NFL Playoff Bracket 2014-15: Divisional Round Scenarios and Picture

The NFL playoff matchups are set in stone. All speculative conversations can cease and the football community can commence debates about which teams will advance to the Super Bowl.

Before we can get that far, we have to first find out which teams will survive Wild Card Weekend.

Here's a look at the initial matchups, and the potential divisional-round games.

Matchups	Top Seeds
Matchups	Top Seeds
AFC
6. Baltimore Ravens at 3. Pittsburgh Steelers	1. New England Patriots
5. Cincinnati Benglas at 4. Indianapolis Colts	2. Denver Broncos
NFC
6. Detroit Lions at 3. Dallas Cowboys	1. Seattle Seahawks
5. Arizona Cardinals at 4. Carolina Panthers	2. Green Bay Packers

AFC If/Then Scenarios

If Baltimore Wins

Nick Wass/Associated Press

The Ravens must beat their hated rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, at home to advance to the divisional round. If John Harbaugh's club can pull off the road win, Baltimore would be locked into a visit to Gillette Stadium to face the New England Patriots.

The Pats are the top seed in the AFC and are guaranteed to face the lowest seed still alive in its first postseason matchup. The Seattle Seahawks have the same distinction in the NFC.

If Pittsburgh Wins

Peyton Manning and Co. will be waiting for the Pittsburgh Steelers should they turn back the Ravens in the Wild Card Round. The last time the two teams met, Tim Tebow stunned the Steel Curtain back in 2012.

The shoe would be on the other foot if this matchup comes to fruition, as the Denver Broncos would likely be the heavy favorites at home.

If Indianapolis Wins

Sanford Myers/Associated Press

Depending on what the Steelers do, the Indianapolis Colts could play either the Broncos or the Patriots.

A Steelers win would send Indy to New England—Colts Nation shutters at the thought. A Pittsburgh loss would send a victorious Colts team to Denver.

While the Colts lost to both the Pats and Broncos during the regular season, Andrew Luck's woeful history against New England makes a game against the Patriots the least desired by most Indianapolis fans.

If Cincinnati Wins

The Bengals' fate would also be impacted by the Steelers-Ravens clash. A Ravens win would send Cincy to Denver, while a Steelers win would mean the Bengals head to New England.

NFC If/Then Scenarios

If Detroit Wins

Mike McGinnis/Getty Images

The Detroit Lions would be headed to Seattle to tangle with the defending champions if they can beat the red-hot Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round. 

The way Detroit has played on the road against winning teams with Matthew Stafford under center (0-17), the prospects of a win look bleak in both scenarios.

If Dallas Wins

No team should be eager to face the Cowboys right now. Their offense is balanced, and the defense is playing as well as it has all season.

If Dallas beats Detroit, it will automatically be headed to Wisconsin to take on the Green Bay Packers.

That could be one heck of a game as the NFL's best road team (Dallas) challenges the league's best home team (Green Bay). ESPN First Take's Skip Bayless seems to be going with Dallas.

If Arizona Wins

Though the Arizona Cardinals will be on the road against the Carolina Panthers, many will expect them to come out victorious. The Panthers made the postseason despite having a 7-8-1 record. If the Cards win, they will take on division rival Seattle on the road—barring an upset win by the Lions in Dallas.

If Detroit wins, the Cardinals will play Green Bay at Lambeau Field. Neither scenario sounds too promising for the offensively challenged Cardinals.

If Carolina Wins

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

It would be a great story to see the Panthers make a strong run in the postseason. Considering they qualified with a losing record and have a quarterback in Cam Newton who is just weeks removed from a potentially disastrous car accident, the Panthers should be sentimental favorites.

Football Perspective isn't excited about the quarterback matchup.

A win at home over Arizona would put the Panthers on the road—at Seattle if Dallas wins or at Lambeau Field if the Lions are the victors on Wild Card Weekend.