NFL Playoff Predictions: Picking Each Wild Card Game

The NFL playoffs are set to kick off on Saturday with the always-exciting Wild Card games.

Eight teams will take the field this weekend on their quest to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in win-or-go-home scenarios.

The New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers have first-round byes, but they will each have a keen interest in these games, as they will determine their opponents for the divisional round.

Here, we will take a closer look at each of the four Wild Card games and let you know which teams will be advancing—and which teams will be starting their offseason.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Kickoff: 4:35 p.m. ET, Saturday

Television: ESPN

The NFL postseason kicks off with the first playoff game in ESPN's history. The Arizona Cardinals (11-5) will travel to Bank of America Stadium to battle the Carolina Panthers (7-8-1), a team that won the NFC South despite having a losing record.

The Panthers became the first team to ever win the NFC South in back-to-back seasons, and now that they're in the postseason, they'll make no apologies for their losing record.

The last time a team won a division with the losing record, it was the Seattle Seahawks in 2010. All they did was defeat the defending Super Bowl champion in the Wild Card round.

The Panthers have been a hot team recently, especially with the way Jonathan Stewart is running the ball. He has run for 401 yards in the team's last four games.

Arizona may be the better team, but it will have to pin its hopes on third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley.

"

Ryan Lindley (0-2) vs Cam Newton (5-8-1) will be first playoff matchup in Super Bowl era between QB with losing records in that reg. season.

— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) January 3, 2015"

Lindley wasn't even on the roster two months ago, and he hadn't thrown a single touchdown pass in his career until last Sunday. Arizona is also missing running back Andre Ellington, one of the team's top playmakers.

The Cardinals will keep things close with their defense, but they just have too many injuries—and too much inexperience—to overcome.

Prediction: Panthers 20, Cardinals 13

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Don Wright/Associated Press

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET, Saturday

Television: NBC

The big question in this game will be how the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5) respond without their star running back, Le'Veon Bell, on the field.

Bell, who accounted for 39.6 percent of the Steelers' yardage this season, will miss the game with a knee injury, per Scott Brown of ESPN.

Not only do the Steelers lose something in the running game, but Bell has been a huge contributor in the passing game as well. As a result, the Steelers will have to turn to a young duo of running backs in Josh Harris and Dri Archer.

The Baltimore Ravens (10-6) got into the postseason despite lackluster performances in the last two weeks of the season against Houston and Cleveland.

Their reward is a trip to Heinz Field to take on their bitter rivals.

The two teams split the series this year, but Pittsburgh has won all three of the postseason games the teams have played.

"

A Ravens playoff win tonight over the Steelers would be a first for BALTIMORE football. Bert Jones went 0-2 vs. Bradshaw Steelers.

— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) January 3, 2015"

For Baltimore to end that streak, it will have to find a way to slow down Antonio Brown, who has been the best wide receiver in the league this season.

In two games against the Ravens this season, Brown has 18 catches for 234 yards and one touchdown. If he puts up big numbers in this game, Baltimore will have a hard time advancing.

The Ravens have a chance due to the absence of Bell, but they'll have to put up a solid defensive effort to slow down Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers offense.

Prediction: Steelers 27, Ravens 17

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Indianapolis Colts

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Kickoff: 1:05 p.m. ET, Sunday

Television: CBS

After a Week 16 victory over the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, things were looking up for the Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1).

But in Week 17, they lost a golden opportunity to end their playoff drought when they were defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Now, Andy Dalton and his team must go on the road and try to get the Bengals their first playoff victory since 1990.

He'll likely have to do that without his top wide receiver, A.J. Green, who is listed as doubtful for the game following the concussion he sustained in Week 17, per Kevin Patra of NFL.com.

"

With A.J. Green not expected to play, Bengals down to WRs Sanu, Greg Little, Brandon Tate, and Cobi Hamilton (signed off PS) vs. #Colts.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) January 2, 2015"

Those aren't good odds for the Bengals. Add in the fact that the Indianapolis Colts (11-5) completely dominated them in Week 7, winning the game 27-0.

The Colts could be a dangerous team in the playoffs, especially if Andrew Luck is able to get in a groove.

If the Bengals are to win this game, they will have to get the ball into the hands of rookie running back Jeremy Hill and try to control time of possession.

But without Green, it's hard to imagine this game going much differently than it did in October.

Prediction: Colts 24, Bengals 14

Detroit Lions vs. Dallas Cowboys

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

Kickoff: 4:40 p.m. ET, Sunday

Television: FOX

This may be the most intriguing game of the Wild Card round.

The Dallas Cowboys (12-4) make their return to the playoffs with a lot of promise following a very good season.

The play of Tony Romo, DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant conjured up memories of the team's glory years with Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin.

They have drawn the Detroit Lions (11-5), a hungry team looking to advance in the playoffs for the first time since 1991—when it beat the Cowboys 38-6.

The Lions will be challenged with stopping Murray, who led the NFL with 1,845 yards rushing this season.

They were given a huge boost when the league overturned the one-game suspension of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, reducing it to a fine for stepping on the leg of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Week 17.

On top of that, there is a chance the team will get defensive tackle Nick Fairley back as well, per Michael David Smith of NBC Sports. Fairley hasn't played since Week 8, but his presence would strengthen the Detroit defensive attack for sure.

This game will also feature two of the league's best wide receivers in Bryant and Calvin Johnson.

"

Including playoffs, Matthew Stafford is 0-17 in road games vs teams that finished season over .500. More here: http://t.co/8VHluXODNL

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 1, 2015"

Both teams are hungry for a win, but it's hard to ignore Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford's road record, especially in big games.

Still, we'll go with the upset.

Prediction: Lions 31, Cowboys 30