The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

rwells@tribunemedia.net

IT’S certainly clear that everything the 2015-2016 NFL season lacked, last weekend’s wildcard round made up for.

Thrilling finishes, heartbreak, intrigue and even a small dose of controversy - I see you Pittsburgh/Cincinnati.

I pulled through the wildcard round at a comfortable 3-1, my downfall coming in the Washington/Green Bay match-up. Maybe it’s time that I take that Arron Rodgers smile seriously.

As football purists often say, the playoffs will find a way to separate the pretenders from the contenders. We are down to the final eight.

The top-tier teams are set to make a return this weekend - rested, wounds tended to and ready to go. Patriots, Broncos, Panthers and Cardinals now have their eyes set on the last round’s victors.

Here we go!

Kansas City Chiefs

(11-5) @ New

England Patriots (12-4)

There are no guarantees in football, but the closest one can get to a sure thing today is the Patriots in the playoffs.

While I am at all not sure about how great my Patriots will look this weekend, I am confident that there is a win in the cards. The Chiefs knocked off the Texans last week in convincing fashion. With a stifling defence and strong quarterback performance by Alex Smith, the Chiefs proved that they belonged in the post-season lot of teams.

This week, however, sends a completely different opponent. Instead of a questionable, young quarterback in Brian Hoyer, the Chiefs will do battle against the wise veteran, Tom Brady. Instead of an eager second-year coach, the Chiefs will try to out-work a Bill Belichick coached team. The point is, this is a totally different ball game.

HEART: PATRIOTS

MIND: PATRIOTS

PICK: PATRIOTS

Green Bay Packers

(10-6) @ Arizona

Cardinals (13-3)

So Arron Rodgers is smiling again, he is has his swagger back.

Carson Palmer, for all his stats, has rarely played in the post-season, his last appearance coming in 2010.

In 2006, the year considered his best chance at a Lombardi Trophy, Palmer suffered a severe knee in the early stages of a game in which his favoured Bengals fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Juxtapose that to Rodgers, a quarterback that has known more post-season success than failure, and this game promises to be spectacular.

HEART: PACKERS

MIND: CARDINALS

PICK: CARDINALS

Pittsburgh Steelers

(10-6) @ Denver

Broncos (12-4)

You can expect points, big hits and a lot of great moments here. This game will definitely be decided in the fourth quarter.

Antonio Brown has been ruled out, therefore I am going all the way with the Broncos.

HEART: STEELERS

MIND: BRONCOS

PICK: BRONCOS

Seattle Seahawks (10-6) @ Carolina Panthers (15-1)

There is no set way to lean here. The Seahawks stumbled last week and I am still waiting for this Panthers’ dream season to fall apart.

Let’s see what happens this week.

HEART: SEAHAWKS

MIND: SEAHAWKS

PICK: SEAHAWKS