Looking ahead to the NFL’s divisional playoffs

James Jones ($4600) is a very tempting option as Aaron Rodgers’ go-to-guy right now, but we could see the Cardinals’ sick shutdown CB Patrick Peterson on Jones, which would force Rodgers to look elsewhere.

There is usually a weak link or two among the conference champs, and with both the Houston Texans and Washington Redskins barely over. Green Bay was dominated in every facet of the game, leading both teams to play backups late in the game just to avoid injuries. The Chiefs have won 11 straight games and are the hottest team in the NFL.

So what’s next? The top two seeds in each division will return to play this weekend, challenging the teams that survived elimination this weekend. This is the real meat of the playoffs, and things are going to get much more intense moving forward. Arizona will be coming off a bye in the first round of the playoffs and will be well rested.

All times are Mile High (MT). Excuse me, completely destroying the Texans, 30-0.

The NFL hasn’t had a back-to-back Super Bowl victor since the 2003 and 2004 New England Patriots.

New England’s attack has long centered around quarterback Tom Brady’s passing prowess.

(5) Green Bay Packers @ (2) Arizona Cardinals: Less than three weeks ago (Week 15) Green Bay traveled to Arizona in what was anticipated to be a high profile game, only to get blasted by the Cardinals 38-8. That was a 41-14 Patriots loss on “Monday Night Football” in Week 4 last season, which dropped the Patriots to 2-2.

Floyd appeared to be more of a decoy than a true threat in the Cardinals’ regular season finale, as he caught just one of four targets for 16 yards, despite playing on 76 percent of Arizona’s offensive snaps.

This game could come down to the wire, but in the end the Panthers’ good fortune will continue, and they will make it to the NFC Championship Game. To advance to the NFC championship game, they’ll have to beat the team that has won the last two NFC championships. These two teams played in Week 15 in Pittsburgh, with the Steelers outlasting a Peyton Manning-less Broncos team 34-27.

It is hard to write a better script than that.

The Broncos will have a different quarterback. Denver had one of the best units in the league, and anything less than the veteran quarterback’s best probably won’t be enough to pull off the upset.

But we don’t get to make money off him anymore either.

While Cam Newton vs. Carson Palmer isn’t exactly Brady-Manning in terms of historical significance, it does carry incredible weight this season and should be just as intriguing a game. But the diversity that helped spur the 2014 Patriots to the Super Bowl hasn’t been there so far this season with the punishing LeGarrette Blount and versatile Dion Lewis landing on injured reserve.

This was the result we all had in our heads before the season started wasn’t it? He’s averaging only 0.12 points per drive more than Osweiler this season.