NFL Playoff Picks 2014-15: Odds and Predictions for Most Dangerous Sleeper Teams

Look, there may only be 12 teams in the 2014-15 NFL playoffs, but with one at 7-8-1, the term "sleeper" is fair game.

Logistics aside, there are teams observers will count on and brush aside at face value.

The Seattle Seahawks are the defending champs and will not shock anybody.

What would be a surprise is if a team such as the Cincinnati Bengals puts it all together for the first time in four straight tries. Or if the Carolina Panthers, owners of the record above, go on a tear at just the right time.

After all, it only takes one great run to take home a Lombardi Trophy. With that in mind, a few obvious sleepers with paths to greater things have showdowns on Wild Card Weekend.

2014-15 NFL Playoffs Bracket

Wild Card Weekend Odds and Predictions

Matchup	Spread	Pick ATS	Reason
No. 5 Arizona Cardinals vs. No. 4 Carolina Panthers (Saturday, Jan. 3)	CAR -5.5	CAR	See analysis below.
No. 6 Baltimore Ravens vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers (Saturday, Jan. 3)	PIT -3	BAL	See analysis below.
No. 5 Cincinnati Bengals vs. No. 4 Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, Jan. 4)	IND -4	CIN	These two played to a 27-0 result in favor of Indianapolis earlier this year. Cincinnati is better this time around, but will still come up short when it matters.
No. 6 Detroit Lions vs. No. 3 Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, Jan. 4)	DAL -7	DAL	Without key defenders, the once-stout Detroit defense does not stand a chance of stopping DeMarco Murray.

Predictions for Sleepers to Watch

No. 5 Arizona Cardinals vs. No. 4 Carolina Panthers

Carolina might just be on the verge of something special.

Getting into the postseason after starting the month of December with just three wins is a feat on its own, though so is making history:

Cam Newton and the Panthers did all of this via four consecutive wins to close the season. This includes what amounted to an NFC South title game against the Atlanta Falcons, where the Panthers rushed for 194 yards and a score and picked off Matt Ryan twice.

Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman explains one major facet of Carolina's great run as of late:

"

One big reason is the toughness and talent of Cam Newton. Since a terrible game in Minnesota in late November, he's got a 96.9 rating, and that stretch includes getting into a car wreck on Dec. 9, one where he could have easily been killed. His play is inspired. You can see it. Something has clicked in him.

"

Another factor is the improved play of the secondary, which has now crept to just outside the top 10 in terms of pass defense.

Not that the Panthers will need a ton of help to get past the Ryan Lindley-led Arizona Cardinals.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians is a quarterback wiz, but even he can only squeeze so much out of a third-string quarterback or a hobbled Drew Stanton. Appearing on the Doug & Wolf Show on 98.7 FM, Cardinals general manager Steve Keim said he's hopeful Stanton will play this week.

Carolina also doesn't have to worry too much about an Arizona run defense that continues to deteriorate—last week, it allowed San Francisco's Frank Gore to rush for 144 yards.

Plenty was wrong with the Panthers. Not so much anymore, though, and little by little the team continues to look like one that can make a serious push for an NFC Championship and beyond.

Prediction: Panthers 23, Cardinals 17

No. 6 Baltimore Ravens vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

The Baltimore Ravens do so well as playoff sleepers.

Joe Flacco and Co. took care of business in three of their last four to make it to this point. There is no AFC North title to their name, but there is a fourth-ranked rush defense and a resume that says the team split the season series with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Oh, it also helps that a certain nasty defender is on his way back:

Add all that up, and then tack on the fact that the Steelers will be with a hobbled Le'Veon Bell at best and at worst without him Saturday, per ESPN.com's Adam Schefter and Scott Brown.

More good news: Baltimore lost in Pittsburgh this year, but Ben Roethlisberger was doing his best Peyton Manning impression with six passing touchdowns. He has thrown more than two in a contest just a single time since.

The Baltimore secondary has given up eight total passing touchdowns over seven games since.

All signs point to a sleeper no team will want to encounter this postseason. Baltimore has its patented defense and a top-10 rushing attack, not to mention one large quantity of momentum at just the right time.

Prediction: Ravens 20, Steelers 17

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