New England Patriots (12-4) vs. Denver Broncos (13-3)

Patriots – 7th

Broncos – 1st

Patriots – 26th

Broncos – 19th

If you don’t know what to expect between a Tom Brady and Peyton Manning game, then you have been living underneath a rock for most of your life.  What will be interesting to see is if the Patriots will win this game by running the ball or will they expose the Broncos weakness in the secondary.  You can bet that the Patriots don’t want to deviate from what has worked for them, but you know that Tom Brady is itching to get a chance to throw the ball in that thin air. New England’s defense doesn’t have an easy task with their many weaknesses on defense, but if they can put pressure on Peyton and not let him get comfortable the Patriots might have a shot. Denver should be a little worried about this matchup.  Not because of Tom Brady, but rather the possibility of this game being a trap.  If this becomes a high scoring game then the advantage would go to the Broncos.  If this becomes a game that will lull you to sleep then the Patriots will have the edge.  Denver needs to put the game away for the entire 60 minutes.  Not the first half like their last game against the Patriots in New England.  What Denver does on defense will determine if they make another trip to a Super Bowl.

Matchup to watch for: Patriots QB Tom Brady vs. Broncos defense

San Francisco 49ers (12-4) vs. Seattle Seahawks (13-3)

49ers – 24th

Seahawks – 17th

49ers – 5th

Seahawks – 1st

Nothing to see here other than two teams that just don’t like each other.  That’s a good thing for anyone who loves rivalries and doesn’t see too many of them anymore.  The 49ers would love to finally put an end to the home field advantage that Seattle loves. Problem is history isn’t on their side.  San Francisco will have to play a perfect football game.  In every aspect it has to be perfect to beat the Seahawks at home.  The Arizona Cardinals were the only team this year to beat Seattle at home and they shouldn’t have won the game based on how they played.  San Francisco’s QB Colin Kaepernick didn’t have much to show for in his first and only game at Seattle earlier this season, but he gets another chance to redeem himself and he will have WR Michael Crabtree to keep the defense honest.  The Niners live and die with the ground game though and they need RB Frank Gore at his best.  The Seahawks offense has no trouble getting their game going at home as long as RB Marshawn Lynch rushes for close to 100 yards.  If they get him going they are tough to beat at home or on the road.  Seattle’s defense is among the best and they won’t disappoint.  QB Russell Wilson needs to have a better showing to be put into consideration as a top notch quarterback.  If he falters then Seattle won’t have an easy time on offense.

Matchup to watch for: 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick vs. Seahawks defense