The NFL playoffs are into the divisional round and the matchups in the AFC and NFC will be across Saturday and Sunday heading into the championship round.
Here are 5 things to know for the divisional round:
The Chiefs have an 11-game winning streak as they take on the Pats
The New England Patriots host the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round and this is the only matchup of the playoff weekend that is not a regular season rematch. Kansas City comes in after winning 11 games in a row and they are playing with some major confidence after winning over the Texans with a 30-0 shutout in the wild card round.
The Packers and Cardinals are playing just weeks after Arizona dominated Green Bay
The Arizona Cardinals are listed as super bowl favorites in Las Vegas and that adds another interesting wrinkle to this game. The Packers lost big to the Cardinals just a few weeks ago and now Green Bay is hoping to bounce back in the postseason for the rematch. These two teams have played in the playoffs before and that was one of the most exciting games in NFL postseason history. The Cardinals won that game in overtime and now Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will try and get some revenge.
The Steelers and Broncos are playing again, this time with Peyton Manning starting
These two teams matched up down the stretch of the season with the Steelers winning over the Broncos in the game. Brock Osweiler started that game for Denver and now it will be Peyton Manning back under center and that could be a major advantage for the Broncos. Ben Roethlisberger is coming in with a shoulder sprain and ligament damage and while he is expected to play, there is a chance he could miss the game.
The Seahawks and Panthers play again after Carolina won in Seattle
The Panthers stayed undefeated in week 6 of the season with a comeback win in Seattle and now these two teams will battle again, but this time in Charlotte. Cam Newton comes in after an MVP season, while Russell Wilson has been the clear MVP for the Seahawks and in any other year he might be the most valuable player in the league.
There are some major injuries that could play a factor
Injuries could play a major role in this round of the playoffs, as players like Marshawn Lynch, Ben Roethlisberger, DeAngelo Williams, Antonio Brown, Jeremy Maclin, Rob Gronkowski and Jonathan Stewart are all banged up with various injuries. Some are more severe than others and players like Stewart, Gronkowski and Roethlisberger are expected to play. Brown, Williams and Lynch could be in question for the weekend. UPDATE: Brown has been ruled out
