2016 NFL Wild Card Predictions

Here are my picks for Wild Card weekend of the 2016 NFL Playoffs.

Saturday, January 9th
(A5) Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) vs (A4) Houston Texans (9-7)- 4:35, ESPN/ABC: It's amazing that these two teams made the playoffs after Kansas City started 1-5 only to win ten straight to earn a Wild Card berth and Houston started 2-5 only to win seven of their final nine games to win the AFC South. This should be a low scoring, defensive type of game, but give me Alex Smith and the Chiefs to win their eleventh straight game to advance to the division round.
Prediction: Kansas City 21, Houston 17.

(A6) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6) vs (A3) Cincinnati Bengals (12-4)- 8:15, CBS: Two division rivals facing off in a playoff game is always fun. Pittsburgh needed help to make the playoffs with winning last week in Cleveland and the Jets losing in Buffalo (as I predicted). Andy Dalton likely won't be starting this weekend do to his broken thumb, so AJ McCarron will probably get the nod. Whether Dalton plays or not, it doesn't change my pick for this contest. The Steelers and Ben Rothlisberger love to thrive in these types of games and something tells me that they'll get the win on the road and if especially Dalton plays, questions will arise about Marvin Lewis's job and the teams reputation will head in the wrong direction.
Prediction: Pittsburgh 27, Cincinnati 20.

Sunday January 10th
(N6) Seattle Seahawks (10-6) vs (N3) Minnesota Vikings (11-5)- 1:05, NBC: It's awfully rare to see NBC get a 1:00 Sunday afternoon game, let alone an afternoon playoff game since CBS usually gets this slot, but here we are. Seattle has been inconsistent for most of the season, but has won six of their final seven games to clinch a Wild Card berth. Minnesota made a statement in Lambeau last week by clinching the NFC North, but they did come close to blowing the game. This was a tough one to pick, but something tells me Russell Wilson outplays Teddy Bridgewater and the Seahawks are the team that ends up in the divisional round for the fourth season in a row.
Prediction: Seattle 27, Minnesota 23.

(N5) Green Bay Packers (10-6) vs (N4) Washington Redskins (9-7)- 4:40, FOX: This is perhaps the most fascinating game of the first round. Green Bay started 6-0, but ended up going 4-6 in their final ten games and stumbled into a Wild Card spot. Washington was perhaps the biggest surprise in the league this season and wound up winning a wide open NFC East by winning six of their final nine games. Aaron Rodgers is the better quarterback and the Redskins are the hotter and arguably the better team here. Give me Kirk Cousins and the Skins to win this one.
Prediction: Washington 30, Green Bay 24.