The NFL Roundup: Divisional Round - Day One

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.

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AFC DIVISIONAL MATCHUP
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

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

NFC DIVISIONAL MATCHUP
GREEN BAY PACKERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS

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