The Kansas City Chiefs are headed to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
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The Steelers’ beating the Cincinnati Bengals wasn’t shocking, as long as you had a cursory knowledge of the rivalry and the home team’s ill fortune when it comes to the National Football League playoffs, while the Seattle Seahawks’ winning in the playoffs can’t exactly be considered an upset. They advance to face the Arizona Cardinals next weekend. As for the Broncos, quarterback Peyton Manning may be back in the starting spot, and Pittsburgh may have a hard time stopping Denver’s air attack if Manning is back on his game. Arizona will be coming off a bye in the first round of the playoffs and will be well rested.
Lastly, ater their fierce battle with Cincinnatti, Pittsburgh earned the “privilege” of going mile high, to Mile High to play the Denver Broncos. The Chiefs ran roughshod over the Houston Texans in their Wild Card Weekend matchup, easily covering the spread as road favorites in a 30-0 victory. The Patriots are a five-point favorite, according to OddsShark.
Over in the NFC, the Arizona Cardinals are touchdown favorites over the Green Bay Packers, while the Carolina Panthers draw the toughest out as three point favorites over the red hot, yet fluky Seattle Seahawks. Both the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson and the Panthers’ Cam Newton will likely need to put on a show to ensure their team’s success. The Patriots have reached the AFC Championship Game in four straight seasons, and they are in a good position to do so again in 2016. Going up against the best coach and quarterback of our generation in January is what its all about.
The Cardinals have been equally impressive this season, finishing the regular season 13-3.
As for picking the Super Bowl victor, the Panthers are listed as underdogs.
On Sunday, NFC teams took their turns. New England is expected to see several starters return from injury, and hopes to break out of a recent, painful slump.
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If Brady and Belichick manage to find their way back to the Super Bowl, there is little capable of stopping them from claiming yet another title. Perhaps this line movement is a result of Ben Roethlisberger’s playing status being updated on Monday, although oddsmakers had a good idea that the QB would play on Sunday when they moved the line to 7.
