Divisional weekend of the playoffs has arrived! Here are a few things to note for each game.
New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks (Saturday at 4:35pm EST, FOX)
The Saints are hoping the second verse is not the same as the first. The Saints played a Monday nighter in Seattle earlier this season and were pounded in a 34-7 loss. This seems like an easy out: the Saints are notoriously bad on the road; the Seahawks are notoriously unbeatable at home. However, it’s the playoffs: notoriously unpredictable.
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots (Saturday at 8:15pm EST, CBS)
Here’s a word to the wise: don’t turn this game off, no matter what the score is. In Week 12, the Patriots overcame a 24-point deficit to beat the Broncos. Last weekend, the Colts overcame a 28-point deficit to beat the Chiefs. So no matter what the scoreboard says, watch this one until the clock reads zero.
San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers (Sunday at 1:05pm EST, FOX)
The 49ers are one heck of a road team. But traveling to the east coast for an early game after playing in the arctic in a late game in Green Bay last weekend at the end of an already long season seems like a significant challenge. Both quarterbacks can run, both defenses are no joke. This should be a tough win for either team.
San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos (Sunday at 4:40pm EST, CBS)
If you’ve listened to any sports analysts over the past week you’ve probably heard that this game is an upset waiting to happen. I think that’s a little overstated; this is the same San Diego team that had a hard time beating the Chiefs second string all of two weeks ago. However, 6th seeds have done notoriously well in the playoffs in recent years. The Chargers do have all the makings of a miracle run, but the Broncos have Peyton Manning. I wouldn’t count him out just yet, regardless of his less-than-stellar playoff persona.