2014 NFL Playoff: Seeding, Bracket and Preview

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NFC Wild Card No. 6 New Orleans Saints vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles

Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps the only game in the NFL Playoffs that a higher seed is favored over the lower seed, the Eagles defense will be tasked with stopping Drew Brees and the Saint’s second ranked passing offense. Philadelphia is last in the NFL against the pass defensively and will have to take things to a whole new level against the Saints. The Eagles lead the NFL in rushing yards per game and are second in total offense, but that won’t mean much if Brees can pick out his targets against Philadelphia’s struggling defense. Expect a high scoring game in which the winner is whoever gets up early.

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AFC Wild Card No. 6 San Diego Chargers vs No. 3 Cincinnati Bengals

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Chargers snuck into the playoffs through an overtime win over the Kansas City Chiefs, but will face a Cincinnati Bengals team whose defense has been playing at an elite level lately. San Diego lost to Cincinnati earlier in the season 17 – 10, but have won four games in a row since then. Expect the game to come down to whether the Chargers’ defense can handle Andy Dalton and AJ Green or the Bengals defense can handle Ryan Matthews and Philip Rivers.

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NFC Wild Card No. 5 San Francisco 49ers vs. No. 4 Green Bay Packers

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

A few weeks ago, this game would be a free win for San Francisco. However, with the return of Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb, things have become a lot more interesting. The Packers may be 8–7–1, but, with Rodgers at the helm and Lacey in the backfield, Green Bay is a Super Bowl capable team. Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers will have to be ready to face one of the best offenses in the country with every defense’s worst nightmare -– a well rested Rodgers.

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AFC Wild Card No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs vs No. 4 Indianapolis Colts

Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

The second AFC Wild Card matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Indianapolis Colts will be a rematch of a game played already this season. Indianapolis won that game 23–7, but lost games to some really bad teams along the way. Kansas City just couldn’t beat their divisional rivals, the Denver Broncos. Both of these teams could make it to the Super Bowl -– only one will move past this game.

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NFC Divisional Round No. 2 Carolina Panthers vs Highest Remaining NFC Wild Card Seed

Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The good news for the Panthers is that no matter what, they won’t face their divisional rivals the New Orleans Saints in the first round. Carolina gets better every game and could be the biggest dark horse for the Super Bowl.

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AFC Divisional Round No. 2 New England Patriots vs Highest Remaining AFC Wild Card Seed

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

For once, no one is talking about the Patriots and that makes them extremely dangerous. They’ve silently sealed the No. 2 overall seed in the AFC with a 12–4 record. Their wins haven’t been pretty, but they’ve kept winning. Never count out Tom Brady.

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NFC Divisional Round No. 1 Seattle Seahawks vs Lowest Remaining NFC Wild Card Seed

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

The Seahawks look unstoppable at home and will play at home, but they still have it rough. They’ll face divisional rivals the San Francisco 49ers, Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints or an Aaron Rodgers having Green Bay Packers. If they can go to the Super Bowl, they’ll have earned it.

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AFC Divisional Round No. 1 Denver Broncos vs Lowest Remaining Wild Card Seed

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Peyton Manning. Need I say more? The only teams that look like they can beat the Broncos in the AFC play each other in the first round. Who knows, Denver may not even have to see Kansas City or Indianapolis until the AFC Championship.