AFC Wild Card 2015: Bengals vs. Colts, Ravens vs. Steelers Early Preview

With every playoff matchup set, it's time to analyze Wild Card Weekend. The Cincinnati Bengals couldn't defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field in the regular-season finale to win the AFC North; thus, the Bengals will visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

The AFC North champion Steelers will host their archrival Baltimore Ravens. Here's what you need to know about the two big games.

Cincinnati at Indianapolis

When: Sunday, Jan. 4 at 1:05 pm ET

Where: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

TV: CBS

Regular-Season Meeting: Week 7, Colts win 27-0 in Indianapolis

The Bengals must find a way to make sure they aren't manhandled the way they were when the teams met back in Week 7. Behind 344 yards passing and two touchdowns by Andrew Luck, the Colts took it to the visiting Bengals.

While Luck's day was obviously great, the key statistic in the one-sided game was the Bengals' third-down conversion rate.

The Bengals converted just one of 13 third downs in the game. It's very hard to win when you fail that often on third downs. Converting in those situations will be especially difficult if the Bengals are without star receiver A.J. Green.

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

The 26-year-old suffered an apparent head injury in the regular-season finale against the Steelers after fumbling, and then taking a hard shot from Pittsburgh free safety Mike Mitchell. Green left the game and didn't return.

Per Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Green is under concussion protocol.

It's possible the concussion recovery process could keep Green out of the game against the Colts. Green missed the Week 7 matchup and quite obviously, Andy Dalton missed him. Green's availability could be the key to Cincinnati changing its fortunes in Indy.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh

When: Saturday, Jan. 3 at 8:15 pm ET

Where: Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

TV: NBC

Regular-Season Meetings: Week 2, Ravens win 26-6 in Baltimore; Week 9, Steelers win 43-23 in Pittsburgh

The rivals split the two regular-season meetings with both teams winning at home. The team that won the turnover battle took both contest. In Week 2, the Steelers turned the ball over three times, and that crippled any chance they had at winning in B-More

In Week 9, it was the Ravens' turn to mishandle possessions. 

Baltimore turned the ball over twice, and it lost the turnover battle, as the Steelers gave it away just once. Ben Roethlisberger sliced and diced the Ravens defense.

Big Ben threw for six touchdowns in the game and made his lucky fantasy football owners very happy. On that day, the Steelers didn't need a ground attack. They may not have much of a run game when the two teams meet on Saturday.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

All-world back Le'Veon Bell suffered a knee injury after a legal hit from Bengals defensive back Reggie Nelson. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin commented on the status of his star running back, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:

Bell's health is very important to the Steelers' long-term hopes in the postseason. Bell has rushed for 1,361 yards and caught 83 passes for 854 yards. Without question, Pittsburgh can only hope he can be healthy enough to play against the Ravens on Saturday.