Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills
All season long, after their emphatic victory over the Miami Dolphins (12-2, 2-2 AFC East) in Week #7, the road to the AFC's #1 seed always seemed to go through New Era Field (formerly Ralph Wilson Stadium).
The Buffalo Bills (13-1, 3-1) have had their share of close games of late, but quarterback Aaron Rodgers sees the narrow victories as a sign of what's to come.
"In the playoffs, nothing is easy," Rodgers said. "Sure, we'd love to win every game by double-digits, but this team is proving they can win many different ways."
The Dolphins have played 2016 with a bullseye squarely pointing at their backs after last year's Cinderella Super Bowl run.
The team, for the most part, has answered the call. But their pair of AFC East blemishes in losses to Buffalo and last week versus the Jets have kept the team from looking too far ahead.
"We are still a young team, regardless how last year finished," Bobby Wagner said. "Last week (against New York) was a great game for us to be a part of despite the final score. We are the fifth best team in the AFC at this point and we can't take any games off."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The weather factor. Aaron Rodgers has proven he can handle any and all conditions as he's willed his team towards consecutive victories in the snow. If Mother Nature intervenes on Saturday, expect the veteran signal-caller to have the upper hand against his rookie counterpart Jacoby Brissett.
PREDICTION: Bills win 24-16
New York Jets @ New England Patriots
All the so-called smart-money in Las Vegas is now being thrown at the New York Jets (8-6, 2-2 AFC East) as this year's 'sneaky' Super Bowl choice.
Sitting in last place in their division, the New England Patriots (8-6, 2-2) are sitting in unfamiliar territory as the league's forgotten team.
"This happened to us last year as well," Tom Brady said. "I was sitting on the sidelines with the injury and everybody counted our guys out. Then we ended up 2-plays away from reaching the Super Bowl - count us out if you'd like."
With their five consecutive victories, the Jets have started a run similar to their rivals from Miami who won seven of their last eight a year ago before winning Super Bowl 50.
Despite all the hype and talk surrounding the team, Jets players want none of the championship talk.
"How many games have we lost at the one-yard line?" Kam Chancellor said. "This team has no business getting ahead of ourselves - we gotta go at it one game at a time."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Tom Brady is old. Tom Brady is washed up. Tom Brady can't do it anymore. Right?
PREDICTION: Patriots win 28-27
