ESPN Kicks Off NFL Wild Card Weekend Today

Houston lost in the divisional round each time. The Seattle Seahawks have the best odds to come out with a victory against the underdog Minnesota Vikings, but the game is in Minnesota, and cold temperatures could even the playing field for the home team. Vontaze Burfict had three personal-foul infractions in that game. That is relevant here, because the Chiefs began the season in a funk, losing their next five games in a row. Kansas City is the better team. The Chiefs have lost their past eight playoff games but have had the inferior QB in all of them. The Chiefs are going to win their playoff opener, but let’s not crown them just yet. He performed okay in a 20-17 loss to Denver, the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

– The Bengals are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as underdogs. And while they don’t have an explosive offense, they do have explosive talent on defense, starting with Justin Houston and Eric Berry.

Pitt is third in the league in total offense (395.4 yards) and passing offense (287.7). With Cincy being the league’s third-best team in terms of turnover margin, taking care of the ball will be essential if they are to have a chance against Pittsburgh.

Coach Mike Tomlin has led Pitt to two Super Bowls and won one (2008).

A year ago on wild-card weekend I made the mistake of underestimating how much Le’Veon Bell’s injury would affect the Steelers.

Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) at Cincinnati Bengals: I’ll never be able to get over how Marvin Lewis is 0-6 in the playoffs and still has a job. They still possess more overall talent then Houston, though, and have allowed just 12.8 points per game during their 10-game winning streak.

Bengals (+3) over Steelers: We’re focusing on the wrong injury in this game.

The Bengals have a very good defense but is it a match for a better Pittsburgh offense? Minnesota heads into the postseason on a three-game winning streak, while Seattle has only been tagged with one loss in its last seven games.

Surprisingly, Washington was one of the league’s best home teams with a 6-2 record, and even as they didn’t fare well against winning squads, this will be the franchise’s first playoff home game in 3 years, and so a packed stadium should be expected. But look who they beat: Each of the other cupcakes in the AFC South. But they did limit the Titans, Jaguars and Colts to a total of 22 points. While the Vikings have had a pretty impressive defense over the last quarter of the season, the Seahawks are going to obliterate that. While it is not an ideal matchup, Maclin’s consistency, particularly in DFS PPR formats, makes him a solid play in tournament games at a FanDuel price tag of $7,200 where players may opt for the perceived higher ceiling options of Doug Baldwin or Martavis Bryant in the same price range. “We’re trying to get this win as badly as they are”.

The Chiefs have been very good offensively but they will face a top defensive unit in Houston led by J.J. Watt. It’s going to be at least zero degrees and if the wind starts blowing, the misery index only skyrockets. Granted, the 1 point line between the Packers and Redskins is moving and is now being batted back and forth like a beach ball at a Nickleback concert, yet as it stands, all road teams are entering the weekend as Vegas’ favorites to advance.

The Seahawks are the two-time defending NFC champions who were one play away last February from back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

The smallest home dogs are the Washington Redskins, who actually opened as 1.5-point chalk for the contest but have subsequently been bet down to 1-point underdogs at the sportsbooks.

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, selected to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time, is having his worst year under center since he became the starter in 2008. He grabbed a combined for 183 catches and 21 TDs the last two seasons.

Key Matchups: Green Bay’s sputtering offense against a mediocre, but improving defense; Cousins versus the Packers’ so-so secondary.

GREEN BAY -1, over Washington. Additionally, he has 25 TDs since Week 11. Does Rodgers turn it on from his wealth of experience while Cousins feels the pressure of the postseason?