Four down, seven more to go, as the 2014 Super Bowl Tournament shifts from the Wild Card to Divisional Round.
Four teams rested this weekend, and enjoy home-field advantage next weekend. How much of a difference does the rest and home cookin’ make?
Saturday
New Orleans (12-5) at Seattle (13-3), 4:35 p.m., Fox: Seattle was 7-1 at home in 2013. New Orleans was impressive in its 26-24 Wild Card win at Philadelphia on Saturday. Not sure the Saints can make it two in a row against the NFL’s top-ranked defense. Seattle 20, New Orleans 13.
Indianapolis (12-5) at New England (12-4), 8:15 p.m., CBS: What a comeback by Indy, down 28 in the second half against Kansas City to win 45-44. But New England has been where Colts’ playoff hopes go to die in recent years. New England 42, Indianapolis 27.
Sunday
San Francisco (12-5) at Carolina (12-4), 1:05 p.m. , Fox: Carolina is 11-1 since starting the season 1-3. The Panthers probably didn’t want the bye week that came with the #2 seed. Teams that hot can lose their momentum with the week off. San Francisco probably feels like it won two games on Sunday, against the Packers and against Mother Nature. San Francisco 24, Carolina 20.
San Diego (10-7) at Denver (13-3), 4:40 p.m., CBS: This was the game that peyton manning couldn’t win last year when Baltimore upset the Broncos in the Divisional Round. Does San Diego fit the profile laid out by the Ravens in 2013? Big-arm quarterback (Philip Rivers): check. Stout defense (11th in points allowed, 23rd in total defense, 29th in pass defense): um, no. The Chargers did beat the Broncos late in the regular season, but that will only serve as a wakeup call. Denver 48, San Diego 17.
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