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The NFL playoffs continue this week with the divisional round. Last week we saw very little competition as the Packers obliterated the Giants 38-13, the Steelers manhandled the Dolphins 30-12, the Seahawks shut down the Lions 26-6, and the Texans cruised past the Raiders 27-14.
This week, the competition is expected to pick up as most of the remaining teams boast solid rosters without too many major injuries clogging things up. Brock Osweiler will still be starting at quarterback for the Texans going up against Tom Brady and the Patriots, but the Texans are strong enough on defense that they should at least make the game interesting, more interesting than the first time these teams played this season and the Texans were shutout, at least.
Otherwise, every game features battles between top-tier quarterbacks. The Seahawks and Falcons will feature Russell Wilson and Matt Ryan, the Steelers and Chiefs will feature Ben Roethlisberger and Alex Smith, and the Packers and Cowboys will feature Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott.
It’s no surprise that most of these teams lasted this far. The Patriots and Seahawks are two teams that have been among the best in the NFL for a long time, both of whom have won Super Bowls recently and even played each other in the big game only two years ago.
The Steelers, Chiefs, Falcons, Cowboys, and Packers have all been up and down in recent years, but all had very solid seasons in 2016. Especially considering how each team played in the Wild Card round, there is no doubt that all of those teams deserve to still be in contention. The Texans are a bit of an anomaly, having finished with a 9-7 record and the NFL’s 29th ranked offense in yards per game (314.7). But, they won their division and played very well last week against a reeling Raiders team.
Saturday’s action kicks off with the Seahawks and Falcons in a rematch of the Falcons’ most recent playoff victory - a tightly contested 30-28 affair in the 2012-13 divisional round. The Falcons went on to lose to the 49ers in the NFC Championship and haven’t made it back to the playoffs until now.
After that, the Texans will play the Patriots in New England. The two teams met up back in Week 3 during Tom Brady’s suspension and after Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury. They annihilated the Texans 27-0. It wouldn’t be completely shocking to see the same result this week.
On Sunday, the Steelers and Chiefs kick things off in what might be the tightest matchup of the playoffs. The Steelers dominated the then 1-3 Chiefs by a score of 43-14 back in Week 4, but it seemed to be exactly the wake-up call they needed. They went on to win five games in a row and finished the season as the AFC West champions and the NFL’s No. 2 seed. The Steelers never quite lived up to that mark the rest of the season, so it will be interesting to see how the two handle things this time around.
Finally, the Cowboys will host the Packers to will finish things off on Sunday night. Much like their 30-16 win over the Packers in Week 6, the Cowboys will be coming into this game as heavy favorites, especially with Packers’ wide receiver Jordy Nelson out for the game.
Here’s all the information you will need to watch the divisional round of the 2017 NFL playoffs:
No. 3 Seattle (10-5-1) at No. 2 Atlanta (11-5)
When: Saturday, Jan. 14
Where: Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
TV: FOX
Game Time: 4:35 p.m. ET
*Line: Falcons -3.5
No. 4 Houston (9-7) at No. 1 New England (14-2)
When: Saturday, Jan. 14
Where: Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
TV: CBS
Game Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Line: Patriots -15.5
No. 4 Green Bay (11-5) at No. 1 Dallas (10-6)
When: Sunday, Jan. 15
Where: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
TV: FOX
Game Time: 4:40 p.m. ET
Line: Cowboys -4
No. 3 Pittsburgh (11-5) at No. 2 Kansas City (10-6)
When: Sunday, Jan. 15
Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
TV: NBC
Game Time: 8:20 p.m. ET (game time was moved due to a storm/public safety concerns)
Line: Even