AFC Divisional Playoffs Predictions
The regular NFL season and the wild card rounds are done and dusted. Now it is time for the Divisional Playoffs to take center stage once again. Four teams from each conference will fight for a spot to headline their respective conference’s championship game and earn the right to headline Super Bowl LI. This is the time of the season when the pressure is cranked up a notch and a lot of the times, the team that handles the pressure better comes out on top.
The stage is set for the franchises taking part in the divisional playoffs to make their mark and lay down a marker for the rest of the bracket. There are some interesting ties in this round and now the time has come for us to put our necks on the line and make some predictions about who we think will make it to the championship games from both conferences.
First up we will tackle the AFC Divisional Playoffs:
1. Houston Texans vs New England Patriots
The Houston Texans overcame the Oakland Raiders 27-14 in the wild card round to earn the right to take on the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. The team from Houston had a very good game against their Oakland counterparts and a lot of that had to do with their QB Brock Osweiler having a stellar game. He notched up 168 passing yards and accounted for two touchdowns as well.
The New England Patriots went 14-2 during the regular season and earned the right to play the playoffs at home. This is a massive advantage which simply cannot be overlooked. The Pats are many people’s favorites to not only headline Super Bowl 2017 but also clinch the Vince Lombardi Trophy on February 5, 2017 at the NRG Stadium.
Prediction:
As good as Texans’ defense has been, we certainly think that the Pats have way too much firepower to unlock it. Yes, it was a long time ago and a lot has happened since then, but these two sides faced off against each other in the third round of the regular season and the Patriots destroyed the Texans 27-0. That is not the kind of score a lot of people are predicting this time around, but Tom Brady and Co will still overcome whatever threat the Texans pose to reach the AFC Championship Game.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers vs Kansas City Chiefs
Then we come to the second game of the AFC Divisional Playoffs between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Steelers went 11-5 in the AFC North and earned a wild card slot where they came up against the Miami Dolphins. The Steelers won the game 30-12 with Ben Roethlisberger and Le’Veon Bell being right at the heart of all that was brilliant about the Steelers that day.
They will however come up against a Kansas City Chiefs side that is certainly no pushover. The Chiefs racked up a 12-4 record over the regular season to make it to the playoffs. They will have home field advantage as well. They won five of their last six games during the regular season as well to clinch their first division title since the year 2010 as well. The Chiefs have the seventh best defense in the league and their quarterback Alex Smith failed to record a touchdown in only four games.
Prediction:
This game is just too close to call. There are a lot of factors to consider since both sides are so well matched. We are going for a Kansas City Chiefs win here but we certainly will not be surprised if the Steelers come out on top.
So, this is how it will be. The AFC Championship Game will take place between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs and one of those two sides for a spot in Super Bowl 51. There are going to be plenty of thrills and spills along the way so, get ready for another cracking round of AFC Divisional Playoffs.
