NFL Playoffs 2015: Divisional Round Schedule and Predictions

The 2014-15 NFL regular season was full of unpredictable action, and the trend continued into the playoffs last weekend with an entertaining Wild Card Round.

With eight of the best teams in the sport going to battle for the right to advance to their respective conference championships, football fans will be treated to intense action on the field both Saturday and Sunday.

Here is the full divisional round schedule, predicted winners in each game and the player who has the best chance to be the biggest difference-maker this weekend.

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

Biggest Potential Difference-Maker: Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots

There are several players during the divisional round who could be potential difference-makers for their respective teams, but few will have as much influence on a win or a loss as New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

After what many considered a lackluster season from the veteran quarterback last year, Brady bounced back in 2014 with more touchdowns (33) and fewer interceptions (nine), and he also brought his team to the No. 1 overall seed in the playoff standings.

Brady was a big reason the team earned home-field advantage through the postseason, but a second-round matchup against Baltimore is not what he wanted to see after the lack of success he found against the Ravens in the past.

Fox Sports’ America's Pregame showed Brady’s struggles against Baltimore:

When asked about Baltimore’s previous success in the postseason, Brady spoke to The Dennis and Callahan Show (h/t Phil Perry of CSNNE.com) regarding how that has no bearing on this season’s matchup:

"

Everything's different at this point. We can never change anything that's happened in the past, nor can they. You can't bring players out of retirement, they can't either. It's the guys we've got vs. the guys they've got, which that's an entirely new team that we have and an entirely new team that they have.

"

The official NFL on ESPN Twitter account showed why Brady is still one of the best:

Brady started the season slow, but he turned it around in Week 5 and never looked back. Excluding the final two games of the season in which New England wrapped up the No. 1 seed and was playing it safe, Brady threw for 28 touchdowns in a 10-game stretch and looked like the most dominant player in the league.

While Baltimore deserves immense credit for stuffing the run early and often this season (fourth in the NFL, allowing only 88.3 yards per game), the Ravens have struggled at times against the pass, ranking 23rd in the league, allowing 248.7 yards per game.

Baltimore is carrying confidence after a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wild Card Round, but Brady has the edge in postseason experience and the home-field advantage needed to put the ball in his team's court.

The stage is set for Brady to lead New England to a huge divisional round victory.

Predicted Final Score: New England 33, Baltimore 23

*Stats via NFL.com.