The NFC Playoffs schedule for 2015 picks up next weekend as the NFL divisional round of the postseason starts and the Dallas Cowboys will be visiting the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, while the Seattle Seahawks will host the Carolina Panthers after they won against the Arizona Cardinals over Wild Card weekend.
The Cowboys come into the game after getting the benefit of numerous calls against the Detroit Lions and now they travel to play the Packers. This is the first matchup for the teams at Lambeau since the Ice Bowl and it is a high profile matchup between Tony Romo and Aaron Rodgers. The Cowboys played well and did what they needed to do to win against the Lions, but anyone who watched that game realized the officials totally affected the outcome, and not in a good way.
Romo and the Cowboys now have to face off against the number two seed in the NFC and it comes as the Packers have had a week off to prepare. The Cowboys won the game against the Lions 24-20 by scoring 10 points in the fourth quarter and now Tony Romo and company will be looking to go deep in the playoffs for the first time with him under center. The matchup with the Packers is a tough one, as things now shift to Lambeau Field and out of the climate controlled environment of Jerry's World.
The Seahawks will play against the Carolina Panthers and it comes after they have also had a week off due to the bye. The Seahawks are favorites in the NFC after winning it all last season and they are shaping up to host the NFC championship game with a win against the Panthers. The Panthers and the Seahawks have battled in recent years and this should be a defensive matchup, as both teams have strong defensive units this season.
The Panthers were better than the Cardinals on Saturday, but they were down to their third quarterback and they did not have much to lean on against the 7-8-1 team. The Panthers now travel to Seattle to play at CenturyLink Field, which is considered to be the toughest place to play in the league. Russell Wilson is playing well this season and the team is ranked first overall in rushing yards per game, passing yards allowed per game and third in rushing yards allowed per game.
The AFC Playoffs matchups have the New England Patriots hosting the Baltimore Ravens, while the Broncos will take on the Colts in Denver. The Ravens and Pats played in the championship game when the Ravens made the Super Bowl a couple years ago and that should make for another interesting matchup. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are on a collision course in the championship game, as are Wilson and Aaron Rodgers in the NFC if things hold.