NFL Playoffs 2014-15: Schedule and Bracket Predictions for Early Games

A three-win team by the time December rolled around is the focal point of the 2014-15 NFL Playoffs. 

Necessary reseeding and rule changes aside, the Carolina Panthers are the hottest team in the league, as NFL on ESPN illustrates:

The playoff picture as a whole is about what most would expect, though. The Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers have byes on the NFC side of things, while the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos have the same in the AFC.

All of the above ensures all showdowns will make for must-see television, so take the time to review what is on the slate. 

2014-15 NFL Playoffs Schedule

Wild Card Weekend Predictions

Date	Home	Away	Time (ET)	Pick
Saturday, Jan. 3	No. 4 Carolina Panthers	No. 5 Arizona Cardinals	4:35 p.m.	CAR
Saturday, Jan. 3	No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers	No. 6 Baltimore Ravens	8:15 p.m.	PIT
Sunday, Jan. 4	No. 4 Indianapolis Colts	No. 5 Cincinnati Bengals	1:05 p.m.	IND
Sunday, Jan. 4	No. 3 Dallas Cowboys	No. 6 Detroit Lions	4:40 p.m.	DAL

Best Early Matchup: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The first weekend of postseason football has a lot to offer observers, although some may choose to overlook an encounter between the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts. 

That would be quite foolish.

Look, these two played to a 27-0 finish in favor of the home team in Indianapolis back in Week 7, but both teams are quite different this time around.

In that contest, Andrew Luck threw for a pair of scores and Trent Richardson ran for 77 yards. Cincinnati as a whole rushed for 32 yards and Andy Dalton threw for 126 yards.

"Things were disappointing," coach Marvin Lewis said at the time, per the Associated Press (via ESPN). "Not having execution on third down offensively, to not make first downs and not make opportunities to keep the drives alive, and then have a couple plays on defense where we didn't play very well."

The thing is, the Colts are just a few weeks removed from a 42-7 loss to Dallas, whereas the Bengals are a few weeks removed from a 37-28 triumph over Denver.

Cincinnati now leans on rookie back Jeremy Hill, who has a minimum of 100 rushing yards in each of his last three games, two of which were major wins. This new balance and efficiency means the Bengals can better counter Luck, who continues to lead one of the league's best aerial assaults.

A game of chess rife with revenge storylines between two teams prone to defensive collapses promises to entertain. It also promises to give the edge to a home team with a more reliable player under center, so look for Luck to pull one out late.

Prediction: Colts 27, Bengals 23

Most Obvious Outcome: Carolina Panthers Over Arizona Cardinals

Talk about an exercise in patience.

There was a time, earlier this season, when Carolina was nothing close to the defensive stalwart that got to the postseason one year ago. Things changed when the calendar turned to December, though, as the Panthers were owners of a top-10 pass defense entering Week 17.

Said defense then held Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to 260 passing yards and took a pair of interceptions back for touchdowns in a 34-3 blowout to win the NFC South.

As if the divisional crown were not enough, the Panthers also made history, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Things are not as bright for the Arizona Cardinals.

Losers of two straight games, Bruce Arians' team is at rock bottom at the wrong time. According to a note from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport before the Week 17 loss to the 49ers, it sounds as if quarterback Drew Stanton will not be around for a dance with Carolina's elite secondary:

In other words, third-string option Ryan Lindley, who has two touchdowns to four interceptions over the course of the two-game skid, will be the starter on the road.

Even Arizona's elite run defense looks torrid at present, as San Francisco's Frank Gore ran for 144 yards this past weekend. That is a scary proposition considering the damage Cam Newton is capable of on his own, especially with a healthy Jonathan Stewart in his backfield.

The wrong combination of health, locale and momentum dooms the Cardinals.

Prediction: Panthers 23, Cardinals 17

Stats courtesy of NFL.com. Advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).