This past weekend, the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs began featuring some likely candidates to win the Super Bowl. The first of the 4 games that took place was between the New England Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots are a playoff team; they have been to the playoffs 13 out of 15 seasons and have won 6 AFC Championship games. The Kansas City Chiefs have been to the playoffs 5 out of the last 15 seasons, losing every Wild Card game except this year when they were matched up against the Houston Texans and won by a score of 30-0.
The next game featured the NFC 2nd seeded Arizona Cardinals hosting the Green Bay Packers. This game was a memorable one for the Arizona Cardinals, as they ended up winning the game in overtime, after Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers chucked a miracle to the end zone and the ball was received by Jeff Janis, who somehow caught the ball to send the game into overtime. The Cardinals received the overtime kickoff and drove right down the field. The drive was capped off by a pitch and catch from Carson Palmer to Larry Fitzgerald to seal the Game.
The Sunday playoff games began with the number 1 overall seed, Carolina Panthers, playing host to the Seattle Seahawks. This game started fast and ended slow for the Panthers, as they not only showed an impressive offense, but an outstanding defense as well. The Panthers blew past the Seahawks in the first half of play when they piled up 31 points and the Seahawks were left out with no points. The second half was a different one for the Seahawks, they put up a vicious comeback, scoring 24 unanswered points, but the Panthers defense proved too much for Russell Wilson’s crew, as they ran out the clock to seal the game.
The final game featured a matchup of legendary quarterbacks, Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos and Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers. This game was a slow, “field goal game,” as many would say. The Steelers closed out the first half, leading by a score of 10-9. The second half amped up fast, the Steelers and Broncos both traded field goals, and then Peyton Manning led his team down the field adding 2 more finishing touchdowns, late in the game.
Next week is championship Sunday and will showcase Manning vs. Brady XVII, as it is the 17th meeting between the two and only one can lead his team to the big game. Carson Palmer will have to take on a defense, who dominated everyone who they played, and will hope to drive his team to another Super Bowl.