Divisional Round

Here's one crazy trick they don't want you to know: having a playoff bye is awesome. 

Look at that final 8. Am I crazy, or is the only one that sticks out as weird is the Houston Texans?

Look, I know there's 8 teams left. That's 25% of the league. So this isn't super rare territory, but...

Making the Super Bowl is something. Whether you win or lose (as long as you don't get blown out 43-8) it's something special. The Panthers have never won the Super Bowl, but I still think of their 2 Super Bowl appearances as accomplishments, not failures. It's something. 

With that in mind, even the AFC Championship game is something. You're playing for the chance to go to the Super Bowl. This is have been a game defined mostly by Manning and Brady and Roethlisburger over the last 15 years. It's a big deal. 

And now the Chiefs are one game away from getting the AFC Championship. And that game is being played at Arrowhead. The team is healthy. The opponent is strong. It should be a good one.