With the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots through to the NFC and AFC championship games respectively, it’s time to look at today’s remaining divisional playoffs to see who will oppose them next weekend.
San Francisco 49ers vs Carolina Panthers (Monday 13 January, 5am AEDT)
The battle between these two teams will depend on whichever team’s set of linebackers gains the ascendancy.
The 49ers’ Patrick Willis, Ahmed Brooks and Aldon Smith have made the 49ers the most feared run defence in the NFL, while the Panthers’ Luke Kuelchy and Thomas Davis have been a key factor behind the team’s rise to the second seed in the NFC after missing the playoffs the previous year.
If one linebacking group can impose their will, the other team’s offence will struggle to run the ball and the quarterback will be under tremendous pressure.
Both teams possess mobile quarterbacks in Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton, whose legs may prove vital in gaining extra yards.
Kaepernick had a so-so season after bursting onto the scene during last years playoffs, but turned it on again against the Packers last week, making big plays when it counted.
Newton’s stats did not noticeably increase from the previous season, but he enhanced his reputation with a number of clutch performances in close wins.
While the Panthers have home-field advantage and beat San Francisco earlier in the season, the 49ers’ playoff experience may just prove the difference against the young Panthers.
Prediction: 49ers 20 – Panthers 17
San Diego Chargers vs Denver Broncos (Monday 13 January, 8:30am AEDT)
San Diego had to rely on a series of fortunate events to even make the playoffs, and now, following an emphatic road win against the Bengals, are now only two wins away from the most unlikely of Super Bowl appearances.
They now come up against the Denver Broncos, lead by record-breaking quarterback Peyton Manning and his high-powered offence of wide receivers Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker and Eric Decker, as well as running back Knowshon Moreno.
The Chargers defence has been far from spectacular over the course of the season, so it would seem unlikely that they would be able to stop Denver, but the Chargers did beat the Broncos on the road only a month ago.
Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers, written off before the season as being washed up and past his prime, has managed to pull out a vintage season, recording 4,500 passing yards and 32 touchdown passes.
The Broncos defence has had its struggles this season, and with star linebacker Von Miller now out with a torn ACL, the Chargers will be confident in their ability to score plenty of points.
The Broncos go into this game as warm favorites, but should be very concerned at the possibility of the Chargers beating them at their own game, especially with Peyton Manning having a well-documented history of failing in the post-season.
The Broncos have a superior team and home-field advantage, so should beat the Chargers in a high scoring contest, but an big upset remains on the cards
Prediction: Chargers 31 – Broncos 42
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