NFL Wild Card Weekend 2015: TV Schedule, Live Stream and Predictions for Sunday

The Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens kicked the 2015 NFL playoffs off with a bang, and four teams are now on tap to duke it out on Sunday to determine the final two teams to advance to the divisional round of the postseason.

In the AFC, the Indianapolis Colts will look to slow down the Cincinnati Bengals, who have been using the run to thwart opponents in recent weeks. The NFC's contest features the red-hot Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions, a team futile on the road against winning teams with Matthew Stafford.

There were plenty of fireworks in the opening games of the playoffs, and we should see similar competitiveness from these four teams on Sunday. But who will advance?

Continue below to find predictions for the final outcomes, as well as TV information to see if the predictions come true.

	When	Where	TV Info	Live Stream	Prediction
Bengals vs. Colts	Sun., Jan. 4	Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis	CBS, 1:05 p.m. ET	NFL Mobile	Colts, 31-20
Lions vs. Cowboys	Sun., Jan. 4	AT&T Stadium, Arlington	Fox, 4:40 p.m. ET	FoxSports Go	Cowboys, 27-23

Bengals vs. Colts

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

The Bengals have a potent rushing attack and competent defense, but there's one thing holding Cincinnati back from taking care of business on the road: Andy Dalton.

The fourth-year quarterback was just OK during the regular season, registering or matching career-lows in touchdowns (19), yards (3,398), yards per game (212.4) and game-winning drives (zero). He also tossed 17 interceptions.

But those numbers are far better than what should be expected of him in the postseason. In one word, he has been "horrific" when it matters most:

Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wondered aloud to his Twitter followers what it must be like to have Dalton under center:

Dalton's struggles are extremely well documented. Something happens to him in the playoffs that makes him an incapable leader and passer. His regular-season production would indicate that he's capable of much more, but he has yet to solve his glaring postseason woes.

Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has seen the annual regression of Dalton between Week 17 and the first week of the playoffs, but he's convinced that Dalton is ready to put it all behind him, via SI.com's Peter King:

"I see a group that understands where we are and what they are facing. I have seen a focused group this week. This has been the most focused week of practice I have seen in Andy. I think it will show up on Sunday."

The deck is stacked against Dalton, however. Struggles aside, Dalton will be without star wide receiver A.J. Green due to a concussion, reports ESPN.com's Coley Harvey.

Without Green on the field, all the Colts have to do is focus on limiting Jeremy Hill on the ground and putting Dalton in passing situations. That's where the defense will be able to make plays.

Indianapolis is poised to win easily. Andrew Luck will be the best player on the field, and barring an epiphany by Dalton, he'll roll into Denver to face Peyton Manning.

Prediction: Colts 31, Bengals 20

Lions vs. Cowboys

Another quarterback who struggles in the playoffs is Tony Romo, though he is poised to get off the schneid and lead his Cowboys to a victory. Things have been different this season for Romo, as ESPN's SportsCenter Twitter account told its followers:

Romo was simply stellar in December, leading his Cowboys to the top spot in the NFC East. Perhaps that puts even more pressure on him to succeed. This is widely viewed as the Cowboys' best shot at winning the Super Bowl in the Romo era. Considering the fact that he's 34, he likely won't lead too many more late-season runs in his career.

The time is now for Romo and the Cowboys.

Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News puts this contest into perspective:

"

Many wonder whether Romo will write a new, exciting chapter in his tale, or if he will just regurgitate the same tired storyline about the quarterback who puts up all of the fancy numbers but can’t win anything meaningful with his team. On Sunday, in the wild-card game against Detroit, Romo’s legacy is on the line.

"

Unlike Dalton, Romo will get that elusive win.

The Cowboys can do it all offensively. Dez Bryant is a target deep, in the middle and in the end zone, and DeMarco Murray just finished off one of the most impressive seasons by a running back in recent memory. Tackle Zack Martin is the leader of the offensive line in just his first season, and supporting players like Cole Beasley and Joseph Randle often respond when called upon.

But the real key to Romo's success in this game happens to reside on the opposite sideline.

Matthew Stafford is pitiful against good teams on the road. Fox Sports' Ross Jones tweeted his record against winning teams on the road following last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field:

If Stafford can't get the monkey off his back, then Romo should be able to coast to a victory. The Lions are dark-horse contenders in the NFC given their regular-season success, but Stafford's daunting record in these situations cannot be overlooked.

Romo might not even have to win this game. Stafford might just lose it for him.

Prediction: Cowboys 27, Lions 23

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn