NFL Wild Card Weekend Preview

The NFL regular season has now come and gone, meaning that the playoffs are finally here. This is the time of year that football fans really enjoy, as the second season has gotten underway. There are 12 teams left standing as the drive to Super Bowl 49 begins with Wild Card Weekend in the NFL. With the way things played out to get to this point, there is the potential for some epic matchups during this playoff run. To kick off the road to the Super Bowl, we got to start someplace and that's where this Wild Card Weekend comes into place. There two exciting games slated for Saturday, with two more great games being played on Sunday. So lets start there shall we!

First up on Saturday at 4:35 it is the Wild Card winning Arizona Cardinals heading to Bank of America Stadium in Carolina to take on the NFC South Champions the Carolina Panthers. This marks the first trip to the playoffs for the Cardinals since 2009, and the first time they come in as a wild card team since 1998. Lifetime, the Cardinals organization has a 6-7 lifetime record in the playoffs, with one Super Bowl appearance, a lost to Pittsburgh in 2008. As for the Carolina Panthers, they have won the South for the 2nd year in a row, making the playoffs for the 6th time in franchise history. Carolina has made the Super Bowl once, losing to New England in 2003. Carolina is lifetime 6-5 in the playoffs. These teams have met once in the playoffs, that being in 2008, a 33-13 win by the Cardinals.

These two clubs come into the playoffs in very different ways. Carolina and Arizona both have an identical record. Carolina is 4-4 at home, Arizona is 4-4 on the road. But there are differences between the two teams. Carolina is coming in riding a four game win streak to close out the regular season. Even though the Panthers defense isn't as dominant as it was a season ago, Cam Newton is playing inspired football since returning from injuries caused by a car accident. Arizona is starting to slip a little bit. The Cardinals have lost two straight games, both of which with third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley under center, and that hasn't proved fruitful. Lindley has two touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in his career, and Arizona has lost the last two games with him under center. He's simply not good enough to lead a team to victory on the road in the playoffs. Carolina will win and advance. A couple of months ago this would be a different story but now its kind of easy to pick.

The Pick: Arizona Cardinals

Now the night game Saturday, which is an 8:30 kickoff, will see the Wild Card winning Baltimore Ravens heading to Heinz Field in Pittsburgh to take on division rival and AFC North Champion the Pittsburgh Steelers. For Pittsburgh, a team that has won six Super Bowl Titles (last one being in 2008) this is their first trip to the playoffs since 2011. They have a record of 33-23 lifetime in the playoffs. Of note, the last two times the Steelers went into the playoffs as the division champs, they made it all the way to the SuperBowl (going 1-1). As for the Ravens, this is their 2nd playoff appearance in three years, their last trip to the post season was a victory in Super Bowl 47.  Baltimore is unbeaten in Franchise history in Superbowls (winning in 2000 and 2012), and have a record of 14-7 all time in the playoffs. These two teams have met three times previously in the playoffs, with Pittsburgh winning all three times.

Since they play in the same division, this is the rubber match on the year. Baltimore won the first meeting in Baltimore back in week two, by a 26-6 score. Pittsburgh returned the favor in Pittsburgh in week nine with a 43-23 win at home. Both teams have solid passing games, being lead by Ben Rothlesberger and Joe Flacco respectively. Flacco and the Ravens pass game hasn't really loo9ked good the last few weeks, week seventeen not included.Another difference might be the running game, with Pittsburgh being slightly better at the moment. Even though the Steelers might not have the service of Le'Veon Bell with injuries. But still the Steelers have enough to out score the Ravens.

The Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers

Now to the Sunday games. First up, with a 1:05 kickoff it's the Wild Card winning Cincinnati Bengals heading to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the AFC South Champions the Indianapolis Colts. For the Bengals, this is their 4th straight years in the playoffs and the fifth time in six years they have made the post season. Cincy has made the Superbowl twice (1981 and 1988), losing both times. In fact the Bengals are 5-12 lifetime in the post season, and haven't gotten out of the first round since 1990. Meanwhile, the Colts are in the playoffs for the 3rd time in four years, in fact they have only missed the playoffs twice since 2000. Indy has won 4 NFL Championships in 7 appearances in the title game. The Colts have a record of 20-21 lifetime in the playoffs. These two clubs have played once in the playoffs, back in 1970, a game which the Colts won 17-0.

Indy is 6-2 a home this season and Andrew Luck having an outstanding year this year under center. The Bengals are the team you have to be a little worried about in this game. With Andy Dalton as quarterback, the Cincinnati Bengals have never won a playoff game. In the three postseason games he's played, he's never had a quarterback rating higher than 67. This won't all fall on Dalton if the Bengals fail again in the first round. Something to look at is going to be the Bengals defense as well, since it hasn't exactly looked like a stout defensive unit during the second half of the season. Cincinnati is ranked 20th in passing and rushing yards allowed. It's too much to ask of the defense to shut Luck down. Luck has a field day with this one.

The Pick: Indianapolis Colts

The final game of Wild Card weekend is Sunday at 4:05 from AT&T Stadium in Dallas Texas, as the AFC East Champions the Dallas Cowboys play host to the wild card winners the Detroit Lions. This marks the firs trip to the playoffs for the Lions since 2011 and only the 2nd time they have made the playoffs since 1999. Detroit hasn't seen a championship game since 1957. The Lions have 3 NFL Championships in their history but have a record of 7-11 all time in the playoffs. Meanwhile, this is the first trip to the post season for Dallas since 2009, the year they last won the AFC East title. Dallas is 5-5 lifetime in the Big Game, but haven't made it to a Superbowl since their last title win in 1995. In fact Dallas has gotten out of the 1st round since 1996. The Cowboys are 33-25 lifetime in the playoffs. Dallas and Detroit have met twice before in the playoffs, Dallas won 5-0 in 1970, while Detroit took the most recent meeting, 38-6 back in 1991.

If your Matthew Stafford, this game is going to be a true test for you as a starter. Including playoffs, Matthew Stafford is 0-17 in road games vs teams that finished season over .50 (ESPN). Stafford has no luck on the road against winning teams. Even though he has Megatron (Calvin Johnson) and Golden Tate to throw to, Stafford just can't get the job done. And Detroit does have a much improved defense. The Lions defense has been a top five defense all year long, even with Suh in the lineup. But they are going up against the Dallas Cowboys, who have probably the most complete offense in the entire league right now. I know the knock against Tony Romo and his inability to find success in the post season. But they have decent receivers and DeMarco Murray has been outstanding running the ball this year. Detroit is going to keep the game close but they won't have enough.

The Pick: Dallas Cowboys

There you have it. Our predictions for the opening round of the NFL playoffs!