By: David McCaffery
And just like that, the NFL’s second season is underway. After four months of fierce competition and hard-fought contests, the 2014 season gives way to the 2015 post-season. Let’s get right to business and take a look at all four exciting Wildcard Weekend match ups.
2015 NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND PREVIEW
Arizona Cardinals (no. 5) at Carolina Panthers (no. 4), Saturday, 4:20 pm ET, ESPN
The route these two teams took to the first game of the post-season was certainly unconventional. The Cardinals were one of the hottest clubs in the NFL for most of the season and spent a great deal of time as the top seed in the NFC. So what happened? Injuries and lots of them. The Cards lost starting quarterback Carson Palmer to a torn ACL in Week 10, and then lost his backup Drew Stanton in Week 15. Top running back Andre Ellington was lost for the season in Week 13 due to a hernia, and much of the rest is history. After starting the season 9-1, the Cards dropped four of their last six, good for an 11-5 record and the fifth seed in the conference. It’s been a topsy turvy ride en route to the playoffs, which is very fitting considering their opponents on Saturday afternoon.
Yes, it’s been no walk in the park for the Carolina Panthers either. Going into Week 14, the Panthers sat 3-8-1, and appeared done-for, even in a weak NFC South. One year removed from an impressive 12-4 season that saw them capture the divisional title, Ron Rivera’s bunch looked like a much different squad in 2014. That’s when things kicked into high-gear. The Panthers lit up their rivals, the Saints 41-10 in New Orleans no less, and there’s been no looking back since then.
The Panthers reeled off four consecutive victories to close out the season, even more impressive when one considers that one of those wins came without Cam Newton under center. This late season surge pushed the Panthers’ record to 7-8-1 and propelled them into a second consecutive NFC South title. While smart money might have been on the Cardinals winning this game a month ago, these two teams have been going in opposite directions and the Panthers have home-field advantage. This game may surprise many people.
Baltimore Ravens (no. 6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (no. 3), Saturday, 8:15 pm ET, NBC
You just knew these two teams had to meet in the playoffs, didn’t you? The old rivalry will be renewed Saturday night and the outcome is anyone’s guess. To the surprise of no one, the teams split the season series, one apiece, and on paper match up very evenly.
The Ravens have been something of an under-the -radar team in 2014 and that’s surprising for a club less than two years removed from a Super Bowl victory. Joe Flacco quietly put up career best numbers in most major passing categories, the defense was solid, and the team rebounded beautifully from the Ray Rice debacle finding a gem in veteran runner Justin Forsett. Forsett was a yardage machine, and filled Rice’s role in the offense capably. Haloti Ngata is back from his suspension, giving the Ravens an imposing presence up front, and this is a very big deal considering that the Steelers will be missing one of their most important players for this crucial contest.
It was recently announced that All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell will be inactive for Saturday night’s contest, a crippling blow to a Steelers offense that was really coming into its own. Unheralded runner Josh Harris will pick up the reins in the Pittsburgh backfield as added pressure will inevitably be put on Ben Roethlisberger and the passing game.
This isn’t necessarily the end of the world for the Steelers, however. Roethlisberger, like his rival Flacco, also set career highs in many statistical categories this season, as Antonio Brown cemented his already established status as one of the game’s top pass-catchers. Add in an impressive rookie showing from Martavis Bryant and the always-reliable Heath Miller, and Big Ben had an impressive array of weapons to work with. While none of this can account for the rushing prowess or pass-catching ability of Bell (83 catches this season), the offense won’t necessarily sputter without him. Anyway you slice it, it’s always a lot of fun when these two teams face off, and this game should not disappoint.
Cincinnati Bengals (no. 5) at Indianapolis Colts (no. 4), Sunday, 1:05 pm ET, CBS
The Bengals have to be crushed right now. After controlling the AFC North for much of the season, they dropped the last Sunday nighter of the season to the Steelers and will now miss out on hosting a home playoff game, barring a match up with the Ravens in the AFC Championship. On top of that, they may be without their best player when they travel to Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon. Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Green remains in the league’s concussion protocol, and is considered doubtful for the contest.
This is a huge game for fourth year quarterback Andy Dalton, who attempts to avoid his fourth straight playoff one-and-done. Dalton, perhaps unfairly, seems to absorb most of the blame when the Bengals disappoint, and he will no doubt enter this contest with a chip on his shoulder and much to prove, in spite of leading his team to an impressive 10-5-1 season.
At the other end of the field from Dalton is third year passer Andrew Luck, making his third post-season appearance in as many years. While Luck’s previous playoff performances have been a mixed bag, the former first overall pick made the leap so many expected of him this year, emerging as one of the game’s elite signal callers. The team has sustained key season-ending injuries to many important payers such as Robert Mathis and Ahmad Bradshaw, but the Colts keep winning games. In spite of a sagging rushing attack, the Colts have continued to win and will look to keep things rolling in what should be a tightly contested affair.
Detroit Lions (no. 6) at Dallas Cowboys (no. 3), Sunday, 4:40 pm ET, FOX
2014 marked a key turning point for the Detroit Lions as a franchise. New head coach Jim Caldwell made an enormous impact on this club, and has helped the team play closer to it’s potential than in previous seasons, resulting in an 11-5 record, the club’s best showing since 1991. In spite of a frustrating Week 17 loss to the Green Bay Packers that cost the club its first NFC North title since 1993, the Lions have a lot to feel good about as they enter the post-season, particularly the fact that Ndamukong Suh managed to avoid a suspension for last week’s incident with Aaron Rodgers. The Lions are a talented football team with a lot of potential and a bright future ahead. With that said, they face a very difficult task on Sunday afternoon.
When answering the question of who is the hottest team in the NFL, it would be irresponsible not to mention the Dallas Cowboys. For a franchise that was supposed to be at the bottom of the barrel in 2014, they silenced countless doubters finishing with an impressive 12-4 record and capturing the NFC East title. The Cowboys closed out the season with four straight convincing wins, scoring 38 point or more in all of those contests, making it quite difficult for anyone to ever say that Tony Romo plays poorly in December again.
Speaking of Romo, this season has been one of his very best. An MVP contender, Romo tossed 34 touchdowns versus only nine interception in 15 games this season. He completed 69.9% of his passes, tops in the league among quarterback who threw more than 150 passes. Oh, and another thing: his 113.2 quarterback rating was best in the league as well. Romo silenced a lot of critics this year and his supporting cast is a big reason why.
How much money are the Cowboys going to have to pay impending free agents DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant in free agency? I shudder to think as these two both set ‘Boys franchise records in 2014, and were as much a part of the team’s success as Romo. With the Cowboys set to host their first playoff game in five years, there’s a lot on the line for this club. They won’t have it easy. The Lions are for real. This could be the game of the week.
This is the week that will set the tone for the entire post-season. With the four top-seeded teams in the NFL waiting in the wings, things are heating up in the NFL, even if it is January. Thanks for reading, everyone. Happy belated New Year, and enjoy this week’s slate of games.
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