Home teams get the nod in NFL this weekend
For the first time since the current playoff format was implemented in 1990, all four home teams lost last weekend in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs.
But all four were underdogs, which won't be the case this week in the divisional round.
All four home teams are favored this weekend.
Saturday
Chiefs (12-5) at Patriots (12-4), CBS 3:35 p.m.
Line: Patriots by 5
By the numbers: The Chiefs, who lost at home to the Bears 18-17 in Week 5, started 1-5 but have won 11 straight, the NFL's longest winning streak. During the streak, the Chiefs have won by an average score of 28-12. … Patriots are No. 3 in scoring; Chiefs are No. 3 in fewest points allowed.
Players to watch: Patriots WR Julian Edelman (fractured foot) is expected back for the first time since Week 10. … Chiefs WR Jeremy Maclin suffered a sprained ankle last week and won't be fully healthy. … Chiefs rookie CB Marcus Peters tied for the NFL lead with 8 interceptions, led the league with 280 interception-return yards and had 26 pass breakups.
Local connections: Patriots backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who threw just 4 passes in the regular season, played at EIU after graduating from Rolling Meadows High School … Patriots DE Rob Ninkovich (Lincoln Way Central H.S.) has started 90 straight games and has 37 sacks in the past five seasons. … Chiefs WR Jason Avant (Chicago Carver H.S.) and OG Jeff Allen (Chicago King H.S.).
The pick: Patriots 24, Chiefs 13
Packers (11-6) at Cardinals (13-3), NBC 7:15 p.m.
Line: Cardinals by 7
By the numbers: Packers allowed 13 sacks in final two regular-season games but just 1 last week. … The Cardinals destroyed the Packers 38-8 just three weeks ago, also at home, sacking QB Aaron Rodgers nine times as the Packers managed just 178 yards of total offense. … Cardinals rookie RB David Johnson has 13 touchdowns. … Cardinals WR's Larry Fitzgerald (1,215), John Brown (1,003) and Michael Floyd (849) combined for 3,067 receiving yards.
Players to watch: Cardinals 36-year-old QB Carson Palmer (35 TD passes, 4,671 passing yards) has a career record of 0-2 in the postseason. … Packers CB Sam Shields (concussion) is expected to return for the first time in a month. OLT David Bakhtiari (ankle), out since Dec. 20, practiced this week but was limited.
Local connections: Cardinals coach Bruce Arians interviewed for the Bears' head-coaching job in 2013 that went to Marc Trestman. … Packers OLB Julius Peppers (team-high 10½ sacks) had 37½ sacks in four years with the Bears (2010-13). ORT Bryan Bulaga (Marian Central Catholic H.S.), backup QB Scott Tolzien (Fremd H.S.)
The pick: Cardinals 27, Packers 16
Sunday
Seahawks (11-6) at Panthers (15-1), FOX 12:05 p.m.
Line: Panthers by 2½
By the numbers: The Panthers defeated the Seahawks 27-23 in Seattle in Week 6. Though both teams have elite defenses, the Panthers were No. 1 in scoring, and the Seahawks tied for fourth.
Players to watch: Panthers QB Cam Newton (35 TD passes, 3,837 yards) is being talked about as MVP favorite. But Seahawks QB Russell Wilson (34 TD passes, 4,024 yards) has a higher passer rating (110.1-99.4), better completion percentage (68.1-59.8) and more yards per pass (8.33-7.75).
Local connections: Panthers head coach Ron Rivera played nine seasons as a LB for the Bears (1984-92), including Super Bowl XX, and he was the defensive coordinator on the Bears' 2006 Super Bowl XLI team. … Panthers No. 1 receiver, TE Greg Olson (77 catches, 1,104 yards) was the Bears' first-round draft pick in 2007 but traded to the Panthers before the 2011 season for a third-rounder. … Panthers DE Jared Allen was acquired in a trade with the Bears on Sept. 28. … Injured Panthers CB Charles Tillman was with the Bears for 12 seasons. … Seahawks DE Michael Bennett, who led the team with 10 sacks, is the brother of Bears TE Martellus Bennett.
The pick: Panthers 20, Seahawks 16
Steelers (11-6) at Broncos (12-4), CBS 3:40 p.m.
Line: Broncos by 7
By the numbers: The Steelers defeated the Broncos 34-27 in Week 15, scoring the most points and gaining the most yardage (377) against the Broncos all season. But the Steelers had just 23 yards on the ground. … Broncos defense was No. 1 in total yards, passing yards, average gain per pass and average gain per run allowed and in sack percentage.
Players to watch: Broncos QB Peyton Manning (foot) starts for the first time since Week 10. … Steelers QB Ben Roethslisberger (sprained AC joint, torn shoulder ligaments) will be far from 100 percent, if he even plays. WR Antonio Brown, (136 catches, 1,834 yards) suffered a concussion last week and is day to day. Brown had 189 of the Steelers' 380 receiving yards in the Week 15 victory over the Broncos and has been their leading receiver in each of the past six games.
Local connections: Steelers No. 2 TE Matt Spaeth was with Bears in 2011 and 2012, catching 13 passes for 78 yards and 3 TDs. … Broncos rookie No. 3 QB Trevor Siemian was a three-year starter at Northwestern. Backup TE Owen Daniels (Naperville Central H.S.) had 46 receptions for 517 yards.
The pick: Broncos 20, Steelers 9
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