NFL Playoffs 2015: Schedule and Predictions for Wild Card Weekend

The NFL's second season begins Saturday with two potentially epic games. It's Wild Card Weekend, and football fans are fired up for the drive to Super Bowl XLIX. It all begins with the Arizona Cardinals visiting Bank of America Stadium to battle the Carolina Panthers.

Here's a look at the schedule for the weekend. Just beneath the table is a closer look at all four of the weekend's games.

Matchup	Date	Time
Arizona at Carolina	Sat. Jan. 3	4:20 p.m
Baltimore at Pittsburgh	Sat. Jan. 3	8:15 p.m.
Cincinnati at Indianapolis	Sun. Jan. 4	1:05 p.m.
Detroit at Dallas	Sun. Jan. 4	4:40 p.m.
TBD at New England	Sat. Jan. 10	4:35 p.m.
TBD at Seattle	Sat. Jan. 10	8:15 p.m.
TBD at Green Bay	Sun. Jan. 11	1:05 p.m.
TBD at Dever	Sun. Jan. 11	4:40 p.m.
NFC Championship	Sun. Jan. 18	3:05 p.m.
AFC Championship	Sun. Jan. 18	6:40 p.m.
Super Bowl XLIX	Sun. Feb. 1	6:30 p.m.

Carolina Will Defend Its Home Turf

John Bazemore/Associated Press

The Panthers were just 7-8-1 in the regular season, but this is the playoffs. It's all about what a team has done lately.

Carolina finished the season on a four-game win streak to claim the NFC South. Its record isn't impressive, but few teams were playing as well down the stretch.

Cam Newton is playing inspired football since returning from injuries caused by a car accident. His impact hasn't been as much about stats as it has been overall results and leadership. Head coach Ron Rivera talked about his quarterback's renewed enthusiasm, per Joseph Person of The Charlotte Observer.

“Maybe somewhere along the line he’s realized that he was getting too serious about certain things," Rivera said. "And I think that’s helped him relax and play relaxed. When he’s having fun and he is relaxed, he’s pretty doggone good.”

Against the Cardinals, Newton and the Panthers offense may not have to score many points. Arizona is going to start third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley again, per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com, and that hasn't proved fruitful.

Lindley has two touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in his career, and Arizona has lost the last two games with him under center. He's simply not good enough to lead a team to victory on the road in the playoffs. Carolina will win and advance.

Pittsburgh Will Win the Rubber Game

Don Wright/Associated Press

After splitting two regular-season meetings with the Baltimore Ravens, the Pittsburgh Steelers will win the all-important third matchup.

Pittsburgh might be playing without its star running back, Le'Veon Bell. The second-year player is still nursing a hyperextended knee he suffered in Week 17 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Per Chris Wesseling of NFL.com, Bell didn't practice Thursday, but head coach Mike Tomlin will have one more session Friday in hopes of giving Bell the chance to prove he's healthy enough to go Saturday night.

It looks like he could be a game time decision.

While having Bell would be an obvious boost for the Steelers, they can win without him. The team has a capable backup in Josh Harris and a speedy gadget player in Dri Archer to turn to. Harris hasn't put up eye-popping numbers, but he's shown a good burst when he's had opportunities.

Coupled with the Steelers' deft passing attack led by Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, offense shouldn't be an issue. The same probably can't be said for the Ravens.

With the exception of a solid Week 17 performance, the Ravens' aerial attack hasn't been especially impressive down the stretch of the regular season. In Week 16, Joe Flacco threw three picks, and his receivers have struggled to get separation all year.

The team hasn't had a 100-yard receiving performance since Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons' woeful pass defense. The Steelers are going to score points, and the Ravens won't be able to amount enough offense to keep pace.

Andy Dalton Doesn't Win Big Games

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

With Andy Dalton as quarterback, the Cincinnati Bengals have never won a playoff game. In the three postseason games he's played, he's never had a quarterback rating higher than 67.

That's a tough reality facing the Bengals as they prepare to go to Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday to play the Indianapolis Colts.

The task for Cincinnati becomes even more daunting if star wideout A.J. Green is unable to play. Green had to enter concussion protocol after a hit in the Week 17 loss to the Steelers. Per Coley Harvey of ESPN.com, Green was limited in practice Thursday.

If he can't go, the Bengals will be without their best weapon in the pass game. If Green plays, it still won't be enough to beat the Colts at home. Andrew Luck threw 40 touchdown passes on the regular season and was rarely slowed all year.

The Bengals defense hasn't exactly looked like a stout defensive unit during the second half of the season. Cincinnati is ranked 20th in passing and rushing yards allowed. It's too much to ask of the defense to shut Luck down.

On the road, Dalton and the Bengals will flounder, and Indy will move on.

Dallas' Balanced Offense Will Carry it to Victory

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

You may get an argument from Steelers fans, but right now, the Dallas Cowboys have the most complete offense in the NFL. Tony Romo is playing at an MVP level. Dez Bryant is one of the league's best receivers. DeMarco Murray led the league in rushing. Tight end Jason Witten is still a formidable underneath target, and the offensive line is arguably the best in football.

If that doesn't make for a dangerous offense, nothing does.

The Detroit Lions have had one of the best defenses in the NFL most of the season, but the Green Bay Packers proved that it's possible to run the ball effectively against them. Led by Eddie Lacy's 26 rushes for 100 yards, the Packers found success on the ground.

By most accounts, the Cowboys run game is better than that of the Packers. You'd think Dallas should be able to at least find similar success—if not more—Sunday. That'll only open up play-action pass opportunities, which is even more trouble for Detroit.

Can the Lions depend on Matthew Stafford to lead the offense in a shootout against the Cowboys? No.

Stafford looks to be regressing with his decision-making late in the season. He made some ill-advised throws in each of the final two regular-season games, and playing on the road in the postseason seems certain to produce more. Check out this statistic from ESPN Stats & Info:

Dallas is playing really well, and it will win Sunday.