5 Thoughts on this weekend's NFL playoff games.

1. Potential Divisional Setup: If the Broncos, Chiefs, Cardinals and Seahawks all win their respective games, then next weekend's conference championship games will be two teams from the AFC West playing each other and two teams from the NFC West playing each other. How will the rest of the country deal with getting shut out?
2. Predictions: The reason why I mentioned those four teams, is because they're the teams I think will win their games. Green Bay lost badly in Arizona, just three weeks ago, 8-38; I just can't imagine them winning on the road against a well-rested Arizona team. The Chiefs shut down the Texans, while New England's four losses have come in the last 6 games of the season, and it all points to a hobbled Gronk, which points to a big Chiefs win. Denver's probably got one of the easiest games, hosting the Steelers who will be without Le'Veon Bell (season) and Antonio Brown (concussion), while Big Ben's got a badly injured shoulder who might not make it through the game. The Seahawks will be -- I think -- sporting a huge advantage with a fully rested Marshawn Lynch, finally back from his sports hernia surgery, and while the Panthers are the favorite, the Seahawks are a very different team from when they lost to Carolina in Seattle, going on an 8-2 run.
3. Ranking of the Games: If you won't have the time to watch all the games -- I know I won't -- then here's the list of games, by order of closest matched / best game: (1) Seattle at Carolina -2.5; (2) KC at NE -6; (3) Pittsburgh at Denver -6.5; GB at Arizona -7. Obviously, the Vegas odds all favor home teams, but note that last weekend, all of the home teams lost.
4. Defense vs Offense: If you believe defenses wins games, then going by scoring defense rankings, Seattle, KC, Denver and Arizona should be favored to win their respective games. If you believe offenses wins games, then going by scoring offense, Carolina, Arizona, New England and Pittsburgh should be favored to win their respective games. Compare the two, and Arizona is the only team that seems to have both the better defense and offense, which is probably why they're favored to win by the widest margin.
5. The team no one wants to face: This phrase has been echoed many times over the last few weeks, in reference to Seattle, and you know, it's just not true. NFL players welcome challenges -- or at least the good ones do, and by the time you've reached the playoffs, the remaining teams are full of good players top to bottom. It's the fans who don't want their teams to have to play Seattle. The same holds true for Seattle fans, who might probably prefer to see the Seahawks not have to face Carolina, while the players are looking forward to playing Carolina. I want to see Seattle play Carolina, so that Seattle can crush them and wipe that smile off Cam's face.