NFL Playoff Picture: Full Schedule and Key Divisional Round Storylines

If the Wild Card Round is an appetizer, the divisional round is when insanity occurs. The NFL playoffs may not be predictable in the traditional sense, but you can rest assured that madness is going to be the order of the day this weekend. 

That's what makes this round so much better than anything that will come after it, aside from the fact it's the last weekend of the season with games on Saturday and Sunday. Legacies may get born in the Super Bowl, but they get started in the divisional round. 

There are legitimate cases to be made for all eight teams winning this weekend, even Carolina in Seattle. It may not be likely to most fans, but there aren't any mismatches at this stage of the playoffs. Here are the storylines to watch this weekend, as well as a look at the divisional round schedule. 

What Is Dallas' Defensive Strategy Versus Aaron Rodgers?

The biggest story of this weekend will be Aaron Rodgers' calf. The Green Bay Packers quarterback re-injured his leg against Detroit in Week 17. Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported earlier this week that Rodgers also has a slight tear in the calf muscle. 

While he is still going to play, this injury completely changes the complexion of the game. He's certainly not going to have the mobility that makes him so successful, but will Dallas be able to exploit that?

ESPN's Ed Werder noted on Twitter what Dallas' defensive game plan will be against the Packers offense:

The best thing Dallas and defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli can do is send the house early and often. That would go against his scheme, which relies more on playing assignments and tackling right away to prevent yards after the catch. 

This is a situation not entirely unlike the one that Curt Schilling dealt with as a member of the Boston Red Sox against the New York Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series. If you recall, Schilling pitched in Game 1 and aggravated an ankle injury that required sutures just so he could pitch in Game 6. 

WINSLOW TOWNSON/Associated Press

The smart strategy for the Yankees would have been to bunt early in the game and force Schilling to move off the mound with his bad ankle. It didn't happen, and he was able to settle into a groove with a bloody sock and help the Red Sox win the game 4-2. 

Football is slightly different in that you can't guarantee pressure on every play, but it is something a team can attempt by simply sending more pass-rushers than there are people to protect. 

If Rodgers has time in the pocket, as he showed in the second half against Detroit two weeks ago, he's going to destroy a defense with or without a calf injury. 

The Cowboys have plenty of offensive firepower to make this a shootout, but you don't want to play that kind of game against Rodgers. Marinelli should be willing to adjust his style, at least early on, to see if it causes problems for Green Bay. 

If the strategy doesn't work, then go back to what got you here. This isn't a game where being conservative will help you. 

Will Carolina Solve The Seattle Conundrum?

In a non-division rivalry that doesn't get a lot of attention, the Panthers and Seahawks have played three tight games in each of the last three years. Seattle has won all of them, but the total combined score has been 41-28. 

Not that it's a shock to see these two defenses dominate the games, as they have been among the best in football over the last two years. Carolina has come into its own late this season, winning five straight games including last week's win over Arizona and not allowing more than 17 points during that stretch. 

The Panthers' problem against Seattle has been in the red zone, and vice versa, as this number from ESPN Stats & Info shows:

In the last two meetings, Seattle has been able to win thanks to big plays late in the game. Russell Wilson hit Jermaine Kearse for a 43-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter two years ago, and a Luke Willson 23-yard touchdown with less than one minute to play won the game in 2014. 

The Panthers have had a chance to win all these games thanks to their defense, but that's not how you beat Seattle. Cam Newton has to step up, especially in the red zone. Carolina didn't convert once in three opportunities in October. 

All of the toys are in place for Carolina to get six instead of three. Kelvin Benjamin, as long as he doesn't go through another bout of the dropsies, is a matchup problem for any of the Seahawks cornerbacks. Jonathan Stewart is running as well as he has in years, including going for 123 yards against Arizona. 

Even though this game will be closer than the oddsmakers and experts seem to think, Seattle is still the better team with a stronger defense. Until the Panthers prove they can get the ball in the end zone against the Seahawks, it's hard to think they will pull off the upset. 

The Peyton Manning Situation

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

While Rodgers is without question the biggest quarterback story to watch this weekend, Peyton Manning will be under the microscope in the final game on Sunday against Indianapolis. He's still among the better quarterbacks in the league, but something has been off lately. 

Manning ended the year on a downswing by his standards, with a completion percentage of 63.6, three touchdowns and six interceptions, per Pro-Football-Reference.com. It was the second straight month he had six interceptions and the lowest completion percentage for any month in 2014. 

ESPN's Mike Sando expanded the stretch of Manning's season on Twitter, dividing it in half from Week 1 through 7 and Week 8 through 16:

The Broncos have adjusted their offense, thanks to the emergence of C.J. Anderson at running back. The second-year standout has 648 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in the last six games, giving this team a wrinkle it didn't have early in the season. 

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

A good running game will also come in handy against an Indianapolis defense that allows 121.4 yards rushing yards per game and 4.3 yards per carry, per ESPN.com, but the Colts are also capable of scoring a lot of points in a short amount of time. 

Andrew Luck has less help than any quarterback left in the playoffs, yet he never seems overwhelmed by the stage. He nearly led the Colts back from a 24-0 deficit against Denver in Week 1, throwing for 370 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns to make it a seven-point game with a chance to tie. 

The postseason hasn't been kind to Manning throughout his career with 37 touchdowns and 24 interceptions, so what's going to happen now that he's 38 years old and showing signs of slowing down?

The Broncos are a more complete team and should be able to win, but even if they do, Manning has to play well to alleviate some of the concern about how he finished the season.