Seattle V. Carolina - Hinges on which team can pass the ball... Carolina's pass offense (24th) V. Seattle's pass defense (2nd) and then Seattle's pass offense (20th) V. Carolina's pass defense (1st). Both teams run the ball well and both teams stop the run well.
Green Bay V. Arizona - The ONLY thing Green Bay has going for it in this game is its pass defense is 6th but then again, the Cardinals pass offense is 1st. In every other category Arizona essentially has a huge advantage.
Pittsburgh V. Denver - Neither team runs the ball that well but both are top-5 run-stopping defenses. Pittsburgh's pass offense is their strength but of course the strength of Denver is their pass defense. Roethlisberger will need to have a significantly better game than Peyton through the air, because Pittsburgh's pass defense will over the course of the game give up more/have many more lapses as they're the worst for YPG and bottom-third in YPA. Should be close but I think Denver wins.
Kansas City V. New England - The Pats will not be able to run the ball, so they'll have to pass on a KC team that's laterally ranked to them in YPG and YPA defense as NE is on offense. It'll come down to Alex Smith (worst in YPG, but 11th in YPA) beating NE's pass defense (nearing the bottom third of the league). KC's run is good but NE has an underrated run defense. Top 10. Pats win a close one but they're really vulnerable if the pocket can't keep Brady upright, cause like I started with - NE needs to have success when Brady drops back more than any other part of their game.
Three close games I think and then one blowout.
