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NFL Picks: 2016 AFC Playoff Predictions – Chiefs, Patriots, Broncos, Steelers
The AFC playoff bracket appears on its face to offer the more difficult matchups to predict. In the Wild Card Round, both road teams are surging. The Kansas City Chiefs are the hottest team in football, while the Houston Texans barely squeaked into the playoffs. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a high-powered offense that surprisingly found enough success to cancel out a horrible defense, making them one of the most volatile teams around. Meanwhile, the three favorites all have injury issues, with the Cincinnati Bengals losing Andy Dalton to a broken finger, the New England Patriots losing a handful of key starters, and the Denver Broncos finding a way to earn the top seed without Peyton Manning for most of the season.
Can you bet against the New England Patriots in the NFL Playoffs? Does Peyton Manning have enough in the tank for this incredible defense to carry the Denver Broncos to another Super Bowl? Can anyone stop the Kansas City Chiefs? Here is my bracket for the AFC in the 2016 NFL Playoffs.
AFC Wild Card Round:
Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans
Home field is crucial in the playoffs and the Houston Texans have earned the right to host an opening round game despite a mediocre season. At 9-7, the Texans had to surge down the stretch to hold off the Indianapolis Colts and even the Jacksonville Jaguars. Simply put, the Houston Texans are not a good team and do not have the playoff leadership or experience to compete here. They lack consistent quarterback play and will not move the ball against this Kansas City Chiefs defense.
Alex Smith must be smiling as the San Francisco 49ers have unraveled without him. The Kansas City Chiefs are the hottest team in the AFC despite losing their best offensive weapon in Jamaal Charles. They have a confident decision-maker in Smith who will win games by not turning the ball over. The offense is balanced now that Smith has legitimate receivers, and the defense is certainly strong enough to shut down this mediocre Houston Texans offense. Even on the road, I like the Chiefs here.
Chiefs XX – Texans XX => Unlock prediction with $7 trial
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals
In what will surely be an intense divisional rivalry game, there are a lot of question marks in this match up. The Cincinnati Bengals lost their starting quarterback down the stretch to a finger injury, finishing third in the AFC. Obviously, the big issue in this one is whether the Bengals can win without Andy Dalton at 100%.
For me, Andy Dalton is a tremendous liability even when his finger isn’t broken. His backup is not playoff caliber. I do not trust this Pittsburgh Steelers defense at all, but even without Le’veon Bell, the Steelers offense has been nearly unstoppable. They can still run the ball, and Ben Roethlisberger has three talented wide receivers. I think the Steelers score enough to win on the road here despite their marked inconsistency this season.
Steelers XX – Bengals XX
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AFC Divisional Round
Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots
I want to pick the Chiefs here if the Steelers can pull off the upset and I certainly think Kansas City will keep this one close, but the New England Patriots will have a week to get healthy and resolve their struggles down the stretch. For me, I just can’t pick against Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in the playoffs after a bye.
While I respect the Kansas City Chiefs and what they’ve done this season, I don’t see them moving the ball effectively here. I’ve got the Patriots winning a close one.
Patriots XX – Chiefs XX
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Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos defense might be the only bunch in the NFL that can shut down the Steelers offense. More importantly, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense is among the few defenses that I think Peyton Manning and his depleted arm strength will still be able to pick apart. The Steelers are incredibly volatile and I think that makes them dangerous, but I don’t see them getting past the Broncos here.
Denver should be able to completely control the game here and move the ball effectively on the ground. Again, despite their struggles, the top seed should cruise here against a Steelers defense with obvious holes.
Broncos XX – Steelers XX
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AFC Championship
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos
I do this to myself every year, but the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots are the two best teams in the AFC right now. Peyton Manning may not have much left in the tank, but the Denver Broncos defense is impressive. Tom Brady may not have a full repertoire of weapons around him, but few teams are as ready to win in January as the New England Patriots.
A depleted Peyton Manning at home might just have enough to take out a depleted New England Patriots team that stumbled down the stretch. At home, Manning will have the edge he needs to sneak back into the Super Bowl for his chance to ride off into the sunset. I’m on the Denver Broncos again this year, but it won’t be easy.
Broncos XX – Patriots XX
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Win Big in 2016!
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