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2015 NFL Playoffs: Predicting The Wild Card And Divisional Matchups

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By @ConnorFultonRS

2015 NFL Playoffs: Predicting the Wild Card and Divisional Matchups

Johnny Manziel Cleveland Browns
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

With only three weeks of regular season play remaining, the NFL playoff race is heating up. There is still much to be determined in both conferences, so let's make some predictions. Here are the games I think we will see on Wild Card weekend and in the Divisional Round.

AFC Wild Card: 3. Indianapolis Colts vs. 6. Cleveland Browns

Paul Kruger Cleveland Browns
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

AFC Wild Card: 3. Indianapolis Colts vs. 6. Cleveland Browns

Paul Kruger Cleveland Browns
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

If anybody is going to take the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002, it will be Johnny Manziel. The Colts pretty much have the AFC South in their grasp right now and should claim the third seed. After the game we saw between these teams on Sunday, who wouldn’t want a rematch?

AFC Wild Card: 4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. 5. San Diego Chargers

Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

AFC Wild Card: 4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. 5. San Diego Chargers

Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Steelers proved to the NFL that they are the class of the AFC North after doubling up the division-leading Bengals in Week 14. While the Chargers fell to the Patriots on Sunday, they are the most formidable of the AFC’s wild card candidates and should nab the fifth seed. Ben Roethlisberger vs. Philip Rivers would be an excellent matchup.

NFC Wild Card: 3. Philadelphia Eagles vs. 6. Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions Philadelphia Eagles
Jeffrey G. Pittenger-USA TODAY Sports

NFC Wild Card: 3. Philadelphia Eagles vs. 6. Detroit Lions

Detroit Lions Philadelphia Eagles
Jeffrey G. Pittenger-USA TODAY Sports

Thanks to the laughable NFC South, the Eagles will grab the third seed and play host to the Lions after outlasting Dallas in the NFC East race. Boasting a top-notch defense and star power on offense, the Lions are a force to be reckoned with. However, all four of Detroit’s losses have been on the road.

NFC Wild Card: 4. Atlanta Falcons vs. 5. Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks
Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

NFC Wild Card: 4. Atlanta Falcons vs. 5. Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks
Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The Falcons will almost certainly emerge out of the NFC South with a losing record, something that the Seahawks did back in 2010. However, don’t expect the defending champs to surrender their crown on the road against the Falcons on Wild Card weekend. The Seahawks have allowed 20 points in the past three games combined.

AFC Divisional: 1. New England Patriots vs. 6 Cleveland Browns

Tom Brady New England Patriots
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

AFC Divisional: 1. New England Patriots vs. 6 Cleveland Browns

Tom Brady New England Patriots
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

An upset of the Colts will give the Browns their first playoff victory since the Ice Age, but the celebration will be short-lived. It’s extremely difficult to defeat the Patriots at home, especially in December and January. Expect Bill Belichick to make Johnny Football look every bit like a rookie quarterback as the Pats will cruise.

AFC Divisional: 2. Denver Broncos vs. 4. Pittsburgh Steelers

Peyton Manning Denver Broncos
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

AFC Divisional: 2. Denver Broncos vs. 4. Pittsburgh Steelers

Peyton Manning Denver Broncos
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Fully rested after a bye week, the Broncos will face a tough test at home against the Steelers’ high-flying offense. The Broncos are currently undergoing a transition from a passed-focused attack to a run-centered one backed by a truly elite defense. This matchup of two of the league’s most storied franchises won’t disappoint.

NFC Divisional: 1. Green Bay Packers vs. 6. Detroit Lions

James Starks Green Bay Packers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

NFC Divisional: 1. Green Bay Packers vs. 6. Detroit Lions

James Starks Green Bay Packers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Meeting for the third time this season, not much love will be lost between these NFC North foes. The Lions will be riding high after unseating the Eagles in Philly, but their celebrations will be short-lived as they travel to Lambeau Field, where the Packers are as dominant as the ’85 Bears. If Matthew Stafford is going to make his mark in the NFL, it will be in this game.

NFC Divisional: 2. Arizona Cardinals vs. 5. Seattle Seahawks

Jason Brown Arizona Cardinals
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

NFC Divisional: 2. Arizona Cardinals vs. 5. Seattle Seahawks

Jason Brown Arizona Cardinals
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Winning the NFC West will be huge for Arizona because it will mean that they won’t have to travel to the home of the 12th Man. That alone gives the Cardinals a helping hand in this game. However, the Seahawks are still wiping the confetti off their back and will be in familiar territory playing for their lives in January.

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