NFL Playoff Picture 2014-15: Postseason Scenarios and Wild-Card Bracket

The NFC South is just full of surprises. 

While the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were busy securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers took hold of the NFC South crown and a playoff spot in the process.

Not every division is as entertaining as the playoffs get set to begin, but the entire postseason bracket is full of juicy matchups that will only lead to better showdowns as things progress.

Below is a look at the 2014-15 NFL playoff picture now that things are set in stone.

2014-15 NFL Playoffs Schedule

Top Wild-Card Matchups

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 

It really does not get much better than this.

AFC North rivals or not, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers simply do not like each other.

The Ravens certainly sound ready for a road trip:

These two split the season series. To further complicate matters, both won by impressive margins to close the season. Baltimore took care of business against the Cleveland Browns to get a 20-10 victory, while Pittsburgh won the AFC North with a 27-17 win against Cincinnati.

Two of the league's top rushing attacks collide for a rubber match with everything on the line. That said, it is entirely too early to know what the status of Steelers back Le'Veon Bell will be after suffering what coach Mike Tomlin calls a hyperextension in his knee, per NFL Network's Albert Breer.

Even if both teams are not 100 percent, observers know what they are in for when these two meet on the field. Gritty, run-first football with strong defense as a complement always makes for a class rivalry showdown.

It is only fitting the two go for Round 3 in the playoffs.

Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys

This one is a stellar showdown no matter which way it is sliced. 

The Dallas Cowboys will likely be the favorite, but keep in mind that Tony Romo and Co. are just 4-4 at home this year. With the exception of Washington, those losses have come at the hands of solid teams such as San Francisco, Philadelphia and Arizona, too.

Never mind that loss to Washington, either, as the Cowboys hit the road in Week 17 and destroyed Jay Gruden's team in 44-17 fashion. It was business as usual, really, as Romo tossed a pair of touchdowns and DeMarco Murray ran for 100 yards and a score.

Now the narrative turns to keeping the good vibes alive.

"I've been speaking on it the whole year, we've got to grow and mature," defensive end Jeremy Mincey said, per The Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "It's clear as day these seeds are turning into flowers, and I'm happy, man. Coach is going to continue to give us sunshine and rain, and we'll be all right."

Detroit is no pushover, although a Week 17 30-20 loss to Green Bay hurts things. Before that was a four-game win streak, though, and the defense still ranks among the best against the pass and rush.

If Matthew Stafford can throw another three touchdowns against the Dallas secondary as he did in Green Bay last weekend, things will be quite interesting. The biggest storyline is how Murray will perform against a Lions run defense that has even held Chicago Bears star Matt Forte to 60 yards or fewer on two occasions this year.

The knee-jerk reaction upon seeing this matchup is to think the aerial game will rule the contest. Really, this may be the dose of traditional run-first action worthy of a playoff bout.

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