NFL Divisional Schedule 2015: Dates, Times, AFC and NFC Matchup Preview

The divisional-round matchups are set for the 2014-15 NFL playoffs, and all four offer plenty of juicy storylines as a Super Bowl champion comes closer to being determined.

After the Indianapolis Colts' victory over Cincinnati on Sunday, a showdown was set between Denver Broncos legend Peyton Manning and his Indianapolis successor in Andrew Luck. That head-to-head battle alone should appease plenty of football fans.

But the quarterbacks in the other AFC fixture between Baltimore's Joe Flacco and New England's Tom Brady aren't slouches either. This fact from ESPN Stats & Info supports that:

The defending champion Seattle Seahawks hold home-field advantage in the NFC, so their track to retaining the Lombardi Trophy is quite favorable.

Read on for the dates and times of these fascinating forthcoming postseason games, along with previews for each one.

Saturday, January 10	Time (ET)	TV
Sunday, January 11	Time (ET)	TV
Baltimore Ravens (6) vs. New England Patriots (1)	4:35 p.m.	NBC
Carolina Panthers (4) vs. Seattle Seahawks (1)	8:15 p.m.	FOX
Dallas Cowboys (3) vs. Green Bay Packers (2)	1:05 p.m.	FOX
Indianapolis Colts (4) vs. Denver Broncos (2)	4:40 p.m.	CBS

AFC Matchup Previews

Those believing that the Patriots are a lock to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl should consider what transpired the last time the Ravens traveled to Foxborough in the playoffs.

That was the AFC Championship Game approximately two years ago, and Baltimore was dominant in a 28-13 win. Its secondary is quite thin, yet its front seven can shut down New England on the ground and pressure Brady effectively.

Flacco has also been amazing in the playoffs as of late, per NFL Network's Rich Eisen:

Ravens coach John Harbaugh sure thinks highly of his signal-caller, via NFL.com's Connor Orr:

"

Joe Flacco, what can you say? I think he had a perfect quarterback rating there in the third quarter. That's playoff football. That's Joe Flacco. He is the best quarterback in football. We will take him any day of the week. Twice on Sunday or Saturday night, if that be the case.

"

But it's hard to imagine the Pats being denied in what should be a close game. Their defensive backfield features Darrelle Revis now. Brady and coach Bill Belichick haven't had a much more complete team or favorable circumstances to notch their fourth collective championship.

Ryan Ruocco of ESPN hinted at the Patriots' status as prohibitive AFC favorites in his take on their next opponent:

This presents a chance for New England to exact revenge on the Ravens, who have won two of the previous three postseason matchups in the past six years. Brady has enough weapons to get the ball out quickly and capitalize on the thin cornerback corps he'll be facing.

Both teams were in the top five in both run and pass blocking during the regular season, per Football Outsiders. The trenches should determine who wins the game, but there's too much at stake legacy-wise for Brady and Belichick to allow this opportunity to slip.

The most encouraging sign from Luck in Sunday's victory, beyond the 376 yards and amazing passing touchdown he threw to Donte Moncrief, was the absence of turnovers. Luck didn't throw a pick or lose a fumble, which has to give Indianapolis even more hope.

However, these numbers from The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre note the issues Luck has had away from home in the games that matter most:

Facing off against Manning shouldn't bring any added pressure, because Luck has had to deal with that ever since the Colts drafted him No. 1 overall.

The good news about those tough outings is that they came against the teams facing off in the other divisional-round contest. Denver's defense is tougher than most believe, though, ranking fourth only behind Seattle, Buffalo and Detroit in Football Outsiders' defensive efficiency ratings.

One concerning reality for the Broncos is that Manning's arm strength is nowhere near what it was in his prime. Jumping shorter patterns and bringing exotic blitzes should help Indianapolis keep the game close.

Despite this astonishing fact from the NFL on ESPN, many still nitpick Manning's greatness:

A first-round bye is the best thing that could have happened for Manning and the Broncos as a whole.

C.J. Anderson's emergence in the backfield has given Denver more balance, and a week to rest gives the offensive line and Anderson a chance to recuperate from the resultant increased physicality. Banged-up star tight end Julius Thomas should also be fitter than he's been in quite some time.

Indianapolis is too one-dimensional. Against an opposing pass rush spearheaded by Von Miller, Luck can only do so much.

With questions to answer about his decline, his overall lack of success in the playoffs and his window to win a second Lombardi Trophy closing, Manning should rise to the occasion and put Denver in the conference title game.

AFC Predictions: Patriots 34, Ravens 23; Broncos 27, Colts 17  

NFC Matchup Previews

Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

The road to Super Bowl XLIX runs through CenturyLink Field. No matter who makes the trip to Seattle, odds are that the Seahawks won't be denied.

Seattle has no glaring defensive weaknesses, and its offense relies on the magic produced by scrambling QB extraordinaire Russell Wilson and the hard, "Beast Mode" running of Marshawn Lynch.

A dearth of playmakers in the receiving corps hasn't hindered the Seahawks amid their six-game winning streak, per NFC Director of Football Communications Randall Liu:

The Carolina Panthers don't have to apologize for winning the NFC South with a 7-8-1 record. They peaked at the right time, rediscovered their defense, saw a finally healthy Jonathan Stewart help the team establish an identity and rallied around Cam Newton.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport brings up a strong point about Newton's late-season prowess:

Newton was blitzed often by Arizona and missed some rather easy throws and reads that could have resulted in big plays. If he makes those corrections and Stewart keeps running the way he has, the Panthers could be extremely dangerous to face on the road.

The underdogs will be playing with nothing to lose, yet there's only so much Carolina can do. Its receivers are limited to the explosive but inconsistent rookie Kelvin Benjamin.

Seattle is limited in a similar way, but its sensational Legion of Boom secondary will make life hard for Carolina's receivers to create separation. That should be enough to give the Seahawks the edge in a low-scoring, hard-fought victory.

Even though the Green Bay Packers have rust to be concerned with and a calf injury to superstar QB Aaron Rodgers, they stayed sharp down the stretch. Green Bay needed to beat Detroit in Week 17 to lock up the NFC North, so with Rodgers' improved health and a maximum of one road game, the Packers will be a huge threat.

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

America's Team is back, though. The Dallas Cowboys grounded out a 24-20 Wild Card Round win over the Lions, thanks to some late heroics by Tony Romo.

When the NFL's leading rusher DeMarco Murray couldn't quite get going against Detroit's stout front seven, Romo stepped up, overcame six sacks and threw the winning TD in the fourth quarter.

This is an interesting point made by Sports Illustrated's Aaron Nagler with regard to the Packers-Cowboys matchup that features Rodgers and Romo under center:

Lambeau Field is such a hostile environment, yet Dallas is a perfect 8-0 on the road this season. These Cowboys are built to handle adversity, and Romo has shown new resolve and composure that he has lacked in the past.

What makes Green Bay so tough is bruising ball-carrier Eddie Lacy and how he's come on strong in the second half of the season. Lacy is the feature back Rodgers has been waiting for, and defensive coordinator Dom Capers has shored up some issues the Packers have had on that side of the ball as well.

Rodgers is just slightly better than Romo, and the past Super Bowl MVP has been especially on fire at home, with 25 touchdowns and zero interceptions on the year. That should culminate in both of the top two seeds meeting in their respective conference championships.

NFC Predictions: Seahawks 20, Panthers 13; Packers 31, Cowboys 30