NFL

Predicting the Complete Outcome of the 2015 NFL Playoffs

How Will the 2015 NFL Playoffs Unfold?

Russell Wilson 1
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

And then there were 12.

The 2015 NFL Playoffs are just around the corner as the field is finally set. We’ve got a sub-.500 team, several teams that caught fire at the right time and one defending champ hoping to repeat. It’s obviously impossible to predict what will happen when the madness begins, but I’ll do my best either way.

Here we go.

AFC Wild Card: No. 3 Steelers vs No. 6 Ravens

Ben Roethlisberger
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

AFC Wild Card: No. 3 Steelers vs No. 6 Ravens

Ben Roethlisberger
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Steelers

Even if Le’Veon Bell is forced to miss the Wild Card round of the playoffs, the Steelers shouldn’t have too much trouble dispatching the Ravens. Ben Roethlisberger has put together a career year for the Steelers, while Baltimore has fielded one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL this season. It’ll be closer than you’d think, but Pittsburgh should walk away victorious.

AFC Wild Card: No. 4 Colts vs No. 5 Bengals

T.Y. Hilton
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

AFC Wild Card: No. 4 Colts vs No. 5 Bengals

T.Y. Hilton
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Colts

Let’s not kid ourselves here. While their record might lead us to believe otherwise, the Bengals aren't true contenders this season. The Colts, however, are, especially with Andrew Luck at the helm. Expect Jeremy Hill to keep Cincinnati in the game, but with Andy Dalton’s playoff track record and A.J. Green dealing with a concussion, the Bengals will likely fall short in the Wild Card round for the fourth year in a row.

NFC Wild Card: No. 3 Cowboys vs No. 6 Lions

DeMarco Murray
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

NFC Wild Card: No. 3 Cowboys vs No. 6 Lions

DeMarco Murray
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Cowboys

The Lions have pushed their luck all season long, yet continue to lose against quality teams. It’s safe to say the Cowboys are a quality team. Their offense is firing on all cylinders with DeMarco Murray looking like an elite runner, and the defense is quietly playing among the best in the NFL as of late. Matthew Stafford and Co. will give Dallas a run, but it won’t be enough to stay alive.

NFC Wild Card: No. 4 Panthers vs No. 5 Cardinals

Cam Newton
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

NFC Wild Card: No. 4 Panthers vs No. 5 Cardinals

Cam Newton
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Panthers

Despite the Panthers’ 7-8-1 record to finish the regular season, they’ve gotten hot at the right time, winning their final four games to make the playoffs. The Cardinals, however, are headed in the opposite direction. Even if the Cardinals get Drew Stanton back under center, the Panthers are on fire and should be able to win a defensive battle with the help of home-field advantage.

AFC Divisional: No. 1 Patriots vs No. 4 Colts

Andrew Luck 2
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

AFC Divisional: No. 1 Patriots vs No. 4 Colts

Andrew Luck 2
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Colts

As great as the Patriots were heading towards the end of the season, it’s about time the torch gets passed to the newest generation of quarterbacks. Luck has proven this season that he’s ready to be considered among the NFL’s elite, and a showdown with Tom Brady will be the perfect opportunity for him to set the tone moving forward. Indianapolis pulls off the big upset on the road, sending the Patriots on an early vacation.

AFC Divisional: No. 2 Broncos vs No. 3 Steelers

Peyton Manning 2
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

AFC Divisional: No. 2 Broncos vs No. 3 Steelers

Peyton Manning 2
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Broncos

They may have made it through the Wild Card round, but if Bell isn’t back in the fold, the Steelers simply don’t have the talent to keep up the high-flying Broncos offense. The Denver defense can focus on rushing the passer instead of slowing down one of Pittsburgh’s subpar backup running backs. Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown will do everything they can to keep it close, but Peyton Manning will carry the Broncos to a big win.

NFC Divisional: No. 1 Seahawks vs No. 4 Panthers

Marshawn Lynch
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

NFC Divisional: No. 1 Seahawks vs No. 4 Panthers

Marshawn Lynch
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Seahawks

Yes, the Panthers are hot. However, they aren’t hot enough to knock off the blazing inferno that is the Seahawks. Seattle has won its last six games, and is playing elite football heading into January. Even when the Seahawks offense isn’t on, the defense makes more than enough plays to balance things out. Expect this one to get out of hand before the fourth quarter.

NFC Divisional: No. 2 Packers vs No. 3 Cowboys

Tony Romo
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

NFC Divisional: No. 2 Packers vs No. 3 Cowboys

Tony Romo
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Cowboys

Could this be the year the Cowboys finally get back to the Super Bowl? Well we know that Aaron Rodgers and the Packers won’t go down easy, but Dallas' explosive offense and underrated defense should be just enough to sneak past Green Bay – even at Lambeau. The Cowboys are another example of a team that got hot at the right time, and it’ll help them punch a ticket to the NFC Championship Game.

AFC Championship: No. 2 Broncos vs No. 4 Colts

Andrew Luck
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

AFC Championship: No. 2 Broncos vs No. 4 Colts

Andrew Luck
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Colts

One week away from a potential rematch of last year’s Super Bowl, but it’s not going to happen. Again, Luck is preparing for a paradigm shift, and needs one more win against an aging quarterback to finish ushering in a new era. It’ll be a battle for the ages with plenty of points put on the board, but the Colts will find a way to outscore the Broncos and punch their ticket to Tempe.

NFC Championship: No. 1 Seahawks vs No. 3 Cowboys

Richard Sherman
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFC Championship: No. 1 Seahawks vs No. 3 Cowboys

Richard Sherman
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Seahawks

Hordes of people are starting to jump on the Dallas bandwagon, but the Seahawks are going to knock the wheels off before it makes it to Arizona. Seattle is easily the hottest team in football, and with Marshawn Lynch gashing the Cowboys’ front while Richard Sherman and Co. force Tony Romo into costly mistakes, Dallas will fall short. Russell Wilson finds himself on the cusp of his second Super Bowl victory.

Super Bowl XLIX: No. 1 Seahawks vs No. 4 Colts

Russell Wilson
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Super Bowl XLIX: No. 1 Seahawks vs No. 4 Colts

Russell Wilson
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Winner: Seahawks

Call this an easy pick if you’d like, but the Seahawks are the hottest team in the NFL. Based on what we’ve seen over the last six weeks, Seattle has everything they need to win their second straight Super Bowl. It’ll be an exciting showdown between two of the top young quarterbacks in the league, and Luck, Hilton and Fleener will put on a show. But in the end, the Seahawks will be the first back-to-back winner since 2005.

Share Tweet