NFL Playoff Predictions 2015: Odds and Spread Picks for Entire Wild Card Round

When the dust settles after Wild Card Weekend, only eight teams will be left standing in the pursuit of the Super Bowl. The opening weekend of the playoffs should be a perfect showcase of the parity that's reigned supreme throughout the NFL all season.

On Saturday, the Arizona Cardinals travel to face the sub-.500-but-suddenly-in-form Carolina Panthers. Then, the longstanding AFC North rivalry between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers heats up once again.

On Sunday, Andy Dalton will look to shake off his playoff woes as the Cincinnati Bengals battle the Indianapolis Colts. And the weekend wraps up with a star-studded clash featuring the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys.

Let's check out the odds for each contest, make predictions and then examine the most important factor in deciding which teams will advance to the next round.

Wild Card Weekend Predictions

Date	Road	Home	Line	Pick
Jan. 3	Cardinals	Panthers	CAR -6.5	CAR
Jan. 3	Ravens	Steelers	PIT -3	BAL
Jan. 4	Bengals	Colts	IND -3.5	IND
Jan. 4	Lions	Cowboys	DAL -6.5	DET

Biggest Key for Each Game

Cardinals at Panthers: Ryan Lindley

The Cardinals are in an extremely difficult spot. Not only do they have to go out on the road to face a surging Carolina squad, but they must do it with their third-string quarterback. One who has two touchdowns and 11 interceptions in nine career games.

Normally, in that type of situation, you would think a team would start to lean heavily on its rushing attack. But Arizona ranks second-worst in yards per game on the ground. So the onus is on Lindley, who's attempted 83 passes over the past two weeks, to make something happen offensively.

It would be interesting to see how different the outlook would be for the Cardinals had Carson Palmer been able to stay healthy. That's not something the team itself can dwell on, though. Lindley explained to Craig Morgan of Fox Sports Arizona that he knows this could be his only chance:

"

When you look in the grand scheme of things, there is next year, but there is not next year for everybody. There's not a next play for everybody, so it's something that you just have to take to heart. It is playoff football and you have to go out there and play fast and just leave it all out there. You never know when it's going to be your last play or your last game.

"

Lindley could erase the memory of those previous struggles with one great playoff game. His track record makes it tough to believe that's going to happen Saturday, however. That's why the edge goes to the Panthers.

Ravens at Steelers: Pittsburgh's Backup Running Backs

Le'Veon Bell was one of the most important players in football during the regular season. His ability to make a significant impact both on the ground and through the air for the Steelers can't be overstated. So the fact that he was ruled out for the clash with Baltimore is a major setback.

Now the question is whether the Steelers' reserve group at the position can keep the team alive long enough for Bell to return. It's an uphill task, to say the least. John Buccigross of ESPN passed along a stat to show exactly how impactful the dual-threat back was:

It's unclear exactly how Pittsburgh plans to utilize its other options. Josh Harris figures to get the most work, with Dri Archer built for a more limited role and Ben Tate only recently signed. But all three could see action until a hot hand emerges.

That uncertainty doesn't bode well heading into what's likely to become a hard-hitting game with the Ravens and their fourth-ranked run defense. The combination of Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown will likely need to have an outstanding night to push Pittsburgh through.

Bengals at Colts: Indianapolis' Third-Down Defense

The Colts rated second in third-down defense during the regular season. When these two teams faced off back in October—a 27-0 Indianapolis victory—they held the Bengals to a 1-of-13 mark in those situations en route to the blowout.

Why is getting off the field on third down so important for the Colts? Because when opponents are able to keep drives alive early, the stats begin turning against Indy. Trey Wingo of NFL Live provided the Colts' lackluster red-zone numbers:

Indianapolis' last two losses provide further evidence of the trend. The Cowboys and Patriots went a combined 14-of-21 in third-down situations while outscoring the Colts 84-27. The defense ranks a solid 11th overall, but if the unit doesn't get the stops early in drives, it doesn't get them at all.

For the Bengals, it comes down to whether Dalton can shake off those aforementioned postseason struggles. He's 0-3 with one touchdown, six interceptions and a 56 quarterback rating in the playoffs. If the Colts can get pressure on him on third down, they have the clear edge.

Lions at Cowboys: Detroit's Run Defense

The increased success of the Dallas offense is no secret. The team finally made DeMarco Murray a more consistent part of the attack. He responded by leading the league in rushing by nearly 500 yards, which in turn opened larger passing lanes for Tony Romo.

It looked like the Cowboys were going to catch a break after Ndamukong Suh was suspended one game for stepping on Aaron Rodgers. The ruling was eventually changed to a fine, however, thus letting him play Sunday. ESPN Stats and Info highlights what that means for the Detroit defense:

The Lions lead the league against the run by allowing fewer than 70 yards per game. That's the key to success this week. They must slow down Murray and force Dallas to become more one-dimensional, leaving Romo to carry the offense.

On the flip side, the Cowboys must remain committed to balance on that side of the ball, even if the running game is sluggish early. Otherwise, they will play right into Detroit's hands, and that would land them on upset alert.