NFL PLAYOFFS PREVIEW: Live From Old School Pizza In Melbourne With Predictions and Analysis

By  //  January 7, 2017

ABOVE VIDEO: Join Alan Zlotorzynski and Heritage Panthers defensive coordinator Russ Rothar at 2:30 p.m. from Old School Pizza for a special edition of Space Coast Daily Sports Shorts. Watch it here on Space Coast Daily.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Space Coast Daily’s Zach Clark and Alan Zlotorzynski look ahead to the NFL playoffs with a brief breakdown of the matchup and their prediction for the first round of the Playoffs.

Join Alan Zlotorzynski and Heritage Panthers defensive coordinator Russ Rothar at 2:30 p.m. from Old School Pizza for a special edition of Space Coast Daily Sports Shorts. Watch it here on Space Coast Daily.

RAIDERS AT TEXANS 

Saturday, 4:35 p.m. ET ESPN

ZACH: Oakland’s QB Connor Cook making his first NFL start on the road with the injuries to starting QB Derek Carr and backup QB Matt McGloin will make this once legitimate Super Bowl contender, a one-and-done playoff team. Texans’ defense will give Cook multiple looks and confuse the rookie all day. Texans WR Deandre Hopkins will have a big day. Texans 24, Raiders 14

ALAN: What people are losing sight of is the Texans, without JJ Watt finished with the league’s best defense this season ( 301.3 yards a game).  Toss in a first time starting rookie QB in Connor Cook and even with Brock Osweiler’s 16 INT’s to 15 TD’s in 2016 the recipe is disaster for Oakland,  The Texans were 7-1 at home this season, make it 8-1. Texans 20 Raiders 10

LIONS AT SEAHAWKS

Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET NBC

ZACH: Both teams limp into this game after ending their regular seasons with disappointing finishes. Lions have lost three straight games to end the regular season and had a chance to win the NFC North division at home against the Packers but failed to capitalize on the opportunity. Detroit has to visit the home of the 12th man and an always fired up crowd in Seattle Saturday night. Seattle barely escaped last week’s game against the pitiful 49ers 25-23. Add to that, the Seahawks went 3-3 to finish the regular season. I’ll take the Lions in a upset with a late Matt Prater field goal. Lions 20, Seahawks 17

ALAN: Matt Stafford and the Lions did everything in their power to miss the playoffs but here they are anyway despite losing their final games. Lions head coach Jim Caldwell was the offensive coordinator for the Ravens when they lost four of five to end the 2012 season but won Super Bowl–that’s where that nonsense stops. The Lions d-line is underwhelming and they can’t run the ball–not even a little bit. You have to play some defense and run the ball in the payoffs to win. Seattle got lucky with this draw at home but can they take advantage and get back to Hawks football–they will on this day. Seahawks 27 Lions 17

DOLPHINS AT STEELERS

Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET CBS

ZACH: Miami enters Sunday contest versus the Steelers as the biggest underdog in the playoffs at +11. Miami’s defense will need to play lights out to have any chance in this game. However, you are going up against one of the best trio’s on the offensive side for the Pittsburg Steelers (Roethlisburger, Bell and Brown). Steelers are one of the hottest team in the NFL, having won seven straight games. Pittsburg wins big. Steelers 35, Dolphins 17

ALAN: The Dolphins enter the playoffs as a statistical anomaly. The Dolphins were outgained by 798 yards and outscored by 17 points this season and ranked in the bottom of the league in both offense and defense. The Fins crushed Pittsburgh in October but that game was in Miami and Big Ben left six minutes into second quarter. With Roethlisberger, Bell and Brown all suiting for the first time ever in the playoffs, this won’t be close. Pittsburgh 35 Dolphins 10

GIANTS AT PACKERS 

Sunday, 4:40 ET Fox

ZACH: In what promises to be the most highly anticipated game of the first round of the playoffs, Giants vs Packers. Eli Manning vs Aaron Rodgers. Lambeau Field in January. Temperatures in Green Bay are forecasted to be in the teens with a wind chill temperature in the single digits. If this game was at Metlife stadium in New York, I would take the Giants. However, Aaron Rodgers is playing at a supreme level. I like the Packers. Packers 21, Giants 14

ALAN: Something about that Eli Manning this time of the year. The Giants are playing much better defense and while the offense limps in, they face a Packers pass defense that isn’t very good ranking 31st in the league. Yes, The Packers are hot but they were back in 2011 when they finished 15-1 and Eli and company came in and crushed them 37-20. There isn’t much difference with this two teams and I have no reason to believe the outcome will be either. Giants 24 Packers 20