The Wild Card Weekend in the NFL passed without any real surprises, as all the favorites won and moved on to the Divisional Round. This is where things start to really get interesting, with 4 games that really could go any way this weekend. That said, there are a couple of the games that seem more suited to an upset than the others, but we are going to take a look at all 4, just in case. I am going to talk about these games in order, with the most likely upset listed first, all the way down to the game that seems the safest bet.
Here’s A Closer Look At The NFL Divisional Round Upset Picks
Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons (-5)
The Atlanta Falcons are in possession of the best offense in the league, but there are still some question marks about their ability on the defensive side of the ball. The defensive unit got a little better in the final few weeks of the season, but that tended to be against some of the worst teams the league has to offer. The Seahawks defense can shut down the best of them, and Seattle already has a win over Atlanta this season, albeit in their own building. I think the Seahawks can steal this one, but even if they don’t, they certainly have the ability to cover the spread.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs (-1.5)
These two teams met earlier in the year, with the Steelers laying an absolute pounding on the visiting Chiefs. Things figure to be a little trickier for Pittsburgh at Arrowhead Stadium, but this is a team that is on a roll right now, winning 8 games in a row. The Chiefs will win this if they can slow down LeVeon Bell, but that appears to be a task that is easier said than done. Bell played in his first ever playoff game last weekend, and broke Franco Harris’ long-standing postseason rushing record.
Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys (-4.5)
This upset would have been a little higher on the probability scale if I knew the status of Jordy Nelson. The Packers offense is very good, but it loses a lot with Nelson out of the line-up. I think he will gut it out and try to make a go of it, but with a pair of fractured ribs, he is likely to be used as nothing more than a decoy. The other concern here is how Dak Prescott will do in his first playoff game. Will he remain cool, or will that added pressure get to him a little?
Houston Texans at New England Patriots (-15)
I just don’t see any scenario in which the Texans go into New England and come away with the win. Tom Brady is playing at an MVP level once again this season, while the Texans are going to be forced to go with a QB that they benched just a couple of weeks ago. The best chance of an upset here comes with the point spread, but that will only happen if Brock Osweiler can extend a few Texans drives.
