Binge Sports: NFL Playoffs-The Divisional Round (FAN VOTE!!!)

Welcome back to Binge Sports and our continuing coverage of the NFL Playoffs. Outside of the Dallas/Detroit game, Wild Card Weekend wasn’t quite as exciting as I expected it to be, but hey, what are you gonna do? But look at the match-ups we’ve got this weekend. Iconic franchises and future Hall-of-Famers are everywhere on Saturday and Sunday. As I did last weekend, I’ll give you the teams, how they got here, when the game is, the betting line (at least as it is when I write this), and a quick breakdown. I’ll also show you how you did in the voting last week and of course, I’ll give you another chance to vote on this week’s winners. So let’s not waste any more time. Let’s make Jack happy and lead off with the first game on Saturday….

(6)BALTIMORE RAVENS (10-6, 3rd in AFC North)

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(1)NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (12-4, won AFC East)

When: Saturday, January 10th, 2015-4:35E/3:35C-NBC

WC Weekend: New England-bye, Baltimore-def. Pittsburgh 30-17 (9% voted correctly)

Current Line: New England favored by 7

Why You Should Watch: Because the Ravens can actually win this game. They went on the road and beat a Steelers team that had been a role and did it fairly easily. That gave the franchise ten road victories in the playoffs, tying them with Green Bay for the most in NFL history. What makes that even more impressive is that they’ve only been in existence since 1996. One of those wins happened in Foxboro only two years ago in the AFC Championship game. But the Patriots are well rested and one of the hottest teams in the league. They won ten of their last twelve, but that includes resting their starters in the season finale against Buffalo. Both teams know what it takes to win these big games and this is a nice start to the weekend.

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(4)CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-8-1, won NFC South)

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(1)SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (12-4, won NFC West)

When: Saturday, January 10th, 2015-8:15E/7:15C-FOX

WC Weekend: Seattle-bye, Carolina-def. Arizona 27-16 (80% voted correctly)

Current Line: Seattle favored by 11

Why You Should Watch: Because both of these teams have exciting, mobile quarterbacks, good defense, and both are on a hot streak. Carolina comes in having won five in a row and are only allowing about twelve points per game during that stretch. Not to be outdone, the Seahawks enter this game having won six in a row and have only allowed 6.5 points per game during their stretch. Seattle also has the advantage of playing at home. “The 12th Man” should be rocking on Saturday night. The defending champions have only lost two games at home over the past two years and come in as a pretty heavy favorite in this game.

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(3)DALLAS COWBOYS (12-4, won NFC East)

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(2)GREEN BAY PACKERS (12-4, won NFC North)

When: Sunday, January 11th, 2015-1:05E/12:05C-FOX

WC Weekend: Green Bay-bye, Dallas-def. Detroit 24-20 (78% voted correctly)

Current Line: Green Bay favored by 6.5

Why You Should Watch: Because it’s the Cowboys and the Packers. Two of the most iconic franchises in sports renew their rivalry in the opening game on Sunday afternoon. It won’t exactly be “The Ice Bowl”, but it’s going to be cold in Green Bay at game time, topping out in the high teens. But this is one hot match-up. The Packers had last week off and that should benefit Aaron Rodgers, who had some time to recover from the nagging calf injury. The Cowboys come in after a hell of a game against the Lions and will have to adjust to the weather. And in a situation we don’t see very often, the Packers are 8-0 at Lambeau this year, but Dallas was 8-0 on the road. Expect another classic.

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(4)INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (11-5, won AFC South)

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(2)DENVER BRONCOS (12-4, won AFC West)

When: Sunday, January 11th, 2015-4:40E/3:40C-CBS

WC Weekend: Denver-bye, Indianapolis-def. Cincinnati 26-10 (89% voted correctly)

Current Line: Denver favored by 7

Why You Should Watch: The storyline is pretty easy here. It’s Peyton Manning playing his old team and their new golden boy, Andrew Luck. And Luck looked very good once again in their defeat of the Bengals last weekend. There’s been a lot of football played in between this match-up and the Week 1 encounter between these two teams, which Denver won 31-24 after a late surge by Indianapolis. Is this Peyton Manning’s last ride? Is this the day that the torch is truly passed? We’ll find out in the last game of the weekend.

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There you have it. Eight teams are left on the road to the Super Bowl, with seven of them being division winners. Who’d you pick? Comment below (we already know Jack will) or follow and tweet @BingeSports and/or @THElukenorris. And don’t forget that this isn’t the only playoff going on right now. Check back soon for my preview of the upcoming national title game between Ohio State and Oregon.