Cardinals vs. Panthers: Odds, TV Schedule, Predictions for 2015 NFC Wild Card

The first game of the 2015 NFL postseason takes place on Saturday at 4:35 p.m. ET when the Carolina Panthers host the Arizona Cardinals at Bank of America Stadium.

Both teams are lucky to be where they are today.

The Panthers were just 3-8-1 on Dec. 1. A four-game winning stream pushed them to the top of the NFC South, netting them both a playoff berth and a home game.

The Cardinals, on the other hand, limped into the playoffs, finishing the season with two wins in their last six games. That's in part because of injuries at the quarterback position, something that will continue to haunt them against Carolina.

Will these two teams kick off the playoffs with a bang, or should we expect a relatively one-sided affair? Tune in to ESPN Saturday afternoon to catch the action.

When: Saturday, Jan. 3 at 4:35 p.m. ET

Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Odds (via OddsShark.com on Saturday, Jan. 3 at 12 a.m. ET):

• Spread: Carolina, -6.5
• Over/Under: 38

Analysis and Predictions

Matchup's like this one are hard to predict when considering the many factors that go into a football game.

Both teams have strong, aggressive defenses capable of shutting opponents down. Couple that with the fact that both offenses have a tendency to be inconsistent, and you've got a defensive showdown on your hands.

But then consider how well Cam Newton has been playing of late. His recent numbers are indicative of the level he's been playing at. Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles recognizes it:

The Cardinals could give him problems because of their blitz-oriented defense, but USA Today's Steven Ruiz writes that Newton has adapted to pressure in the box throughout this season:

"He’s had trouble against heavy-blitzing teams in his career, and if that trend continues, the Cardinals will have a decent shot at pulling the upset. But Newton has gotten better at the mental side of the game. He’s changing plays at the line more frequently, and he’s getting results when doing it."

Newton's ability to recognize a defense has proved crucial in his team's rise back up the ranks of the NFC. No longer mentally bound by the play calls of offensive coordinator Mike Shula, Newton has shown that he can pick the appropriate plays against certain defenses.

He has been particularly strong running the ball of late, and that is in large part due to his knowledge of what defenses are trying to do against him. NFL.com's Chris Wesseling broke down how strong the Panthers run game has been as a result:

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

"Over the past five weeks, Cam Newton and Jonathan Stewart have rushed for more yards than any quarterback-running back tandem in the league -- including Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. They have cleared 100 rushing in 11 consecutive games after failing to reach the century mark in four of the first five."

Pounding the ball against Arizona's No. 13-ranked run defense won't be particularly easy, but Carolina is a lock to make it 12 consecutive games with over 100 yards. All eyes will be on Newton, which will allow Stewart to find holes and gain consistent yardage.

Look for the duo to combine for at least 120 yards on the day.

Running the ball won't be as easy for Arizona. Then again, offense in general won't be so easy.

Offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin's unit has been dismal for nearly the past two months, as ESPN's Monday Night Football Twitter account noted:

"

The Cardinals have averaged 1 TD per game (6 Pass, 1 Int Ret) in their last 7 games and have not scored a Rush TD in that span. Yikes.

— ESPN Monday Night (@ESPNMondayNight) January 1, 2015"

Ryan Lindley, the quarterback for Arizona for the immediate future, has thrown just two of those six passing touchdowns. What the Cardinals can do offensively largely hinges on how well the third-year signal-caller can manage the game.

Lindley alone cannot beat the Panthers (nor too many other teams in the NFL, for that matter), so he'll rely heavily on Kerwynn Williams and Marion Grice to at least keep the chains moving. It'd be nice if the duo could rip off a big gain or two along the way, but Lindley will settle for 3rd-and-short situations.

Williams and Grice have not been good of late, though, and the Cardinals have only averaged 81.8 yards per game on the ground this season. That includes the production of a healthy Andre Ellington earlier in the year.

Without a run game, the Cardinals are doomed.

Carson Palmer—and maybe even Drew Stanton—would have a shot against this Panthers team without a serviceable rushing attack, but not Lindley. He turns the ball over far too much (11 interceptions in nine career games) and doesn't have the arm strength to beat a defense consistently.

While the defenses could steal the show, this could easily turn into a battle of inept offenses. Either way, don't expect Arizona to move on to the next round.

Football teams have won in the playoffs without strong quarterback play, but few teams have won in the playoffs with inept quarterback play. Injuries will be Arizona's downfall, as this team had all the potential in the world while everyone was playing together during the height of its run earlier in the season.

Prediction: Panthers 24, Cardinals 14

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn.