NFL Wild Card Weekend 2014-15: Schedule and Predictions for Entire Slate

The time for speculating and figuring out tiebreaking procedures is over. In the playoffs, you either win or go home.

Once the Wild Card Round begins, it doesn't matter what your record is or how you have performed in recent weeks. This is good news for the 7-8-1 Carolina Panthers, as they have just as good of a chance to make a deep run as the 12-4 Dallas Cowboys.

While the Seattle Seahawks, the Green Bay Packers, the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos loom in the next round, none of the teams competing this weekend should be focusing on anything other than the task at hand.

The matchups are certain to create an exciting slate of games from start to finish, so make sure you don't miss any of the action.

Date	Away	Home	Time (ET)	TV
Jan. 3	Arizona Cardinals	Carolina Panthers	4:20 p.m.	ESPN
Jan. 3	Baltimore Ravens	Pittsburgh Steelers	8:15 p.m.	NBC
Jan. 4	Cincinnati Bengals	Indianapolis Colts	1:05 p.m.	CBS
Jan. 4	Detroit Lions	Dallas Cowboys	4:40 p.m.	Fox

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers

For the first time since the 2010 season, a team with a losing record is in the playoffs. What makes the Panthers' appearance in the postseason so strange is the fact that they were 3-8-1 at one point this season, going two full months without a win.

However, the dreadful NFC South allowed Cam Newton and Co. to remain in the hunt and win the division with four straight wins to close out the year.

Of course, fans should remember the last team to make the playoffs with a losing record—the 7-9 Seahawks—upset the New Orleans Saints at home. Despite Carolina's struggles this season, it has a good chance of winning as well.

While the Arizona Cardinals once looked like legitimate Super Bowl contenders, injuries have completely ruined their season. The offense is now being led by third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley, who has a 1-5 career record as a starter to go with a 2-to-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

The players have confidence the young passer can get it done in the playoffs, as defensive end Calais Campbell said after the game:

"

I told Ryan if he's our quarterback and he's the one leading us, I believe he can win a Super Bowl. That's just the way it is. He's a great player when he gets into a rhythm. He's young, he'll make young mistakes. But he showed he can make every throw. He showed he knows where to go (with the football). He made good reads. He gained a lot of belief from a lot of people today.

"

While the veteran player is being a good leader, the truth is the offense has been extremely limited lately. Things will only get worse against a Panthers defense averaging just 10.8 points allowed per game over the past four weeks.

Cardinals fans have had a legitimate "what if?" scenario to complain about all year long, but that will not help the team win in this one.

Prediction: Panthers 24, Cardinals 13

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks might have taken over the title of football's best rivalry over the past few years, but the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers have been near the top of the list for a long time.

These two teams simply hate each other, and the fans are right there with them, disliking everything about the opposing city. Facing each other in the postseason only makes things more interesting.

However, the January games have become a bit one-sided in this rivalry, as noted by ESPN's John Buccigross:

While the health of Le'Veon Bell is in question, the rest of the Steelers offense is able to pick up the slack. Ben Roethlisberger is playing as well as he has in years and now has the weapons around him to go with Bell, such as Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant.

On the other hand, Joe Flacco has been inconsistent this season, especially when asked to carry the offense. The quarterback is averaging just 29.5 pass attempts per game when the team wins compared to 43.3 in losses.

Strategy obviously changes when you're behind, but the Ravens often forget about the run in big games, and that is likely to happen against Pittsburgh's No. 6 run defense. This will be the difference in the contest, and Pittsburgh will stay undefeated in the playoffs in this rivalry.

Prediction: Steelers 20, Ravens 17

Cincinnati Bengals at Indianapolis Colts

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Everyone will want to talk about Andy Dalton and his inability to come through in big games. Those people have a fair point, as the quarterback has thrown six interceptions and only one touchdown in three playoff losses, but the blame is shared.

As Bleacher Report's Andrea Hangst pointed out, the lack of a pass rush has been a problem this season and will cost the Bengals in the upcoming game:

Cincinnati barely touched Roethlisberger in the Week 17 game that decided the division title, finishing with zero sacks and just one quarterback hit. For the season, the squad finished last in the NFL with just 20 sacks after being among the best in the league in this category in recent years.

The Indianapolis Colts might be one-dimensional on offense, but they won't need variety against the Bengals. Andrew Luck will get a chance to sit back in the pocket all day and find his numerous targets in the passing game.

If Dalton struggles with his decision-making on the other side of the ball, the Bengals won't even be close in this game.

Cincinnati fans might want to go beyond the first round of the playoffs, but I want to win the lottery. Neither is happening anytime soon.

Prediction: Colts 31, Bengals 21

Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys

Regardless of records or anything else coming into the game, this might be the most intriguing matchup of the weekend.

Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press breaks down some of the storylines:

While it's always fun to talk about coaches and players coming home, the real story of this game will be the battle in the trenches.

The Cowboys have clearly had the best offensive line in football this season, which is a major reason for the team's success—along with DeMarco Murray's league-leading 1,845 rushing yards. The organization has invested in the line in the draft, and it has paid major dividends.

On the other hand, the Lions have used the draft to focus on an excellent defensive line. The big boys up front have limited opponents to just 69.3 rushing yards per game, fewest in the NFL. They also create consistent pressure to slow down the passing game.

Detroit is one of the few teams capable of stopping what has become an elite offense in Dallas.

The Cowboys haven't had the home advantage they might've hoped for this season, going 8-0 on the road but just 4-4 at AT&T Stadium. Detroit will not be intimidated by its surroundings and will be able to pull off the upset and win the game.

Prediction: Lions 24, Cowboys 20

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.