NFL Playoff Schedule 2015: AFC, NFC Championship Dates, Times and Preview
Inches. It always comes back to inches in the NFL.
The ball slides just a few inches out of Dez Bryant's grasp on a diving catch just in front of the end zone. The Dallas Cowboys need this play, down five to the Green Bay Packers late in the fourth quarter of their riveting NFC divisional-round tilt.
The ball never hits the ground, but it's an incomplete pass thanks to a rule that could very well face intense scrutiny in the coming weeks, and the Packers hold on, 26-21, and head to the NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks.
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C.J. Anderson, who shifts gears better than the majority of the league's running backs, catches the ball on 4th-and-8 and makes a second-effort lunge toward the first-down marker with his Denver Broncos trailing the Indianapolis Colts 24-13 late in the fourth quarter.
The refs determine the spot, the chains come out, and Anderson is short. Inches short.
The spot holds up after a Broncos challenge, and Peyton Manning's hopes for a return trip to the Super Bowl evaporate, leaving Andrew Luck and the Colts to head up to Foxborough, Massachusetts, and take on the New England Patriots.
The divisional-round theatrics more than made up for a Wild Card Weekend that lacked drama in all but one contest—and yes, Detroit Lions fans might consider the Cowboys' loss a satisfying instance of cosmic, karmic justice—and one can only hope the AFC and NFC Championship Games deliver on their immense promise.
Here is a look at the conference championship dates, times and viewing info, followed by a quick preview of the upcoming contests.
| AFC Championship | Sunday, Jan. 18 | 6:40 p.m. | Indianapolis | New England | CBS |
| NFC Championship | Sunday, Jan. 18 | 3:05 p.m. | Green Bay | Seattle | FOX |
AFC Championship Preview: Indianapolis vs. New England
Indy is the lowest seed remaining in these playoffs, but that's academic at this point. With Luck behind center, they can stack up with any team in the league, including the vaunted Patriots, who are in the AFC Championship by way of a scintillating 35-31 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.
Luck wasn't at his best on Sunday, tossing two interceptions to Bradley Roby and Rahim Moore, but he made throws when it counted and played well despite lackluster support from Boom Herron in the running game.
He's will have to be at his best against the Patriots secondary and find ways to move the chains while avoiding all-world corner Darrelle Revis. Bleacher Report's Ian Wharton noted the Colts opted to avoid Chris Harris—the supreme cover corner in the league—on Sunday and instead pick on his opposite at corner:
Herron averaged just 2.7 yards per carry against the Broncos, but he could find more room to run against the Pats. The Ravens' offensive line had its way with the Patriots front seven on Saturday, paving the way for Justin Forsett's 124 rushing yards.
It's rare to see a line anchored by the mammoth Vince Wilfork get dominated at the point of attack like that, and the battle in the trenches could be key to this one.
The Colts as a team averaged a mediocre 3.9 yards per carry this season, so there is no guarantee Luck will be operating in a balanced offense on Jan. 18.
Just about every member of the Colts secondary did yeoman's work against Manning on Sunday, holding the legendary signal-caller to just 211 yards passing.
Of course, Manning faded at the end of the regular season and Anderson had become the engine of the offense to some extent—although, the mere presence of the future Hall of Famer under center can keep linebackers rocking back on their heels in anticipation of a quick pass instead of raring up to fill gaps on run plays.
Tom Brady was Tom Terrific on Saturday, completing 33 of 50 passes for three touchdowns and one pick, including an inch-perfect toss to Brandon LaFell for what would prove to be the game-winning score. ESPN's Trey Wingo noted Brady will find himself in a familiar situation against the Colts:
The Patriots lack elite wide receivers, and Vontae Davis should be able to shut down LaFell. However, Brady is a master at spreading the ball around to scrappers like Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola. Lest anyone forget, Rob Gronkowski remains virtually impossible to cover.
New England's rushing game was nonexistent against the Ravens; it will be interesting to see if Bill Belichick opts to establish the run early considering Anderson's decent success on Sunday for the Broncos. Look for this game to be a cagey, high-scoring affair that could be determined by whichever elite quarterback has the ball last.
NFC Championship Preview: Green Bay vs. Seattle
Aaron Rodgers faces his toughest test of the season in the vaunted Seahawks defense, which held the Panthers' Cam Newton to 6.8 yards per attempt and picked him off twice in the team's convincing 31-17 victory.
Rodgers, in spite of an ailing calf, was as good as ever against the Cowboys, completing 24 of 35 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns. Randall Cobb was excellent as usual, but Rodgers also managed to coax a stunning performance out of rookie wideout Davante Adams, who reeled in seven catches for 117 yards and one score.
Seattle's Legion of Boom could have its hands full with Cobb, Adams and Jordy Nelson running around and making plays. Of course, Rodgers has to be careful to put them in good situations, lest they run into fearsome safety Kam Chancellor.
"Kam Chancellor,” teammate Richard Sherman said, via the Los Angeles Times' Sam Farmer, “damages people's souls."
Chancellor and Sherman both recorded interceptions on Saturday.
Of course, it's not like Green Bay really has much film of teams having success against the Seahawks D to study. The 17 points Carolina scored was the most Seattle had allowed since they gave up 24 in a Week 11 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Green Bay will need Rodgers at his best and another strong performance from running back Eddie Lacy—who had 101 yards against the Cowboys—if they want to break into the 20s in this contest. Seattle would be wise to up the pressure on Rodgers, who is usually a fairly mobile quarterback but will likely be slowed by injury for this contest.
The Packers will have to be careful on defense as well. DeMarco Murray racked up 123 yards on Sunday, and one has to imagine Seattle will give Marshawn Lynch more than 14 carries with that postseason precedent set against Green Bay's run defense.
Making sure Lynch kicks into beast mode early on—although, one could argue that's his only mode—will be key to opening up opportunities for Russell Wilson in the passing game.
Wilson hasn't gotten much out of his tight ends this season, but Luke Willson's four-catch, 68-yard performance (with a TD to boot) has to be an encouraging sign for this offense heading into the NFC Championship. Doug Baldwin could have a tough day against corner Sam Shields, and Wilson will need options other than his own two legs when Plan A doesn't work on passing downs.
This game likely won't provide the same amount of offensive fireworks as the AFC Championship Game, but it should be no less competitive.
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