
Big Ben has a history of playing through injuries but his connection with Brown is the key to the Steelers offence (had they played 16 games together Brown would likely have become the NFL’s first 2,000 yard receiver) and if one or both is out of action then Denver’s defence should be able to set Peyton Manning a more than reasonable target on the other side of the ball.
