I have completed the first two rounds of my 2016 NFL Playoff Tournament and am down to the final eight teams. It will be interesting to see if “Cinderella” San Diego can continue their improbable run against the Chiefs. It will also be a test of depth when the Steelers visit Foxboro to take on the Patriots. New England will once again be without Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, and the Steelers will have to go without Le’Veon Bell.
These games, in particular, are where injuries really start to make a difference. And that list of stars who are hurt is not limited to the Steelers and the Pats. Dallas will be without Sean Lee and Dez Bryant. The Packers’ Eddie Lacy will miss this game, as will Taylor Gabriel for the Falcons. Here is the complete list of players who won’t be participating in these quarterfinal games:
San Diego: King Dunlap, Jatavis Brown, Kyle Emmanuel, Robert McClain, Manti Te’o
Kansas City: Allen Bailey, Jaye Howard, Tamba Hali, Daniel Sorensen
NY Giants: Bobby Rainey, Bobby Hart, Kelvin Sheppard, Eli Apple, Leon Hall
Atlanta: Taylor Gabriel, Austin Hooper, Adrian Clayborn, Courtney Upshaw, Tyson Jackson, Desmond Trufant, Brooks Reed, Jonathan Babineux, Derrick Shelby
Green Bay: Eddie Lacy, J.C. Tretter, Datone Jones, Jake Ryan, Damarious Randall, Joe Thomas
Dallas: Alfred Morris, Dez Bryant, Benson Mayowa, Terrell McClain, Sean Lee, Damien Wilson
Pittsburgh: Le’Veon Bell, Cobi Hamilton, Ricardo Matthews, Ryan Shazier, Cameron Heyward, Arthur Moats, Artie Burns, James Harrison, Robert Golden
New England: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Trey Flowers, Rob Ninkovich, Logan Ryan, Jabaal Sheard, Shea McClellin