The key players to watch during the NFL Wild Card Weekend
Wednesday 6 January 2016 18:54, UK
The NFL Play-Offs start on Saturday on Sky Sports, and there are some massive games.
Cincinnati host AFC North rival Pittsburgh, Kansas City go to Houston, Green Bay travel to Washington and the game of the weekend sees Seattle facing Minnesota.
Alex Ferguson - fresh off his Sky Sports Pundits NFL Fantasy League victory (beating Mr N Reynolds by a point) - tips the players to watch on Saturday and Sunday night.
AFC
Kanas City Chiefs @ Houston Texans
Houston's defence was definitely a work-in-progress this year. At the start of the season, it seemed that anyone could put up points against their secondary. But as the season purred along, the team were better and better. On the offensive side, DeAndre Hopkins is going to be a key playmaker for quarterback Brian Hoyer, who struggled the last time he came up against the Chiefs, who have won 10 games on the trot.
The Chiefs' defence is going to be key to the game. Linebacker Derrick Johnson led the team in tackles last year. And if Tamba Hali and Justin Houston manage to be fit on Saturday night, you've got to make the Chiefs favourites.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals
On Cincinnati's side, AJ McCarron will be the starting quarterback replacing the injured Andy Dalton. AJ Green is going to cause a million-and-one problems for Pittsburgh's not-exceptional secondary. Green has seven touchdowns in six games and he's a good bet to add a seventh on Saturday.
With all the injuries to Pittsburgh's running backs (D'Angelo Williams was injured against Cleveland last week and is day-to-day to start) the focus will be on Antonio Brown. Brown was closed down by the Bengals 'D', who limited him to 134 total yards and a touchdown in two games. He is going to be Ben Roethlisberger's main target against a Cincy defence that was second-best in the NFL against passers, giving up just 18 touchdowns all season. Expect some noise from Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton.
NFC
Seattle Seahawks @ Minnesota Vikings
The game of the weekend is Seattle's visit to Minnesota. Both teams have excellent defences. Seattle can easily cram the box and stop Adrian Peterson, so the pressure will be on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to perform against one of the best passing defences in the nation in freezing temperatures. The 'Hawks only gave up 14 touchdowns and opposition QBs averaged 200 yards against them in the regular season. Pacy wide receiver Stefon Diggs will go up against Richard Sherman & Co. Good luck with that.
And Seattle offensively - with quarterback Russell Wilson who is playing as well as anybody - are going to play a Minnesota defence that shut down Aaron Rodgers last week. Seattle fans are really excited about the return of running back Marshawn Lynch after abdominal surgery, and we'll see how he does against a tough Minnesota front. Wilson's biggest target will be Doug Baldwin, who has 11 touchdowns in his last six games.
Green Bay Packers @ Washington Redskins
If I told you that Kirk Cousins threw about 1,000 more yards and just one touchdown less than Aaron Rodgers this regular season, you probably wouldn't believe me. But then again, if I told you Washington had won the NFC East and Green Bay were a Wild Card team, you still wouldn't believe me. Cousins' receiving corps of Jordan Reed, Pierre Garcon, Jamison Crowder and DeSean Jackson could damage the Packers' 'D'.
Randall Cobb is a fantastic wide receiver, but he - like the rest of his Packers colleagues - has to catch the ball more. It sounds a bold thing to say, but the Packers have been dreadful at dropping the ball this season. The Packers will also give Washington a healthy dose of running back combo Eddie Lacy and James Starks, who are pretty fresh after only 21 carries between them against Minnesota. Washington was 26th against the run in 2015.
