NFL Playoff Schedule 2016: TV Info, Full Bracket and Super Bowl Predictions

In just a few days, the 2015-16 NFL postseason will begin with the start of wild-card play between the No. 4 Houston Texans and the No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs. 

The action will continue through Divisional Weekend from Jan. 16-17 and then the championship games slated to take place on Sunday, Jan. 24. 

The following playoff bracket contains all the information you need to know ahead of the Wild Card Round, including seedings, TV viewing information and matchups:

Now that you know how and when to watch every game in the NFL postseason, let's break down which two teams we can expect to see face off in Santa Clara on Sunday, Feb. 7 and predict the outcome of Super Bowl 50.

Super Bowl 50 Predictions

TV Info:

Sunday, Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)

NFC Team Prediction: Carolina Panthers

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

The Panthers enter the postseason with a first-round bye as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. With a 15-1 regular-season record, the Panthers proved they have the talent to play consistently good football. 

While Carolina will face some tough tests in the postseason from the likes of potentially the Arizona Cardinals or Seattle Seahawks, it's hard to imagine that any team can top these Panthers in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 24. 

Carolina finished the regular season as the NFL's No. 1 scoring offense, averaging 31.3 points per game. 

Their not-so-secret weapon—and probable league MVP—is Cam Newton, but it was his contributions on the ground that set him apart from the league's other top quarterbacks. 

Newton's 35 passing touchdowns were tied for the second most among all quarterbacks, but he also added another 10 rushing touchdowns to that total. Between that and his 636 rushing yards, the Panthers were able to overcome the loss of Jonathan Stewart to a foot injury. 

However, Stewart has a full bye week to rest up and the Panthers could get him back in time for the playoffs, which would further boost this already strong squad. Per Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer, the goal is for Stewart to begin practicing on Jan 11. 

That means a tough team becomes even stronger just at the right time, as it will face whichever remaining wild-card team between the Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks is the lowest ranked. 

Though they could face a stiff test in the championship game, expect the Panthers to advance to the Super Bowl. 

AFC Team Prediction: New England Patriots

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

The New England Patriots ended their regular season on a low note, with a head-scratching 20-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins, but a bye-week buffer and a clean slate will have them starting off in the divisional round as the strong squad they proved to be throughout the year.

Not to mention that New England will be getting top receiver Julian Edelman back in time for their first playoff game, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on January 3:

The Patriots also look to have offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer back for the matchup, per Schefter, while on the defensive side of the ball, Dont'a Hightower and Chandler Jones attended the team walkthrough on Wednesday, per NESN's Doug Kyed.

That's great news for a team that has noticeably struggled without Edelman on offense and Hightower on defense.

Without Edelman, per Kyed, "The Patriots’ completion percentage drops nearly 10 points, their passer rating drops nine points, Brady is sacked at a higher rate and their average yards per play drops by 2.7 yards."

Suffice it to say, with key injured players returning in time for the divisional round, this Patriots team will look nothing like the squad that took the field against the Dolphins in Week 17. In the AFC, it's hard to believe that any team can truly challenge New England for the conference title.

However, in a triumph of up-and-coming talent over established dynasty, expect the Panthers, who are a more complete team than New England, to overtake the Patriots in Super Bowl 50.

Predicted Super Bowl Winner: Carolina Panthers