NFL Playoff Bracket 2015: Full Picture, Schedule and Scenarios for 2nd Round

The Wild Card Round of the playoffs came and went with only one game living up to the hype. Out of the four showdowns, three were separated by double digits and the other ended with the Dallas Cowboys controversially winning by only four points.

Heading into the second weekend, the matchups promise to bring more intrigue for NFL fans. Just one of the top four seeds didn't advance, and the Baltimore Ravens are less than two years removed from a run all the way to a Super Bowl victory.

As the opening kickoff on Saturday quickly approaches, here's a look at the picture, schedule and matchup scenarios for the divisional round.

Playoff Scenarios

The Wild Card Round can be a confusing one for some people when it comes to trying to figure out the future matchups. Thankfully, the divisional round is much more straightforward.

Moving forward, the only question for the winners is where they will be playing next. In the case of the Ravens and Carolina Panthers, both teams will be playing on the road regardless of the results in the other matchups.

If the Panthers can somehow get past the No. 1-seeded Seattle Seahawks, they would have a date with either the Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys on the road. However, playing in CenturyLink Field is not exactly the easiest task.

Not only will Carolina be competing with the Seahawks, but it also has to deal with the 12th Man. ESPN Stats & Info points out just how difficult that has been lately and historically at home:

Meanwhile, out in Lambeau Field, the Packers have aspirations of making it to the NFC Championship Game, regardless of the location. Green Bay faces a Cowboys team that is 8-0 on the road this season and coming off its first playoff win since 2009.

But Green Bay has the best quarterback in the league at home, as Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette notes:

Rodgers is looking to extend his home win streak after winning all eight this season, but Andrew Luck is hoping to finally emerge from the shadows of Peyton Manning with the Indianapolis Colts. In order to do that, he'd have to win on the road against the Denver Broncos.

If he can pull off the upset over Manning in Denver, Luck and the Colts might have a chance at hosting another playoff game with a Ravens win. One person who clearly believes the future is bright for Luck is former coach Jim Fassel.

"He'll go down as the greatest quarterback of all time," Fassel said, via Chris Wesseling of NFL.com. "The numbers he has already put up as a young quarterback, far superior to anybody else that came in the league in their first four, five or six years the numbers he's put up. If he keeps at that pace … Whoa!"

In order to prove that statement is correct, Luck will eventually need to make his way further into the playoffs. Taking down Manning in the process would open up a completely new picture for the playoffs. Whether it's Baltimore or New England, expect fireworks if Luck makes his way to the AFC Championship.

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