It’s time for the playoffs once again! Here are my quick predictions on today’s games.
The Chiefs beat the Texans in Week 1.
KANSAS CITY (5) VS HOUSTON (4)
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Houston Texans in Week 1 of the NFL season. The two teams are very different entering their matchup on Saturday. The Chiefs are riding this amazing winning streak, having won their last 10 games. The offense isn’t mind blowing but the team is not making mistakes and that comes from the leadership of Alex Smith. The offense isn’t making big plays but are consistently moving up and down the field. This is the time for the receivers to step up big time.
Houston however could spoil all of that with their strong defense. Once again, the attention will be on J.J. Watt and to see how much pressure he can put on the offensive line. That should focus the attention of the game to Brian Hoyer and how he can run the Texans offense. The running game will be huge for the Texans but look for DeAndre Hopkins to be a huge factor in the passing game for Houston.
This game will be a low-scoring game that may come down to which offense can make that one big play that opens up the game. I think Jeremy Maclin will be the difference for the Chiefs offense.
CHIEFS WIN 17-13
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The two teams split their two meetings in 2015.
PITTSBURGH (6) VS CINCINNATI (3)
Pittsburgh is looking real strong right now. Antonio Brown is an MVP candidate and Ben Roethlisberger looks to be poised for a big playoff run. The running game has been great but the absence of DeAngelo Williams could make this a pass-heavy attack. I like the potential that Markus Wheaton brings to the offense and he might be the X-factor in the game.
For the Bengals, A.J. McCarron will get the start. He has been playing well enough in the past month and the team hopes he can do just that with Andy Dalton out. This will put a lot of pressure on A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert to be a big presence in the game for the Bengals. With McCarron starting, expect the dosage of plays to Jeremy Hill to come early and often.
Both defenses will be the difference in the game. With possibly an uncertain situation at quarterback for Cincinnati and Roethlisberger who is wont to throw interceptions every now and then, the secondary will set the tone for the game and that could be what propels one of these teams to the top.
The experience with the Steelers will be the deciding factor in the game, giving the Steelers the moxy to get past the Bengals.
STEELERS WIN 27-17
But at the end of the day... 