2016 NFL Wild Card Preview

The NFL Playoffs have finally arrived. This Saturday will kick off the playoffs with the two AFC Wild Card Playoff games, followed by the two NFC Wild Card games on Sunday. I think this will be some of the tightest games played. All of these teams have terrific talent, but each of them have some questions as well. Let's go ahead and look at the games coming up.

AFC Wild Card

Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Texans

The Chiefs are the hottest team in the NFL right now coming off of 10 straight wins, and have showed no signs of slowing down. The Chiefs have been one of the biggest surprises in the NFL. They lost their best player in Jamaal Charles to an ACL tear, and yet they are better than they have been all season. Since losing Charles, the Chiefs have had to look into different plays, and rely more on their passing. Alex Smith is looking like his old self when he was with the 49ers being coached by Jim Harbaugh. They will have to take on the Texans and their monster defense.Texas is 3rd in total defense, and they have J.J. Watt, who is leading the NFL in sacks with 17.5. Houston doesn't have a dynamic offense, so they will have to rely on their defense. I think the Chiefs offense is going to be too much for the Texans defense. I think the Chiefs win by 6 with a score of 19-13.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

This is arguably the most anticipated game of the Wild Card. The Steelers and Bengals are AFC North rivals, and they are not too fond of each other. The Bengals will be without their starting quarterback Andy Dalton, but have done pretty well with backup quarterback A.J. McCarron. Pittsburgh has Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, which is one of the best combinations in the NFL today. I don' think having Dalton out will be that detrimental to the Bengals offense. I think A.J. McCarron will step up in his first postseason start and lead the Bengals to a win over the Steelers. I have the Bengals winning by 2 with a score of 20-18.

NFC Wild Card

Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings

The Seattle Seahawks looked completely opposite of a Super Bowl team early in the season, but as of late they have been looking like a team that could go all the way to the big game. Russell Wilson has been on fire, and the offense is going strong as well. Doug Baldwin has been a breath of fresh air for Wilson catching 14 touchdowns. Other than the St. Louis Rams, who they lost to twice, the only other teams the Seahawks have lost to are other playoff teams. Teddy Bridgewater has been looking better this year and is well on his way to doing great things with the Vikings, but it won't be this year. I have the Seahawks winning this one by 5 with a score of 20-15.

Green Bay Packers at Washington Redskins

Kirk Cousins, where did he come from? Cousins has been looking like what a starting quarterback looks like. Ever since his famous "You like that?" saying after the comeback win against the Tampa Bay Bucs, he has been on point and looking like the Redskins starter of the future. The Green Bay Packers have not looked that good this year. They have had spurts of greatness in the middle of the season, but in the first and last part of the season they have not looked like the Packers that we thought we would see. There is one thing that the Packers have that the Redskins don't, and that is Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Rodgers is the only, and I mean only, reason why I am picking them to win this game. I have the Packers winning by 2 with a score of 17-15.

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2016 FCS Championship Preview

This Saturday is looking to become one of the most anticipated FCS Championship games in awhile. The Jacksonville State Gamecocks are going to be playing in their first ever FCS Championship game against the four-time defending champs North Dakota State. The Bison started off the season with a loss at Montana, and later lost to South Dakota. Since that last game they have won eight straight in the dominating fashion that we are used to seeing from the Bison. The Jacksonville State Gamecocks are coming off their best season yet. They have dominated the season against everyone, with only one loss coming from the FBS Auburn Tigers. I think the Gamecocks have what it takes to end the Bisons "Drive for Five." 

The Jacksonville State Gamecocks have arguably one of the best offenses in the FCS. They are ranked 2nd in total offense, just under Sam Houston State, a team that the Gamecocks held to only 10 points almost a month ago. Jacksonville State is not only a dangerous offensive power, but a dangerous defensive team as well. The Gamecocks are ranked 11th in total defense, and holding Sam Houston State to only 10 points, which has only been done by one other team in McNeese State, is impressive to say the least. The biggest question will be whether or not the Bison can contain the rushing offense of the Gamecocks. The Bison have a really good rushing defense, but I can't see them being able to stop the two-headed beast of Troymaine Pope and Eli Jenkins. I think that the Bison will have the advantage in the passing defense against the Gamecocks, but they will have to find a way to shut down the running game of the Gamecocks.

The North Dakota State Bison are the 3rd best in total defense, so this is not a defense that will be scored on easily. They rank 2nd in 3rd down conversion percentage defense, and that might be the most important defensive state for the Bison. If they can keep the Gamecocks from converting a lot of their 3rd down conversions then they have a strong chance of winning their fifth straight national championship. This is going to be a very tall task as the Gamecocks are looking like an FBS team that could compete against any of the Power 5 conference teams. 

I strongly believe that these are the top two teams in the FCS, and this Saturday we are going to see these two giants go at it. Jacksonville State has the offensive weapons to make this a blowout, but I don't think it will be. I think the North Dakota State Bison have the experience and the ability to keep this a very close game. Ultimately I see the Jacksonville State Gamecocks winning this game by 3 points with a score of 35-32. I can't wait to see this game. It is going to be a classic.

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