Big Game Bound: Preparing for the playoffs

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — We’re counting down the days to the NFL’s Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Anthony “AC” Calhoun is talking all the major headlines around the NFL leading up to Super Bowl LIII.

This week, AC talks to Yianni Kourakis from WPRI and Andrew Schnitker from KXAN. Kourakis has been covering the New England Patriots for nearly a decade and Schnitker covers the Houston Texans.

Patriots receive playoff bye – AGAIN!

For the ninth consecutive year, the Patriots will get to rest for the first week of the playoffs.

“That’s sort of routine around here in January,” Kourakis said. “Most players on this team haven’t even played in a wild card round.”

After going 11-5 in the regular season, the Pats will get to wait to see who they’ll face in the Divisional Round.

Kourakis says the Patriots will be strong in the playoffs, but says the Kansas City Chiefs could be a roadblock in the AFC.

“This isn’t the Patriot team of ’14, ’15 and ’16 talent-wise,” said Kourakis. “But I still think they have the pieces, notably with Brady and Belichick, to get back to The Big Game.”

Colts vs. Texans preview

Two hot teams will face off in the Wild Card round when the Texans host the Colts.

The Texans finished the season with 11 wins in their final 13 games. The Colts also finished strong after a slow start, winning nine of the last 10 on their schedule.

The teams split the season series in two close games, with the Texans winning in overtime in week 4 and Colts winning 24-21 in week 14.

“This is not the matchup the Texans wanted to see,” Schnitker said. “If you look back to the two division games this year, I think the Colts played better in both of those matchups.”