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17 reasons to be excited for NFL playoffs

Tim Heitman / USA TODAY Sports

The NFL playoffs rarely fail to entertain. The do-or-die nature of the postseason highlights everything that's great about football and intensifies it tenfold.

This year's playoffs are no exception. Here are 17 reasons why you shouldn't miss a moment of it:

Multiple possible SB rematches

If you like some good old-fashioned revenge, then this year's Super Bowl could be for you. With a playoff picture that has multiple teams with recent histories against one another, there's a good chance we'll get a rematch of a past Super Bowl. Patriots facing either the Giants or the Seahawks is the most mouth-watering matchup, but we could also get a repeat of Super Bowl XLV when the Packers took down the Steelers. Or, if you want to go back a little (a lot) further, the renewal of the classic Cowboys-Steelers rivalry might be the most enticing matchup of them all.

Brady, Goodell showdown if Pats win out

Deflategate is over and done with, but an encore might be on the cards. Due to the weakness of the AFC and the fact Brady's playing like a man possessed, it's highly possible the Patriots are the final team left standing in Houston. If that comes to pass, who doesn't want to see what happens when commissioner Roger Goodell, the man behind Brady's four-game ban, is forced to hand the Lombardi Trophy to the veteran quarterback.

A playoff game at Arrowhead

If you live anywhere near Arrowhead Stadium, you might want to invest in some earplugs. The world's loudest stadium is set to host its first playoff game since 2010, and if the Chiefs win - which would be their first home playoff victory in 15 years - it's a solid bet the record will be shattered.

Bell finally healthy for a playoff trip, triplets complete

We will finally get to watch Le'Veon Bell, arguably the best running back in the league, play in a playoff game. Hallelujah! Much has been made of the potential of the Steelers' offense, and while their inconsistency and the loss of the likes of Martavis Bryant has meant they've yet to hit their ceiling, it could be reached this postseason. The trio of Bell, Antonio Brown, and Ben Roethlisberger are finally healthy and ready to capture a Super Bowl title.

Loaded NFC primed to deliver classics

Admittedly, the AFC isn't in the best shape. We might be lucky to get two good games out of that side of the playoff picture. However, the NFC is a whole different story. The Lions are the weakest team in the NFC, and they'd stand a good shot at taking down three of the four teams playing in the NFC wild-card round. Every game on the NFC side throughout the playoffs should be highly competitive. Buckle up!

Backup QB carnage

The playoffs are about quality football, but sometimes bad football can be just as entertaining. Enter Matt Moore, Connor Cook, and to some extent, Brock Osweiler. Look, we'd all prefer every game to Aaron Rodgers versus Tom Brady, but that just isn't realistic. We're guaranteed some terrible quarterback play this postseason, so just sit back, enjoy, and see who will be this year's Ryan Lindley.

Cowboys recapturing past glory

Even if you hate "America's team," the NFL is always more entertaining when they're competitive. And while some will never be able to root for Dallas, it's hard not to get swept up in the story of two rookies, Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott, taking the NFL's most recognizable franchise back to the top of the football mountain.

Rodgers' 'run the table' boast could become all-time prediction

Yes, Aaron Rodgers decided not to double down on his prediction that the Packers would "run the table," saying the playoffs were a completely different story. However, history will likely still view his comments as an all-time declaration if the Packers go on to win the Super Bowl.

You can forget your actual team sucks by adopting a playoff team

Hey, I've always liked the Packers. They're my second team! That Rodgers guy is amazing *quietly hides Blake Bortles jersey.*

Will Eli be Eli again?

It's playoff time, and that means Eli Manning will be in his element. Or will he? Manning has always found a new gear for the postseason, but he's struggled this season, and it can't be overlooked that he hasn't played in the playoffs since 2011. Is Playoff Eli dead? Did he actually exist in the first place?

Brady could move past Montana, Bradshaw in SB titles

Brady is destined to go down as one of the two or three best quarterbacks to ever step onto an NFL field. Period. And while that argument of who is the best of all time will never be resolved, the 39-year-old can do something no other quarterback has ever done by winning his fifth Super Bowl title.

Miracle shot at SB host playing in game

Could Brock Osweiler be the man to lead the first NFL team to play a Super Bowl in its home stadium? Almost certainly not.

Historically great teams can build on resumes

Unless the Falcons, Texans, or Lions take home the Lombardi Trophy, we'll have a winner who already has a Super Bowl title in its history. More than that, this year's playoffs are full of teams looking to build on their already bulging trophy rooms. The Steelers could extend their record six Super Bowl victories, the Cowboys could equal Pittsburgh, and the Patriots, Giants, and Packers have a shot at taking home their fifth championship.

All on Wilson's shoulders

Without perennial All-Pro safety Earl Thomas, the Seahawks' defense looks far from the unit that carried the team to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. That means, if Seattle is to make another deep postseason run, it'll be on the arm of Russell Wilson, who will also have to do it without a good running game or offensive line.

Beckham debuting on the main stage

Odell Beckham Jr. was built for the spotlight of the postseason. However, the Giants were sitting at home in January during his first two seasons, meaning the star wideout couldn't do his stuff with the whole world watching. Expect fireworks and lots of them in Beckham's playoff debut.

No more fantasy football

We can all actually enjoy the sport of football again. No more throwing stuff at your TV because Mike Gillislee vultured a touchdown from LeSean McCoy.

Raiders, Dolphins, Lions can end playoff win droughts

Playoff appearance droughts are always cited, but who cares about making the postseason if you're knocked out straight away? The Raiders haven't won a playoff game in 14 seasons, the Dolphins haven't won one in 16, and the Lions haven't tasted a postseason victory in a quarter of a century. None of them are favored to win their wild-card matchups, but it'll be worth tuning in just for the reactions if any of them end their droughts.

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