The NFL divisional round of the playoffs is getting ready to start and the matchups will be on Saturday and Sunday on the postseason schedule.
The AFC matchup between the Chiefs and the Patriots will start things on Saturday, while the Packers and Cardinals will be the late game. The Panthers host the Seahawks on Sunday in the early game, while the final matchup will be the Steelers and Broncos. Check here for the schedule.
Here are 5 things to know about the divisional round:
Panthers and Seahawks rematch from this season
The Seahawks won against the Vikings after a chip shot miss by Blair Walsh at the end of the wild card game to set up a matchup with the Panthers. The Seahawks and Panthers have played already this season and that game saw Seattle give up a fourth quarter lead at home. This time around the game will be in North Carolina and gives Seattle the chance to make up for their loss earlier in the season.
Chiefs put 11-game winning streak on the line against Patriots
The Chiefs will visit the Patriots for the AFC divisional round after shutting out the Texans and will put an 11-game winning streak on the line in Foxboro. At one point this season Kansas City was 1-5 and now they are in position to get to the conference championship if they can get the upset win. The Patriots are dealing with some injuries, but players have been able to heal up with the first round bye and both Tom Brady and Julian Edelman are on track to play.
Peyton Manning will start for the Broncos
The Denver Broncos will host the Steelers and this is another game that is a rematch of a regular season game. The Broncos lost that game with Brock Osweiler playing and this time around Peyton Manning will be the starter for Denver. The Steelers pulled out a close win against the Bengals and now will travel to face the Broncos. Ben Roethlisberger and DeAngelo Williams are both banged up and while Big Ben is expected to play after suffering a shoulder sprain, Williams could be out for the second straight game with a foot/ankle injury.
The Packers and Cardinals have a double rematch game coming
The Packers and Cardinals are playing in a rematch of a game from earlier in the season that saw Arizona dominate Green Bay in the desert. But this is also a double rematch in a sense, as the two teams faced off in the playoffs after the 2009 season in one of the most memorable postseason games in recent memory. The packers lost the game in overtime in dramatic fashion and now Aaron Rodgers and the Pack will try and get things right the third time.
Injuries may play a big role
Injuries could play a major role in the divisional round, as players like Jonathan Stewart, Marshawn Lynch, Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, DeAngelo Williams, Jeremy Maclin, Ted Ginn, Julian Edelman and Tom Brady all have been banged up with various ailments. Brady and Edelman are expected to be fully healthy this week, while Roethlisberger could play after dealing with a shoulder injury. Lynch missed out last week against the Vikings for the Seahawks, while Williams could return for the Steelers. Maclin could be out with an ankle sprain, while Ginn is expected to play.
