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2016 NFL Playoffs: Baltimore Beatdown's Sunday Football Picks

The Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs are here here and your Baltimore Beatdown writers have predictions ready. We'll keep track of them throughout the postseason and see who gets the bragging rights of choosing the perfect postseason. Today's slate is Panthers-Seahawks and Broncos-Steelers.

Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

The Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs are here here and your Baltimore Beatdown writers have predictions ready. We'll keep track of them throughout the postseason and see who gets the bragging rights of choosing the perfect postseason. Today's slate is Panthers-Seahawks and Broncos-Steelers.

Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks

Our writers all have the Panthers advancing to the NFC Championship. This is the first time that all of our writers have picked one team to win.

Matthew Stevens (6-0):

Seahawks lose - Panthers win
I went back and forth on the winner here, so I'm not going to give a score. I really like what the Panthers have going on this season, but if there is any team to figure them out, it's the Seahawks. If the Seahawks can play a full 60 minutes, they win... otherwise, it's the Panthers. I don't think they have it in them to play a full 60 against a top team, so it's Cam Newton's time

Holt Smith (5-1):

Panthers 24 - Seahawks 21
In by far the best game of the weekend, Cam Newton and the Panthers will have their toughest test yet playing a high powered Seahawks team that has luck on its side. In a close game Gano hits a game winning FG as time expires

Chris Brown (3-3):


Panthers 31 Seahawks 13
The Panthers return the playoff favor to the team who has beaten them handily in the playoffs twice. The scrappy Seahawks were mere feet away from not being in this round. The Seahawks O has scored 17 or under in two of their past three games, one a loss at home. Those were against defensive teams with inexperienced QBs. Guess what? Carolina is a defensive team with an MVP QB. Advantage, Panthers. It will be more of a wearing down than a blowout.

Chuck Mills (5-1):

Panthers 24 Seahawks 14

The Seahawks offense has been slowing down and they needed Blair Walsh to miss a field goal that a kicker should be able to make in his sleep to even be here. Needless to say that I don't trust Seattle to come in and beat Cam Newton, the NFL MVP and the dominant Panthers defense in Carolina.

Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

For the second time in this tournament, all of our writers agreed upon who would win the game. We also thought that it won't be pretty.

Matthew Stevens (6-0):

Steelers 7 - Broncos 13
This is going to be a terrible game. An injured Ben Roethlisberger against a finished Peyton Manning. Manning will attempt to choke the playoffs away for another year while the Steelers will have no weapons. I had gone with Big
Ben, but with no wide receiver and now no running back to help him out, the Steelers are finished.

Holt Smith (5-1):

Broncos 17 - Steelers 10
I will take old Peyton over an injured Big Ben (or healthy Landry jones) in a defensive battle all day long.

Chris Brown (3-3):

Broncos 28 Steelers 10 Peyton is too rested and too good. His arm strength is detriorated, but all the help he now has will enable him to do well. The Steelers will be deflated after a lead is gained on them. Not having Brown will kill them. The Broncos D will harrass Rothlisberger all day and night.

Chuck Mills (5-1):

Broncos 10 Steelers 7

This might be even less enjoyable than the Seahawks-Vikings game. Peyton Manning has no arm and it's projected to be cold in Denver, which is usually not the best kind of weather for Peyton Manning. This is normally the type of scenario that leads to a one-and-done, but the Steelers are missing Antonio Brown and DeAngelo Williams and Ben Roethlisberger is hurt and I don't think that he finishes the game. Peyton might try and lose this one, but the Steelers won't be able to capitalize.

There's a Super Bowl at stake in the NFL and bragging rights are on the line at Baltimore Beatdown. I think the latter is more important. Make your own playoff picks down below.