NFL playoff schedule set after wild division games end 2014 season

The NFL playoffs are finally here after one wild final weekend of football. With all teams playing division rivals and three division winners not decided until the final game, it was exciting.

Now that the dust has settled, the NFL has released the playoff schedule, which kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 3.

Wild card weekend will kick off with one of the more bizarre matchups in NFL playoff history. The Arizona Cardinals will play the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte at 4:35 p.m. on ESPN.

Despite a 7-8-1 record, the Panthers get the home game because they won the NFC South after drubbing the Atlanta Falcons Sunday in Atlanta. As for the Cardinals, their season started off with such promise, but slowed down after Carson Palmer went down. According to NBC Sports, GM Steve Keim hopes that Drew Stanton can start this weekend, since Ryan Lindley hasn’t really impressed the past few weeks. Either way, this should be a low-scoring game because there’s two good defenses going head-to-head.

The night game will be a match-up between two AFC North teams. The wild card Baltimore Ravens will play their rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers at 8:15 p.m. on NBC. The Steelers won the division last night after beating the Cincinnati Bengals.

Speaking of the Bengals, they made the playoffs too and will face the AFC South winner, the Indianapolis Colts at 1:05 p.m. on CBS on Sunday, Jan. 4. QB Andy Dalton will try once again to make it past the first round of the playoffs for the first time in his career.

The night game on Sunday is between the wild card Detroit Lions and the NFC East champs, the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys capped off a surprising 12-4 season yesterday with a victory over the Washington Redskins. Detroit landed the wild card slot after losing the NFC North title game in Green Bay.

On Saturday, Jan. 10, Baltimore, Indianapolis or Cincinnati will face the New England Patriots at Gillette on NBC at 4:35 p.m. Detroit, Arizona or Carolina will play the Seattle Seahawks at 8:15 p.m. on Fox.

On Sunday, Jan. 11, Dallas, Carolina or Arizona will face the Green Bay Packers at 1:05 p.m. on Fox. Pittsburgh, Indianapolis or Cincinnati will play the Denver Broncos on CBS at 4:40 p.m.

The AFC Championship game is set for Sunday, Jan. 18 at 6:40 p.m. on Sunday. The NFC Championship game will be the same day at 3:05 p.m. on Fox.

Super Bowl XLIX is set for Sunday, Feb. 1 on NBC in Glendale, Arizona.

image of Detroit Lions WR Calvin Johnson courtesy of INFevents.com

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