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2015 NFL Playoffs: Predicting the Wild Card and Divisional Rounds

NFL Playoffs: Predicting the Wild Card and Divisional Rounds

Andrew Luck
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Two weeks until the NFL playoffs are upon us and football truly takes over my life. I cannot wait, and since I am unable to contain my enthusiasm, here is an early prediction at the Wild Card and Divisional Round games.

AFC Wild Card: (3) Indianapolis Colts vs. (6) Kansas City Chiefs

Andrew Luck
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AFC Wild Card: (3) Indianapolis Colts vs. (6) Kansas City Chiefs

Andrew Luck
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Winner: Indianapolis Colts

That’s right, the first AFC Wild Card game in the AFC is going to be a rematch of arguably the most awesome and exciting game from last year's playoffs. While the game won’t be as stupendous as last year’s, the outcome will still be the same, with Andrew Luck and the Colts winning at home and moving on to the divisional round.

AFC Wild Card: (4) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. (5) Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco
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AFC Wild Card: (4) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. (5) Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco
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Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers

How the AFC North got so good I will never know, but all four teams are in the playoff hunt and three teams are, as of Week 16, in the playoffs. But the Bengals will flounder that away, leaving a battle in Pittsburgh to determine the next AFC Wild Card win. Trust Big Ben to lead his time to victory at home.

NFC Wild Card: (3) Dallas Cowboys vs. (6) Detroit Lions

Tony Romo
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NFC Wild Card: (3) Dallas Cowboys vs. (6) Detroit Lions

Tony Romo
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Winner: Dallas Cowboys

I’m still only like 70 percent sure the Cowboys will win the NFC East, but if they do, I'm sure they'll be able to fend off the sad Detroit Lions in the big state of Texas. Poor Lions, they're currently the 2nd seed in the NFC, but they'll inevitably lose to the Packers in Week 17. Then, they'll be a Wild Card team. Life just isn't easy for the Lions.

NFC Wild Card: (4) Atlanta Falcons vs. (5) Seattle Seahawks

Marshawn Lynch
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NFC Wild Card: (4) Atlanta Falcons vs. (5) Seattle Seahawks

Marshawn Lynch
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Winner: Seattle Seahawks

I know I said that the Seahawks won’t make the playoffs, but that was before the 49ers decided to be a horrible team and throw away their playoff hopes and dreams. I still have faith that the Falcons will win the sucky-ness that is the NFC South, but sadly they’ll be immediately eliminated by the Super Bowl champs.

AFC Divisional Round: (1) New England Patriots vs. (4) Pittsburgh Steelers

Rob Gronkowski
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AFC Divisional Round: (1) New England Patriots vs. (4) Pittsburgh Steelers

Rob Gronkowski
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Winner: New England Patriots

Yes, the Steelers have been looking very nice in recent weeks, but sadly they will be no match for the Patriots. Tom Brady at home during the playoffs spells recipe for disaster if you're a Pittsburgh fan. Plus, it'll give us the sub-plot of LeGarrette Blount against his old team, and who doesn't want that?

AFC Divisional Round: (2) Denver Broncos vs. (3) Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning
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AFC Divisional Round: (2) Denver Broncos vs. (3) Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning
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Winner: Denver Broncos

What could possibly be better than LeGarrette Blount facing his old team? How bout Peyton Manning facing his replacement Andrew Luck in a game worth all of the marbles? Sounds so perfect it could have been a movie script. Though I’d love to give Luck the win, the football Gods want another Broncos-Patriots matchup in the championship game.

NFC Divisional Round: (1) Arizona Cardinals vs. (5) Seattle Seahawks

Drew Stanton
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NFC Divisional Round: (1) Arizona Cardinals vs. (5) Seattle Seahawks

Drew Stanton
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Winner: Seattle Seahawks

The Week 16 game between these two teams is going to determine the NFC West and could drastically change the layout of the NFC playoffs. But I think the Cardinals will be able to topple the Seahawks and retain the No. 1 seed. However, they won’t be able to recreate that glory against the Hawks when it matters most.

NFC Divisional Round: (2) Green Bay Packers vs. (3) Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo
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NFC Divisional Round: (2) Green Bay Packers vs. (3) Dallas Cowboys

Tony Romo
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Winner: Green Bay Packers

Yes, Tony Romo has been great and making people forget about how adequate he really is, but Aaron Rodgers is making everyone forget their names and their life story with the way he has been playing. The Packers are almost unbeatable in Lambeau, and that will certainly help them make their way to the NFC Championship game.

Peter Rogers is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @petahrahgas, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

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