The NFL playoffs heat up (and cool down) this weekend

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The opening round of this year's NFL playoffs was reasonably entertaining, at least based on what we've come to expect since the league added a seventh team in each conference in 2020.

Yes, the average margin of victory was 12 points, we saw predictable blowouts by AFC powers Buffalo (over Denver) and Baltimore (over Pittsburgh), and NFC No. 2 seed Philadelphia's 22-10 win over Green Bay was fairly dull. But small upsets by Houston (over the Chargers) and Washington (over Tampa Bay when a last-second field goal doinked off the upright and in) spiced things up before the Rams shredded the 14-3 Vikings on Monday night.

Not bad. And now the road to the Super Bowl gets more interesting this weekend as defending champion Kansas City and fellow No. 1 seed Detroit come off their byes before Buffalo and Baltimore collide in what could be the best (and coldest) game of the year on Sunday night.

Here's a quick look at all four second-round matchups (team records include playoffs):

Houston Texans (11-7) at Kansas City (15-2) — Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET

K.C. has won two straight Super Bowls and lost only one meaningful game all season, back in mid-November at Buffalo. They're also very well rested after clinching the AFC's No. 1 seed and a bye on Christmas Day, allowing the champs to keep Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and company out of harm's way for more than three full weeks.

Kansas City returns to action as eight-point favourites to reach their seventh consecutive AFC championship game after drawing a Texans team missing two of its three playmaking receivers. But K.C. outscored