Participants,

First – please be sure to submit your Super Bowl Bonus Pick (along with your usual picks) before kickoff this afternoon.  It’s worth 100 points if you can pick the SB winner (it’s happened 32 times in HSBT history).

It’s shaping up to be a very interesting weekend with match-up questions in every game.  Let’s get to The Commish’s expert analysis and predictions (do not worry – if you have already submitted your picks, you can re-submit them after reading this insider information):

Kansas City Chiefs @ New England Patriots
The once and often feared Pats, losers of 3 of their last 4, are full of injury hopefuls (TE Gronk, WR Edelman and essentially the entire O-Line) for this late afternoon tilt.  The Chiefs are riding an 11-game winning streak.  The spectacular Chiefs D will be too much for the wounded and gimpy NE offense, forcing Tom Brady to “scrimble” (which means he’s a lousy scrambler).  KC Head Coach Reid (coming in at around 300 lbs.) has more room up his larger sleeves for trick plays than the “svelte” Belichick, so the home team playoff jinx will continue in this one.  Knile Davis will return another one for a TD.
… Chiefs 27, Patriots 26

Green Bay Packing It In @ Arizona Cardinals
If Aaron Rodgers pulls this one out, I will move 2 franchises to Wisconsin.  By every measure, the Cards will win in a blowout, as they did in the Week 16 drubbing, 38-8 (the 8 also stands for the # of times that Pack QB Rodgers was sacked).  Look for a repeat, as the Cardinals D will blitz even more than they did 3 weeks ago.  Even without the Honey Badger, the Cards are on a roll to SB50.  Finally, a win for the home team in the playoffs.
… Cardinals 34, Packers 16

Seattle Seahawks @ Carolina Panthers
The Sunday action starts with a dandy.  2 terrific QB’s.  2 terrific defenses.  The league’s highest scoring offense vs. the league’s lowest scoring defense.  The Seahawks have dominated the Panthers in the past, but were beaten by them in Seattle earlier in the season.  If Carolina QB Cam gets rolling, the 10am kickoff (west coast time) will catch the Seahawks sleepless in Seattle…  The Panthers are this year’s team of destiny, sporting a nifty 15-1 record.  Beast Mode is back…  ‘Nuff said.
… Seahawks 23, Panthers 20 (in an OT thriller)

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos
Steelers are playing without All-World WR Antonio Brown and their top 2 RB’s.  Big Ben has a dislocated shoulder.  The D is a sieve.  Peyton Manning is under center and appears to be healthy.  Home teams end up 1-7 in the playoffs.
… Steelers 20, Broncos 17 (the 2nd OT thriller of the day!  Has The Commish gone crazy?)

Participants – be sure to include your SB Bonus Pick (worth 100 points).  This is the best weekend of the playoffs, so get warm and comfy with a few adult beverages and enjoy the games on your big screen in the man cave!

~ The Commish