Divisional Sunday will start later as usual thanks to old man winter. The Packers will visit the Cowboys at 4:40 while the Steelers, Chiefs game has been pushed back to 8:20.
Here is three key preview for both games.
By John Sarianides
#3 Pittsburgh Steelers at #2 Kansas City Chiefs
The Build Up: The Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs are meeting for the second time this season. The Steelers beat the Chiefs handily 43-14 in Week 4. Beating a team twice is tough, especially on the road. Factor in the weather and the Steelers will have their hands full beating a versatile Chiefs team.
Here are our three keys for both teams.
3 Keys for the Steelers
1. Ring the Bell! LeVeon Bell has been a man among boys the last six weeks. He has been virtually unstoppable. The Steelers need to ring the bell if you will and give LeVeon the ball 25 times in this game. Look for the Steelers to run their vaunted counter tray play 15 times tonight.
2. Block Up Their Edge Pressure: Steelers offensive tackles Alejandro Villanueva and Marcus Gilbert will have their hands full with Justin Houston, Tamba Hali and Dee Ford.
It is imperative for the Steelers that they play well and hold up one on one. If the Steelers have to help them in pass pro, it will alter the Steelers game plan in terms of throwing the football.
3. Big Ben Must Not Force It: Ben Roethlisberger has played in several big playoff games in his career but he does have a tendency to throw interceptions at the most inopportune times.
Roethlisberger must protect the ball and he cannot force passes into tight areas. Big Ben is not healthy. He’ll have to throw more from the pocket. If he improvises too much and takes chances, he’ll make a costly mistake.
3 Keys for the Chiefs
1. Alex Smith Must Play Well: Alex Smith is the key if the Chiefs want to make a playoff run. Smith not only needs to play well but he needs to play at an elite level. The Chiefs are a Super Bowl contender but they cannot win a championship if Smith is just managing games.
2. The Defense Line Must Win Upfront: The Chiefs defensive line must control the line of scrimmage and keep LeVeon Bell in check. Dontari Poe and company have to reset the line of scrimmage and gap control the Steelers. They cannot allow Pittsburgh to establish their ground game early on.
3. Make Big Plays in All 3 Phases: The Chiefs win because they make plays in all three phases of the game. There are 12 ways to score in football. The Chiefs have scored a touchdown in 11 different ways this season.
Kansas City will need to play well in all three phases tonight if the want to advance to the AFC Championship game.
Prediction: Steelers 27 Chiefs 21: I am taking the Steelers in this game. I think the Killer B’s will make enough big plays on offense and the defense will get key stops in the second half to win this game for Pittsburgh.
Winning at Arrowhead is tough but Ben Roethlisberger has won road games in tough places before and he will do it again tonight.
#4 Green Bay Packers at #1 Dallas Cowboys
The Build Up: The Packers and the Cowboys are meeting in the playoffs for the eighth time. The Cowboys have won four of the seven meetings. Dallas also beat Green Bay 30-16 earlier this season in a dominant performance at Lambeau Field.
It is the playoffs however so what happened earlier this season doesn’t matter. The Packers are coming in hot, winners of seven in a row and you know they’ll be ready to play despite being short handed.
Here are three keys for both teams.
3 Keys for the Packers
1. Fill the Nelson Void: Winning in Dallas without Jordy Nelson will be tough for the Packers but if either Davonte Adams or Geronimo Allison step up and fill the void, the Packers will be fine.
2. Hold Up Defensively: Ezekiel Elliott ran all over the Packers in the first meeting of these two teams. Elliott ran for 157 yards and a touchdown in that game and he looked unstoppable.
If Green Bay wants to pull off the upset, the Packers defensive line will need to play much better in this game. Mike Daniels and Letroy Guion must do a better job of splitting double teams and making plays behind the line of scrimmage. They will have to because the Packers will be in Cover 2 a lot in this game.
3. Limit the Big Plays in the Passing Game: The Packers defense will be challenged in all three levels by the Cowboys offense but no matter what happens, they cannot give up big plays.
Green Bay will play a lot of Cover 2 in this game in an effort to protect their corners. They have to. That being said, they cannot allow Dez Bryant or Terrance Williams to get behind the secondary and make big plays. If they do, the Packers are in for a long afternoon.
3 Keys for the Cowboys
1. Feed Zeke Early: The Cowboys bread and butter is their running game. They must establish Ezekiel Elliott early and lean on their dominant offensive line. Dallas must wear the Green Bay defense down and keep Aaron Rodgers on the sideline.
2. Dak Must Play Within the Offense: Dak Prescott has done a masterful job of playing within the offense all season long. The playoffs are no different. Prescott cannot try to do too much. He needs to manage the offense and complete passes when his number is called. Putting pressure on himself or trying to do too much doesn’t do him or the team any good.
3. Rush Three, Drop Eight. AGAIN! The Cowboys gave Aaron Rodgers fits in their 3-2-6 defense the last time these two teams met. Rodgers is the hottest quarterback in the universe right now. If the Cowboys are going to slow him down, they need to control rush him and spy him again with Sean Lee and Justin Durant.
Prediction: Cowboys 31 Packers 24: If Jordy Nelson were healthy, I might pick the Packers in this one. He’s not, therefore, I’m putting my money on the Cowboys. I don’t think Green Bay’s defense will stop Zeke and the Dallas defense will slow down Rodgers enough to help the Boys get to the NFC Championship game for the first time in 22 years.