2014 Playoff Preview: Wildcard Round

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The regular season is over and the playoff standings are set! Here are some quick notes on the teams and match ups for the Wildcard Round:

Arizona Cardinals (11-5) at Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)

Saturday, Jan. 3, 1:20 PM PST, ESPN

http://raisingzona.com/

Back in the postseason for the first time since Kurt Warner retired, the Arizona Cardinals hope to make a run despite injuries to their first and second string quarterbacks. The Cardinals lost starter Carson Palmer in Week 10 to a torn ACL and backup Drew Stanton played well in his absence, leading the team to three more important wins before spraining both his MCL and ACL in Week 15. Arizona then lost its final two games of the season-- and its division lead-- Ryan Lindley under center. Lindley is expected to start.

Meanwhile the Carolina Panthers emerged as division champs from the mediocre scrum that was the NFC South. Carolina will be just the third team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record, and first since Seattle in 2010. The team went seven weeks without a win but managed to pull out the last four games of the season, including a 34-3 thrashing of the Falcons last week to seal the division. The Panthers will look to carry their momentum forward and remind fans that, despite their lackluster record, they are back to back champions of the NFC South for the first time in franchise history.

Baltimore Ravens (10-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)

Saturday, Jan. 3, 5:15 PM PST, NBC

http://darkroom.baltimoresun.com/

Christmas was last week but here is one extra special present left untouched under the tree:

Ravens. Steelers. Playoffs.

Though the names and faces have changed throughout the years, both teams carry on the long-standing tradition of hard-hitting, smash mouth football that makes this one of the NFL's best rivalries. Bragging rights are important, but now these teams will fight for the right to play on, and the loser will go home just as sore but with more time to recover.

The status of LeVeon Bell will be monitored closely this week, as the Steelers' leading rusher was injured last week in the win over the Bengals. He would be extremely useful to a team going up against the 4th ranked rushing defense in the NFL.

Baltimore has been playing all season without Ray Rice, but Justin Forsett has stepped up and is coming off a fantastic season-- rushing for over 1200 yards and 8 touchdowns. Joe Flacco will look to have a day against a Pittsburgh defense ranked 27th against the pass, as the Ravens' passing game has been middling all season long. That translates to lots of running for Steve Smith Sr., Baltimore's leading receiver, and likely just as much running for Steve Smith's mouth.

Look for more passing than you are accustomed to seeing when these two foes face off, but expect the intensity to be the same that you know and treasure, as I do.

Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1) at Indianapolis Colts (11-5)

Sunday, Jan. 4, 10:05 AM PST, CBS

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The Indianapolis Colts had the quietest dominant season that I personally can remember. Somehow the team managed to fly under the radar, avoiding any and all major headlines, on the way to their third 11-5 record in as many years. Each has been under the tutelage of Andrew Luck, who has appeared in the postseason every year of his professional career, and who is coming off a 4,700 yard passing season with 40 touchdowns and just 16 interceptions. And yet here we are, unsurprised and unimpressed and talking about every other undeserving headline.

Speaking of undeserving, the Cincinnati Bengals rank 20th against the pass, 20th against the rush, and 21st in passing offense, yet earned second place in the division and just whiffed on the championship by losing to Pittsburgh last week. AJ Green has been battling injuries all season long and was unable to finish each of the past two games with arm injuries and a concussion, respectively. Andy Dalton has been his typical red-roller-coaster self and would certainly appreciate seeing his favorite target on the field and healthy on Sunday. The lone bright spot for the Bengals has been rookie running back Jeremy Hill, who averaged just seven carries through the first seven games before taking over the first string duties and finishing with over 1,100 yards rushing. Cincinnati will try to exploit the weakness in the Colts' run defense (ranked 22nd in the league) and will look to avoid a repeat of their last trip to Lucas Oil Stadium: a 27-0 beat down back in October.

Detroit Lions (11-5) at Dallas Cowboys (12-4)

Sunday, Jan. 4, 1:40 PM PST, FOX

detroitlions.com

The Dallas Cowboys are back in the postseason for the first time since 2009. A potent offensive attack features the NFL's leading rusher-- DeMarco Murray-- and the deadly Dez Bryant, who both led the league and broke the franchise record for receiving touchdowns in a single season.

They will face a Detroit Lions defense that is ranked #1 against the run and #3 overall in points allowed. However, the Lions will be without two of their best run-stoppers: Nick Fairly has been out since Week 8 with a knee injury, and Ndamukong Suh has been suspended for the game following the second stomp scandal of his dubious career. Both defensive tackles were first-round picks.


Full Analysis to Follow...