It feels like the 2015 NFL season began just a short time ago, but the Divisional Round of the playoffs is this weekend. The field of Super Bowl contenders has been whittled down to eight and those teams will vie for a spot in their respective conference championships when the games get underway this weekend. Most NFL fans will watch at least most of all four matchups, but how do the games rank by watchability?
RANKING THE 2015 NFL DIVISION ROUND GAMES BY WATCHABILITY
4. PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT DENVER BRONCOS
Sunday, Jan. 17 at 4:40 PM ET on CBS
I would have probably ranked this game higher, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are missing running backs DeAngelo Williams and Le’Veon Bell (was previously placed on season ending IR) and possibly wide receiver Antonio Brown (the best wide receiver in the NFL) as well. In addition, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is dealing with a hurt shoulder and it remains to be seen just how effective he will be on Sunday.
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning missed time this season with a foot injury and he came off the bench in Week 17 to replace Brock Osweiler. Head coach Gary Kubiak then named Manning the starter for the Broncos Divisional Round game. But, just like with Big Ben, it remains to be seen just how effective the former Tennessee Volunteer will be.
If both teams were at full strength this would have had a great chance to be a hell of a game. It will still be fun to see if Steelers running backs Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman can continue to help Pittsburgh on offense, but no Bell, Williams, or Brown (possibly), a hurt Big Ben and a recovering Peyton Manning means this game could be a lot less exciting.
3. GREEN BAY PACKERS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS
Saturday, Jan. 16 at 8:15 PM ET on NBC
This game has the potential to be really exciting, but I’m not sure it will be. Coming into the playoffs I didn’t give the Green Bay Packers a realistic shot at making it to the Super Bowl. I actually thought quarterback Aaron Rodgers and company would lose on the road to the Washington Redskins, but after a slow start, Mike McCarthy’s team took it to Jay Gruden’s and easily won the game. It’s possibly Green Bay finally found its groove on offense, but their performance in the Wild Card round is probably more of a function of a great quarterback, in Rodgers, going up against a really weak defense.
The Arizona Cardinals defense is exponentially better than is the Redskins and their offense is pretty darn good too. For my money, the Cardinals are the best team in the NFC and probably in the league. If quarterback Carson Palmer and the rest of the offense play like they are capable, and don’t turn the ball over, and their defense does what they do, it could potentially be a long day for the Packers. I couldn’t rank this game fourth because there are just too many injuries to key players in the Steelers and Broncos game. But a game that has the potential to get out of hand, as this one does, can’t be ranked higher than third.
2. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Saturday, Jan. 16 at 4:35 PM ET on CBS
The New England Patriots have been dealing with injuries all season, including to wide receiver Julian Edelman, who missed extended time. The talented receiver might be able to go on Saturday, but even if he can, how much of a contributor he’ll be remains to be seen. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has been battling an ankle injury this week and now it’s being reported that defensive end Chandler Jones was hospitalized after overdosing on pills. New England will not be at full strength, and they have had issues on the offensive line all season, and it will be entertaining to see if the Kansas City Chief’s defensive front can get after Brady. And seeing if the Patriots’ signal caller and Bill Belichick can get to yet another AFC Championship game (and possibly Super Bowl) is compelling, whether you love or loathe the Pats.
The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t exactly a team filled with superstars, but they have won 11 games in a row so they are doing something right. It will be interesting to see if Andy Reid’s team can continue to take care of the football, or if the Patriots can force some turnovers. Kansas City is dealing with an injury to a crucial player as well. Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin suffered a high ankle sprain in the Wild Card round and his status for Saturday’s game is in doubt.
I think this has a chance to be a really close game, even though it’s a rematch of last season’s regular contest when the Chiefs trounced the Patriots. And fans love to either root for or against the Patriots, which automatically makes the game watchable. I almost ranked it number one, but injuries and the game I ranked number one looking so darn exciting made me keep it at number two.
1. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS
Sunday, Jan. 17 at 1:05 PM ET on FOX
If your team is no longer in the playoffs, or didn’t make it into the postseason, this has to be the most exciting game for you this weekend. It features two dual threat quarterbacks, Russell Wilson for the Seattle Seahawks and Cam Newton for the Carolina Panthers, who have proven this season that they can make exciting plays. Both of these teams have quality defenses too, which usually means points could come at a premium. But both teams are ranked in the top five in scoring and it will be wildly entertaining to see if either team’s offense or defense can be dominant on Sunday.
Both coaches, Pete Carroll and Ron Rivera, are not afraid to make gutsy calls which could lead to some quality entertainment. If you want to see an onside kick (other than when it completely necessary), or a team go for it on fourth down at a crucial point in the game, this is the game for you. It has a chance to be the closest of all four Divisional Round games; the regular season matchup between these two teams earlier this season was won by the Panthers 27-23. And an NFL playoff game that comes down to the wire, as this one could, is pure excitement.
