There really was something special about the Conference Championships yesterday and everything that happened on the field simply reinforced that fact for me. After all, we got Manning vs. Brady XVII and the incredible game that that turned out to be and the Carolina Panthers finally had a chance to silence the doubters in one important game. The end result is that the Broncos and Panthers will square off in Super Bowl 50, but before we begin to preview that epic game, let's look back at the wonder of Championship Sunday one more time.

All the hype leading up to the AFC Championship revolved around Peyton Manning and Tom Brady squaring off for what could be the last time and how this should be a gunslinger's match up for the ages. But surprise, surprise...this game never came down to their vast skill set or ability to will a team to the win, it simply came down to defense and in the end...it was all about Denver's defense. The Broncos D was utterly magnificent on the field, doing things to the Patriots offense that you rarely see. 

They blanketed the Patriots receiving corps to the point where Tom Brady was horribly confused and to top if off they punished him all day long, and credit needs to go to Defensive Coordinator Wade Philips for coming up with the wild schemes that allowed Von Miller to sack Tom Brady 2.5 times. It's a loss that will hang over the head of this Patriots squad for a long time as they ponder over lost opportunities. But while we can talk all day about that final drive, or the lack of field goals from the Patriots, when all is said and done, the defense won this game for the Broncos and they gave Peyton Manning, who had an efficient and average day, one more shot at glory. 

It was going to be one of two outcomes at the NFC Championship game, either Arizona was going to put up a fight and impress us all with a quality game or find themselves blown out in embarrassing fashion. As it turns out, we were in store for the latter since Carolina completely and utterly dismantled the Cardinals on their way to Super Bowl 50.

The Carolina defense managed to squeeze seven takeaways out of the Arizona offense and when the D wasn't scoring points, Cam Newton and the offense handled the rest. It was an ugly loss for the Cardinals, who looked lost and confused on basically every single play...but a sweet victory for the Panthers who were happy to keep their foot on the pedal and punish Arizona at every single turn. In the end, a QB that no one believed in, and a team that so many wrote off, including myself, will finally get their shot at the title and it should be one hell of a game.

Sometimes when it comes to the Conference Championship games, you get a pretty good idea of what to expect from the teams taking the field and other times...it's a complete mystery. The game could turn out to be the kind of epic showdown that becomes the stuff of legend, making it an instant classic. Other times, it could be an epic disaster for one team as they are blown out in embarrassing fashion. It's that mystery that is now hanging over the NFC Championship game simply because...the Cardinals and the Panthers are two incredible teams and they have shown this fact time and time again on the field this season. But will Carolina blow out the Cardinals? Or will Arizona make this one another incredible playoff game? We won't know for sure until game time, but here are our thoughts as to who will hoist the George Halas trophy and advance to represent the NFC in Super Bowl 50.

Scotty's Take
I do love to watch the Cardinals play on Sundays, why you may ask, because they are the most complete team in the NFL.  Yeah, you can hate me for saying that, but it is true, the are dangerous on both sides of the ball and with Carson Palmer finally getting his shot to drive a team to the Super Bowl, he will be hard to take down.  I was blown away last week by the play of the ageless wonder Larry Fitzgerald, he is the backbone of Arizona and if they are looking to win on Sunday, he will be a major factor on offense.  But the real question mark for this game is the Cardinals defense, as the Panthers are a high powered offense that can exploit any weakness. A lot of people are really down on Cam Newton overall this year, he is too arrogant and a quarterback should not act that way on the field.  Well, I will tell you what, if you won 15 games in the regular season and did not have a contest in any of them, would you not be having fun as well?  You can see the difference in the offense with Jonathan Stewart being back from injury, since the running options are starting to open up once again.  If the Panthers are able to play their game, this will be a very high scoring affair, but one thing that I have noticed this year is that they are not able to end the game when they should be able to.  Letting teams come back in the second half is a something that they cannot allow with the Cardinals and if the game is within a touchdown, I can see the winner doing it in overtime.  Literally a coin flip.
If I had to guess the score, I'm thinking it's going to be...Carolina Panthers 41, Arizona Cardinals 34.
NFC CHAMPION - Carolina Panthers

John's Take
This was a tough preview to write today, simply because I have talked big time smack about the Carolina Panthers all season long...and I can do it no more. Their powerhouse and decisive beatdown of the Seattle Seahawks last week, completely made me a believer. This is a squad that can beat you at will and while they are able to completely dismantle a team on a moment's notice, I think their greatest challenge of the season, at least in the NFC arrives by way of the Arizona Cardinals. I say that...because the Cardinals are a team that love to have their backs against the wall and they love to be challenged. Every touchdown a team scores on their defense, every sack they get on Carson Palmer just seems to fuel the fire and as we witnessed last week in the Divisional Round, just give them the opportunity...and they will take it. But, while I expect Arizona to put up one hell of a fight...I sadly don't expect them to win. The Panthers defense is simply terrifying and Cam Newton enjoys dropping the long bomb once he gets bored with picking the defense to pieces on the shorter routes and respect does have to be paid to Carolina's powerhouse running game. I think this game will end up a lot closer on the scoreboard than the Seattle game but the end result will be the same, meaning the Carolina Panthers will represent the NFC in Super Bowl 50.
NFC CHAMPION - Carolina Panthers

You often hear people say that sometimes...the Conference Championships are better than the Super Bowl itself, and quite frankly, there is merit to that. After all, these games tend to feature a pair of teams that are not only the best in their respective conference...but they tend to not like one another and have often times faced off at least once earlier in the season. It means there is indeed a special feel when they take the field and quite frankly they tend to play a little harder. After all, this is your shot at the title, and heading to the big game is a little sweeter when you beat your arch rival to get there and this year's AFC Championship features exactly that kind of game as the Patriots face the Broncos in what could be the final game in Denver for Quarterback Peyton Manning. This should be a great one and here are our thoughts on who will win the Lamar Hunt trophy and advance to represent the AFC in Super Bowl 50.

Scotty's Take
I am blown away this year by what the Denver Broncos have been able to accomplish thus far, but I hate to say it, most of it was luck.  Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge Broncos fan, but when you watch this team every week, there is nothing that shows me that they have the drive to win a game.  Dropped balls, no running game and an old Manning, it just does not look good for them going forward.  I know that everyone says that Defense wins championships, but you have to put some points on the board to win the game.  The Patriots looked pretty good last week as they defeated KC and they are only getting stronger as the season moves on.  Tom Brady is just magical in the pocket and he has proved once again that he is not a one dimensional quarterback as he was able to rush for a couple first downs and almost a touchdown, (which he got anyway).  As everyone on the roster starts to get healthy again, they have one of the most dynamic offenses and are not afraid to shake anything up, especially in the playoffs.  I can see several strange lineups on offense that will confuse the number one defense in the league on Sunday and if the New England offense starts to click, there will be little to no chance to stop them. Final score if you ask me...New England 42, Denver Broncos 18.
AFC CHAMPION - New England Patriots

John's Take
I have to admit that I am extremely excited to watch this game for so many reasons. For one...it's freaking Manning vs. Brady once again and when these two take the field, for the most part...we get a pretty incredible game and I love the fact that these two are squaring off for another AFC Championship. But once the glamour and glitz of two of the NFL's finest quarterbacks wears off, there's plenty of football related reasons I'm anxious to see this game...one of them being the confidence that Denver will have coming into this one. Let's not forget that the Broncos were the team to deliver the Pats their first loss of the season in impressive fashion while missing key players on both sides of the ball. Yes, I know New England was missing key players as well but injuries are going to come into play in this game and right now, Denver has the healthier squad. But I digress, because we need to spend a few more moments on that confidence the Broncos have and what it means for the game. You see, New England's wins are often based on two important things, execution and allowing that precision to get into their opponents minds. Often times the Patriots seem unstoppable, but the fact of the matter is...they are still a beatable team and I don't think the Denver defense will let them get into a rhythm, nor will they let Tom Brady rattle them, which means we can expect a bend but don't break mentality that disrupts some important drives. Combine that...with the fact that Denver is going to stick to a run game that is currently red hot and that they will use Manning and the receiving corps to keep the New England defense honest and you get a recipe that sends the Denver Broncos to Super Bowl 50.
AFC CHAMPION - Denver Broncos

It seems that every single round of the NFL Playoffs this year are managing to top the last one. We had some incredible games during Wild Card Weekend, but the Divisional Round gave us some instant classics, and a moment of redemption for a seasoned veteran. It makes one wonder what we can expect from the Conference Championships, but before we get there let's revisit the games from last weekend one more time as we look at the top stories from the Divisional Round.

1. While the New England Patriots enjoyed the win...the Kansas City Chiefs made it a close one and once again demonstrated why you have to bring your best when it comes to play on the field...and coaching into the playoffs. The fact of the matter is...a lot of the blame for this game falls on Andy Reid's shoulders. Clock management is essential for both the head coach and the quarterback when it's crunch time with the game on the line and well...Andy screwed the pooch on this one. His need to call the perfect play rather than put a little faith in his players cost precious seconds off of the clock and the end result is what it is. The Chiefs season has come to an end and Tom Brady will appear in his tenth AFC Championship and I'm hoping someone above Coach Reid has a little talk with him about his piss poor clock management skills or that maybe it's time to hand over play calling to his offensive coordinator.

2. Over the years I've heard plenty of speeches and talk from coaches about how their team didn't fight enough or how they simply didn't want it more than the other guys and I'm glad that none of that talk will ever apply to Saturday night's Cardinals/Packers game. Both teams were desperate for the win and from the moment the game kicked off to those final incredible seconds, you could see it on the field with one hard fought play after another, and while every single person on the Cardinals squad did their part, let's be honest, the hero of the night was Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The man simply pulled off miracles to put his team in a position to win and this to me is an instant playoff classic. Congratulations to the Cardinals on their hard earned win, they're going to need that battle tested mentality for the NFC Championship game.

3. The Carolina Panthers are quite good at two things. Winning games in impressive fashion, and making me eat crow as often as possible. I have given this team a lot of hell in my write ups, including this weekend's picks and I even went as far as to say that Seattle was going to win that game. So yeah...I was totally wrong about that and it's clear it's foolish of me to keep talking crap about the Panthers, because they served up an unholy beatdown on the Seahawks, the likes of which you rarely see in the playoffs. Sure, Seattle was able to surprise and hang with them a little bit in the third quarter, but none of that mattered in the end. The Seahawks were doomed from kickoff and the Panthers are going to make life interesting for the Arizona Cardinals come next Sunday.

4. There was a time when the Denver Broncos would come out on to the field and drop thirty or forty points on a team, let a few touchdowns through and call it a day and enjoy the win. Well those days are gone now and Broncos fans simply need to get used to it. This is a team that is going to win, but it's going to be ugly any way you slice it and yesterday's victory over the Steelers is proof of that. There were dropped passes, runs for a loss and not a touchdown in sight for the offense until the fourth quarter when the defense did what it does best, forcing a turnover and allowing the offense to get the big time touchdown it needed to secure the win and bring the AFC Championship to the Mile High City. We can be as critical as we want about the mistakes in this game, I know I was until a good friend pointed out that hey...they freaking won and a win is indeed a win. So I'll enjoy this one and maybe put a little more faith in the Broncos come next Sunday, simply because they always manage to find a way to do something spectacular.

At some point in our lives we have all heard the phrase, "that's going to be a hard act to follow" and there really is not a more appropriate set of words to describe Day One of the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. Yesterday's games were absolutely incredible, especially when it came to the Packers and Cardinals game But can Day Two be just as exciting? Well the potential is definitely there as the number one seeds take the stage against some pretty quality opponents and here are our thoughts on the potential winners and losers for Day Two of the Divisional Round.

Scotty's Take
Say what you will about the Seahawks this season, in my opinion they should not have even made the playoffs this year. I am speaking my mind on this one and I have plenty of friends and even family that would hate me for saying this, but they are a shell of their past Super Bowl selves.  I like what they have been able to do with all of the changes that have taken place and their defense is just flat out scary to me with Kam Chancellor playing at full speed and Richard Sherman keeping the top receivers at bay, and I love watching Strong Safety Earl Thomas III play.  Even though he may not say this, he is the one that makes the garbage plays for this team and makes those who doubt his abilities pay the price.   It looks like Beast mode may be back this week, but that is what they said last week when he failed to make the trip to Minnesota, so I'll believe it when I see him on the field. I like Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch both in the backfield, but last week proved that they don't need to be together.  Although let me speak my mind once again, the Seahawks did not outright win the game against Minnesota, they just didn't screw up enough to lose it, which means it will be hard today for them to stop Cam Newton and his legs of glory from running all over them.  The best team in the NFL this year is back and should have everyone healthy once again and they are trying to prove that they are not to be written off after a one loss season.  SET, READY, HUT!  I love the snap count since it never changes and when they are at home, you can hear it with clarity.  This will not be a game that is won in the trenches as most of last week’s games were, it is going to be a big play game, where only the big plays will put points on the scoreboard.  As the Panthers have proven, they can move the ball with ease, even against some of the better defenses, and drop the long pass at will, or Cam Newton run can and will change the outcome of the game.  
WINNER - Carolina Panthers 45, Seattle 24.

John's Take
I think that this particular game just so happens to be the most fascinating Divisional Matchup of the weekend for one particular reason...I simply can't figure either team out. At times, Seattle is frustrating to watch, playing loose on defense and looking confused on offense when suddenly, a light switch goes on and they steal the game out from under you. Then there's Carolina, a squad that boasts the best record in the league, but is still a team filled with question marks. I still can't tell if Cam Newton is a top tier quarterback because of his inconsistent play and while this team has locked up the number seed for the NFC, they have given everyone the blueprint on how to beat them since they tend to go soft when they have a big lead and while they've mopped up nicely when teams come back...that kind of luck runs out eventually and I think that may happen today. This is also a squad that gets cocky and isn't battle tested in the playoffs, something Seattle will take full advantage of. They know what it takes and they are patient during a game, watching and waiting for a big mistake from their opponent and with the return of Marshawn Lynch today...I think the Panthers season may end far sooner than expected.  
WINNER - Seattle Seahawks

Scotty's Take
Pittsburgh has proven something to me over the past few weeks.  They are not able to win a game without getting in to the minds of their opponents.  Without this, they are a mediocre squad that love to take cheap shots, because they're a flat out dirty football team.  Look at last week’s film and you'll see every offensive linemen trying to give an extra tweak to the arm of an opposing player (even the offensive line coach did it on the sideline).  The Steelers are bruised but not beaten from last week.  Big Ben is looking to take to the field once again, even with an injured shoulder that can hamper his throws downfield and it will not affect his game one bit.  The loss of Antonio Brown due to a concussion will hurt the Steelers more than they would like to admit.  The leader in catches this season for the NFL being on the bench is nothing more than a gift for the Broncos who were torched by him since last time they could not find a way to stop this talented man.  I don't know what to think about having Manning back for this game, I really don't.  Peyton has not looked good since week 8 of last season and yet they would not take him out until finally they disclosed his injury.  But even before he was unable to play, he led the league in interceptions and still does even after sitting for a quarter of the year.  Brock would be my choice to take the field, but that is neither here nor there.  The Broncos have to find a way to make their running game work and the offensive line will have their work cut out for them this game since the Steelers know exactly where the weakness is...the right side.  The defense is solid and I do not see Chris Harris being burned as bad as the last game and Von Miller is over his 'cheese stick' illness.  All the Broncos have to do is put Big Ben on his back a couple times to get him out of the game, but I am more worried about what will happen to Manning, I don't know if he will be able to walk off the field after this game.  
WINNER - Denver Broncos 34, Pittsburgh 18.

John's Take
Second chances are extremely rare in the National Football League. This is a game predicated upon perfection so when the opportunity arises again to do it all over again, you know a team and its players are going to run with it and that may spell bad news for the Pittsburgh Steelers today. After all, in their last matchup against Denver they surprised the Broncos with a second half surge that secured them the win. But for this game, Peyton Manning has returned, no doubt with a chip on his shoulder and a desire to prove everyone wrong that says he has nothing left in the tank or that he's too old to play, and the defense...well they would love nothing more than to shut down the Steelers offense and their season, and considering how decimated Pittsburgh is injury wise, there's a good chance they will get their wish. Denver's only real glaring concern today is their offensive line, or really...Right Tackle Michael Schofield. If the Broncos can't get him any help or if they don't rotate him or replace him with Tyler Polumbus if he struggles again, Peyton Manning might be in for a long day. But considering the gutsy calls Gary Kubiak has made all season, I expect him to make whatever changes necessary to ensure the Broncos make it to the AFC Championship.
WINNER - Denver Broncos

One of the many things I have always loved about the NFL Playoffs is its structure. While we get some exciting and fun games during Wild Card Weekend, where the hottest teams strut their stuff, the Divisional Round is almost the league's way of saying...we saved the best for last. After all, this is where the big boy teams lie in wait, the ones that pulled off the greatest miracles, and where winning is a culture. It makes the job of the surviving Wild Card teams all that more difficult...but it also makes for incredible football and here are our thoughts on the potential winners and losers for Day One of the Divisional Round.

Scotty's Take
Last weekend we witnessed something that I did not expect to see out of the Chiefs, a shut out in the playoffs that has not happened in the last fifty years.  Although we all have seen what troubles the Texans have been going through all season, Coach Reid and his troops were able to put an end to the game even before it started.  I could not believe how good Alex Smith looked in the pocket and when he decided to run, well it was game over since no defense seems to have an answer for him.  The Defense gets my main props from this game though, they controlled the tempo of play and did not allow anyone to get into rhythm when they had the ball.  What is it that they say, Defense wins championships?  Tom Brady on the other hand is a seasoned veteran and knows how to win the big game and the Patriots are much better than the Texans will ever be, as long as he is at the helm.  With Gronk being in the lineup this week and many of the starters on offense that have been out for many weeks now, I don't think that the Chiefs will be able to have an answer for the air attack.  Now, don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of the Patriots and their extracurricular activities on and off the field, but they have the talent and know how to get things done when it is crunch time, especially in the playoffs.  
WINNER - New England Patriots 45, Chiefs 14.

John's Take
Sure, the Kansas City Chiefs are on quite a tear. They've won eleven straight, they snapped a long playoff drought by beating the Texans and now they take their red hot team into Foxboro with the hopes of beating the defending AFC Champion in their own home. To continue to stack the deck in their favor, the New England Patriots are reeling from injuries. Rob Gronkowski will likely play, but not at 100% percent and there hasn't much talk regarding the ankle injury Tom Brady suffered against Miami at the end of the season. So really, when you look at all that, sounds like Kansas City is walking out of this game the winner doesn't it? Not so fast. There are a lot of things going right for KC, but I think this is their last stop in the playoffs. The Patriots have far more experience in the playoffs than the Chiefs and that will serve them well today. After all, when New England's back is against the wall they are at their most dangerous and they will not allow Kansas City to come into their house and embarrass them, this Patriots squad knows exactly what's at stake today and injuries or no, they are going to bring their best to the field and advance to the AFC Championship in the process.
WINNER - New England Patriots

Scotty's Take
What did I say last week?  I love the Packers and something happened last week that I did not expect to see for the rest of the season, the Packer offense actually woke up and were able to put some points on the board.  Oh gosh, I do love the Packers and Aaron Rodgers is showing that he is the player of old by slinging the ball all over the field.  I was surprised that the running game made a small appearance as well, but there is something keeping me from picking them to win yet again this week, their slow starts in games against opponents that cannot capitalize on the opportunity have come to a close.  The Cardinals are a high powered offense and Carson Palmer is one of the best at moving the ball when the opponents cannot.  Everyone looks to the receiving core when it comes to Palmer being able to move the chains, but I still love the Tight Ends on this roster with Darren Fells and Jermaine Gresham who are able to make the catches that matter most, and yes, hold on to the ball in the process.  The Cardinals defense is full of ball hawks and no offense to Washington, but their defense just gave up in the second half of the game.  If the Cardinals are able to get pressure on Aaron Rodgers, he will throw the ball into dangerous places that can cost his team the possession and that was proven last week, but the Cardinals have proven this year that they do not pass up on these opportunities.  
WINNER - Arizona Cardinals 35, Green Bay 24.

John's Take
The last time these two teams met, it was a wholesale slaughter of cheese as the Arizona Cardinals completely sliced the Green Bay Packers to pieces without much effort or thought. It was during a time when pretty much every fan was wondering what the hell was going on with the Pack and if this kind of piss poor play would cost them dearly in the playoffs...and for a moment it almost did before something incredible happened. I'm not sure what changed on that sideline in Washington but the Packers unleashed their fury and secured a win and as awesome as that game was to watch...I don't think they replicate that magic once again. The Arizona Cardinals have actually managed to get better since the last time these two teams squared off in December and while the Cardinals may have made an early exit in the playoffs last year...let's not forget that happened without the mighty Carson Palmer at the helm. The bottom line is that the Cardinals know how to beat the Packers. That gives them incredible confidence going into this game, and that formula will back in action tonight, securing Arizona a spot in the NFC Championship game.
WINNER - Arizona Cardinals

The Monday after Wild Card Weekend is always a sobering one in the NFL, simply because the polish and shine of the playoffs getting underway disappears when the field of twelve teams is reduced to eight and the reality of how every single second in the game matters...settles in. This particular weekend saw some brutal moments for the losing teams, ones so crazy in fact that some of the wins were overshadowed. So let's not waste any more time and get right into breaking down the top stories from the field from this year's Wild Card Weekend. 

1. The Houston Texans have a big time problem at quarterback, and it cost them their season. I mean Brian Hoyer was absolutely awful this weekend at home against the Chiefs, accounting for five turnovers and to make matters worse, he simply looked lost out there. The Chiefs confused him every single step of the way, and while I understand the offensive line had some embarrassing moments of their own and the defense wasn't able to stop Kansas City either, the QB set the tone for this game. Hoyer simply regressed after every single play and well...I don't fault Bill O'Brien for not pulling him because his only other QB option on the roster was Brandon Weeden. But there is a bright side in all of this. This squad now knows they are good enough to win the games they need to, and good enough to win the division and I have no doubt they will be extremely active in the offseason, collecting the right players to move them past the first round of the playoffs.

2. I've seen some incredible and improbable wins in the playoffs through the years, and I've seen some heartbreaking losses. But up until Saturday night, I have never seen a team literally hand another squad a win by way of arrogance and stupidity, so my thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals for checking that one off my list. They had the Steelers beaten and on the ropes and then the whole thing fell to pieces. It started with Vontaze Burfict's weird decision to run his recovered fumble into the locker room with plenty of time to play, and it only got worse from there. Next up came that devastating hit on a defenseless Antonio Brown and then Adam Jones got into the mix by not being able to keep his mouth shut. It was...an embarrassing loss for Bengals fans and football fans everywhere because holy crap, these two players were out of control and while I know people are calling for discipline for Burfict and Jones...there's no need for that. These two men get to wake up every morning after this game with the knowledge that their inability to be professional football players for two whole minutes...cost their team the season. That's punishment enough.

3. What a devastating loss for the Minnesota Vikings and while it seems like this is a good place to fire off a "Laces out, Jeff" joke, it's not the fault of Jeff Locke or Blair Walsh that the team lost this game...it's on the offense. I don't care that he shanked that kick one bit, I'm more concerned by the fact that Adrian Peterson was held to a whopping 43 yards on 23 carries and that Teddy Bridgewater didn't get it into the end zone either. You simply can't expect a kicker to score all the points for your team and this is what happens when you do. If anything, the real kudos goes to the Seahawks offense for waiting patiently and wearing down the Vikings D. They took advantage exactly when they needed to and it sent Minnesota packing in heartbreaking fashion. Hopefully Coach Zimmer and his team learn the big lesson from this game...adjust your game plan and find a way to get your playmakers going.

4. The Green Bay Packers finally awoke from their funk and surprised us all. After all they were down 11 points to nothing early on in the game against Washington and it seemed that was that and then something magical happened, they scored 17 points in the second quarter and never looked back. It was actually quite amazing to see this team go from shell shocked after a safety and touchdown to a well oiled machine. The defense stepped up and shut down Washington's offense when necessary and Aaron Rodgers was his old self, putting the ball where it needed to go in a game that I actually expected them to lose. I don't know what changed on that sideline, and I don't care, because it was great to see Green Bay back in the saddle again and if they keep playing like this, they're going to make the rest of the playoffs on the NFC side incredibly interesting.

Win or go home. I mentioned it in yesterday's Wild Card Weekend article because it's a mantra in the NFL that we hear week in and week out and it never truly takes on a stronger meaning until the playoffs arrive, because that's when perfect football truly matters. Play your game, the season continues, and anything less means you have lost your only shot a championship. That mantra gives the second day of Wild Card Weekend an intense and somber feel because two teams have already been sent on their merry way, and those that remain know what's at stake. That means today's slate of games will be nothing short of spectacular and here is who we think will advance to the Divisional Round as Wild Card Weekend comes to a close. 

Scotty's Take
Putting together a makeshift offense over the past month, the Seahawks have been flying to victory and Russell Wilson has proven that one player does not make the team when it is just that, a team.  Minnesota has played their hearts out this season and I am happy to see them make the playoffs.  The play of Teddy Bridgewater has been nothing short of great this year and with Adrian Peterson lining up behind him, it makes many defenses shudder.  This is the battle of two teams pretty much in the same boat, massive running games, mobile quarterbacks and receivers that fly down the field.  This game will actually come down to who can stop the running game first and no offense meant towards the Vikings D, but they seem to have a difficult time in doing this.
WINNER - Seattle

John's Take
It's rare that you get a set of evenly matched teams in the NFL, but that's exactly what we are looking at today with this game. The Vikings and Seahawks are both teams with top tier running games and scrambling quarterbacks complimented by stout defenses. It means that we can expect a game that starts out slow as both squads test one another's weaknesses and try to wear the other team down. Seattle of course has plenty of playoff experience which may work to their advantage, but I think the X factor in this game if you will...is Minnesota's fearlessness. It doesn't matter who they face and how good their opponent is, they approach every game with a chip on their shoulder and take every opportunity they can sucker punch their foe right in the mouth. It's that kind of mentality that will serve them well today and I get the feeling Minnesota will discover Seattle's weaknesses first and exploit it enough to get the win.
WINNER - Minnesota

Scotty's Take
Gosh, I really like the Packers and have always liked watching how hard they fight on the field over the years.  But there is something missing from this team which has been seen all season long.  The offense is not the caliber that they have been in the past four years and that is just from losing one receiver.  Aaron Rodgers will have a rough day if his line does not hold up against the stingy defense of the Redskins, and if his receivers do not get quick separation off the line, it is going to be a long day.  I have a hard time in understanding how the Redskins are underdogs at home for this game.  Have you watched one of their home games this season, they play like gods out there.  Kirk Cousins has been one of the top quarterbacks this season and his numbers at home rival the best quarterbacks in the game.  Now I know that it is the playoffs and different teams come out to play most of the time, but I dont see that happening during this one.  The Redskins have been able to plow their way through the opposition and now the league has to look out for a team that might be looking to pick up where they left off in the 80's, a powerhouse.
WINNER - Washington

John's Take
When Washington and Green Bay take the field today, we are looking at a tale of two vastly different teams. One of these squads is in decline, and their sub par play has cost them several games and there is doubt creeping into their minds. The other team firmly believes that they are unstoppable and it doesn't matter what the odds are, they can win and win big. Normally it would be easy to say that Washington is the team in decline and the Packers are the team full of swagger...but today is clearly opposite day because the Packers seem like a team that is confused and lost on the field and the Redskins have been absolutely magnificent down the stretch and I fully expect that Washington's attitude and flawless execution on the field is going to serve them well today and I think it won't take them long to rattle Green Bay and force costly mistakes out of them on their way to to the Divisional Round.
WINNER - Washington

There's an electricity in the air today when it comes to the National Football League. For after a grueling preseason/training camp and a thrilling regular season, the time has come at last to see which team will hoist the Lombardi Trophy and earn the title of Super Bowl Champions. That's right, the 2016 NFL Playoffs begin today, and while it will be a few weeks before Super Bowl 50, this weekend should serve up some thrilling games since it is win or go home and here are our thoughts on today's potential winners and losers for Day One of Wild Card Weekend.

Scotty's Take 
This has been a wild and crazy year for football and these two teams are proof of that.  Both coming out with extremely slow starts, they have both been able to find their grooves and make it to the playoffs.  I found out early in life never to count out one of Andy Reid's teams since he is always able to make them good regardless of what talent is on the roster, but now that he has a solid team, I don't know if anyone will be able to defeat them.  I have been down on the Texans all year, they were so hyped after Hard Knocks and could not bring anything to the field, but now with their fourth starting quarterback of the season, Brian Hoyer, they may have found someone to take them to the promised land.  Even though I think the Chiefs will win outright, I can see this game going down in the books as one of the finest games of the 2015-16 season. 
WINNER - Kansas City

John's Take
Perhaps the biggest surprise about this particular matchup is the fact that the Houston Texans made it into the tournament, and that they need to be taken seriously in this game today. Their defense is the stuff of nightmares for opposing quarterbacks and the Kansas City offensive line is going to have one hell of a time stopping the mighty and now healthy J.J. Watt from bringing down Alex Smith. But the Texans have more weapons on their squad beyond #99, QB Brian Hoyer is doing everything right at his position, managing the game and not turning over the ball and he has a seriously powerful weapon in WR DeAndre Hopkins. The Chiefs are no slouch either, winning a stellar ten games straight to earn this wild card berth, but I'm seriously wondering if they will be able to handle a Houston squad that is playing like it has nothing to lose. 
WINNER - Houston

Scotty's Take
I know that the Red Rocket is out for this game with a broken thumb, but I do not think that it is enough to count the Bengals out completely.  I watched as this team made a charge to beat the number one defense in the league this year and they were still kicking on all cylinders.  A.J. Green is a beast on the field and catches anything that is thrown to him and Tyler Eifert is back and healthy and when that happens, he rivals Gronk as one of the best tight ends in the game.  The Steelers are always hard to beat and with Big Ben at the helm, he has proven he can put his team on his back and carry them as far as they need, but with another big injury at the running back position, I dont think that Ben and Antonio Brown will be able to make the defense look as silly as they have with other teams.  The running game is very important in a game like this and if the Steelers cannot find another diamond in the rough, well, they will be packing and heading home early this year. 
WINNER - Cincinnati

John's Take
The Cincinnati Bengals have been an incredible story in the NFL this year. They went from mediocre team to NFL Elite, putting together a powerful winning streak before the Texans snapped it and even then, they still looked impressive and there's good news for fans about what kind of depth they have on the team since A.J. McCarron has turned out to be a serviceable option at quarterback behind an injured Andy Dalton. But sadly, I think their season ends as it always has, in bitter fashion with a one and done appearance in the playoffs because Pittsburgh has been absolutely phenomenal down the stretch of the season, carving up some of the league's top teams this year...including the Bengals. Playoff football is where the Steelers thrive and with all the smack talking and shade the Bengals have thrown Pittsburgh's way before this game...I'm expecting to see Big Ben and his squad handle it all on the field and head to the next round of the playoffs.
WINNER - Pittsburgh

It's going to be a strange day for every team around the NFL. Some players are heading in to their respective team facility to clean out their locker, reflect on a season gone wrong and say goodbye to their teammates until next year. A few more coaches will meet with executives and ownership to find out they no longer have a job and other players will wake up sore and smiling because their team has made it into the playoffs. Yes, this is life in the NFL after the regular season has come to its end, and Week 17 just so happened to finish in spectacular fashion with some fascinating storylines and here are the ones that caught our attention from the field on Sunday.

1. I am still in awe of the Broncos/Chargers game for so many reasons. For one, it was amazing to see Peyton Manning take the field and save the day after being injured and inactive for so many weeks. He may not have thrown for four touchdowns, but he didn't need to. The Chargers expected the pass and Gary Kubiak surprised them with the run and the rest is history. But my wonder and surprise goes beyond Manning's return, a lot of it stems from Coach Kubiak having the fortitude to pull Osweiler, who hopefully learned that he was benched not for performance, but for lack of leadership, and to bench Michael Schofield in the process as well. It shows how much the coach wanted this win and knew full well what was at stake for a team with so much promise. Either way, Kudos to Kubiak and congrats to the five time AFC West Division Champion Denver Broncos...who now own the #1 seed in the playoffs with home field advantage, thanks to some strange circumstances...

2. I have said it before, and I will definitely say it again, something is wrong with the New England Patriots. I get the decision by Coach Belichick to pull the starters in the final two minutes of a lost game to keep folks healthy, but in many ways it feels like the Patriots quit on their chance to gain home field advantage and quite frankly...how the hell did they lose this game to begin with? This is the Miami Dolphins we're talking about here ladies and gents, a team that fired their head coach early in the season and really hasn't improved much since that move...and they managed to beat the mighty Patriots who didn't seem that energetic on the field, and may be leaving this game with Tom Brady's ankle injured as well. Regardless, this whole game had a strange vibe to it and everything that played out seemed so out of character for New England. Either way, hopefully this loss gives the Pats time to regroup and figure out what's going on because if this same squad takes the field for the Divisional Round...they'll be one and done in the playoffs.

3. Congratulations to the Minnesota Vikings on earning the title of NFC North Division Champions and doing it in such impressive fashion by going into Lambeau Field and beating the Green Bay Packers. This is a tough place to play and the Vikings handled it with ease, and it's amazing how far this team has come. A few years ago this team was another one of those squads you simply wrote off at the start of the season and only tuned in because to watch Adrian Peterson break off a couple of massive runs before changing the channel to watch a more interesting game. Now here we are, tuning in to see that stout defense shut down quarterbacks and running backs and to watch Terry Bridgewater and AP pick defenses to pieces by land and air, and a lot of the credit needs to go Head Coach Mike Zimmer. It's a lovely sight to see, and you know the fans up there are soaking up the joy of a team that may go far in the playoffs.

4. I don't think any fan of the San Francisco 49ers feels any better about the franchise firing Jim Tomsula, because everyone knows he's taking the blame for Jed York and Trent Baalke's incompetence with the franchise as a whole since it's now common knowledge after the Harbaugh debacle that things behind the scenes are an absolute mess and the next coach that comes in gets to inherit more of that mess. They will be in charge of a lackluster defense devoid of leadership and top tier talent and they will have to pray that Jed and Trent find them a franchise quarterback or serviceable journeyman as quickly as possible. Hopefully they do, but considering the reputation that now precedes the team, attracting the players they need in free agency is going to be difficult and I feel bad for the next man selected to coach this storied franchise. 

5. I think it is finally safe to say that Johnny Manziel has come to the end of the road in Cleveland and man...is he going out with one embarrassing bang. First came reports of another partying/drinking video right after Week 16, followed by the news that he was entering concussion protocol a few days after the game, now I won't accuse him of lying about an injury because concussions are nothing to make light of, but the concussion protocol is relevant because Johnny was expected to show up and meet the medical staff at 9 a.m. Sunday morning. It was a meeting he didn't show up for and the team was unable to contact him as well, and that little nugget was followed by the report that Johnny was spotted in Las Vegas Saturday night working the tables and well after all is said and done, I hope it is clear to Jimmy Haslam and the next incoming regime that Johnny Football, isn't too interested in playing football, at least not for the Cleveland Browns, so I'm hoping once the new league year arrives...the Browns either cut this kid or trade him as soon as humanly possible and put an end to his disastrous time in Ohio.