The NFL season has reached the Divisional Round of the playoffs and on Saturday night we have got two cracking matches to look forward to. All four sides in action will know they are three wins from glory so the stakes are high now.
We get underway in Foxboro as the New England Patriots take on the Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots secured the number two seeding by cruising their AFC East division and with that had last week off.
The Chiefs had to play last week and were on the road but such was their dominance of a woeful Houston they were able to rest their starters in the fourth quarter and in truth they never had to get out of second gear after half time so how much that took out of them remains to be seen.
All eyes will be on the offense of the Patriots here. They have struggled with injuries all season long but the signs are the week off has allowed enough playmakers to recover to give Tom Brady some solid weapons to go into this match. Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman will need big games.
Kansas City are waiting to see how fit Jeremy Maclin is but however fit he is they have weapons in other areas. They are good on special teams and have a defence that can keep New England honest. Alex Smith has a nice rhythm about him now and any time that a side have won 11 on the bounce they are going to be confident.
I’m not actually sure who I think will win this match but I do think it will be close with probably a field goal in it either way. I do often side for sides who don’t have the week off in these matches but I can’t take on the Patriots in full so I’ll take the Chiefs with the cap here. They have all the momentum and while the Patriots are well rested sometimes it isn’t easy to pick up the form again.
Whoever wins I think it will be close so the Chiefs getting a 5.5 start is enough for me in this opening game of the weekend.
The late game on Saturday could be a real great game as the Arizona Cardinals take on the Green Bay Packers. These two sides met as recently as week 16 and the Packers were annihilated.
Arizona’s pass rush went sack crazy and Green Bay couldn’t establish any sort of run game and they were well done over. That will add an extra pep to their locker room ahead of this game but matches aren’t won in there, they are won on the field so they will need to have improved immeasurably to compete here.
I’ve no idea who will win the SuperBowl from this position but I’d wager the Cardinals won’t be far away when the rings are handed out. They look such a well balanced side with a solid quarterback who has a variety of options to pass to and a couple of running backs who churn out significant yards at the right time.
They get to any quarterback and also have enough quality in their corners to keep quarterbacks quiet when they don’t get to him so they have everything needed for a real tilt at the Championship.
Like with Brady, I’m reluctant to take on Aaron Rodgers because he’s a special quarterback but Davante Adams is out for this game and James Jones has gone quiet at the wrong time so whether the weapons are there for Rodgers to get it done here I have my doubts.
A touchdown is often a lot to cover in the playoffs but this one does have the potential to be a mismatch especially if Arizona get ahead and completely take the run out of Rodgers’ hands. I’ll take the home side to cover that here.
Back Kansas City Chiefs (+5.5) to beat New England Patriots for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Back Arizona Cardinals (-7) to beat Green Bay Packers for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Betway
