NFL Wild Card Picks: Cowboys Begin Super Bowl Run

NFL Wild Card picks are going to be a bit more fun this year. Can the Dallas Cowboys get the job done and begin their Super Bowl title run?

Without further ado, here are a few predictions to get you ready for the big weekend.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers, 4:20 p.m., ESPN

The Panthers begin the weekend headlining ESPN’s only playoff matchup of the season. Routing the Falcons in just a few quarters last Sunday, Ron Rivera saved a job and earned the hearts of Carolina fans everywhere for at-least one more week.

Panthers keys to the game

• Get Cam Newton into manageable situations
• Utilize the best front-7 in football, generate interior pass rush
• Formally introduce the league to Philly Brown

Cardinals keys to the game

• Utilize all running backs, keep everyone fresh
• Don’t allow Kelvin Benjamin to utilize soft zones in coverage
• Throw the kitchen sink at the Carolina defense

It’s hard to say a seven-win team is the favorite in a playoff game, but that might just be the case in this one. Rivera’s group is getting hot at the right time – a dangerous reality that the rest of the NFC has to keep in mind.

The Cardinals don’t have an edge anywhere in this one. Give me the Newton-led Panthers, 23-14

Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m., NBC

It’s Ravens vs. Steelers, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. The Ravens found a way to sneak into the tournament thanks to a meltdown in San Diego, giving us a classic showdown at Heinz Field.

Ravens keys to the game

• Feed Justin Forsett the rock early and often
• Find opportunities to win on special teams
• Don’t put the game on Joe Flacco’s shoulders

Steelers keys to the game

• Use a fast-paced tempo, don’t make the loss of LeVeon Bell hurt
• Don’t be afraid to take deep shots against a mediocre defense
• Bring the A-gap blitz against Baltimore’s interior OL

It’s impossible to pick a winner in any Ravens/Steelers matchup. This one could come down to the weather (90% chance of rain c/o weather.com) and who plays AFC North football better. I’ll take the Steelers 30-24 in this one if things are dry. If the skies open up, I like the Ravens 17-10.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1:05 p.m., CBS

Andy Dalton and the Bengals backed into the playoffs, losing a game on Sunday night that forced them to travel for a game that could prove to be yet another chapter in Dalton’s big-game story. Indianapolis faces a favorable matchup that may just send them to Denver for another matchup with Peyton Manning.

Colts keys to the game

• Spread the ball around, find every pass-catcher possible (spreading the field)
• Utilize blitzes from the secondary off the edge
• Interior OL having their best game of the year

Bengals keys to the game

• Live and die with the run game
• Create check-down opportunities for Dalton
• Don’t allow Andrew Luck to extend plays

The matchup here is simply too favorable for Indy. Despite misfortune striking in small doses for this year, it’s hard to see them losing the first playoff game of 2014. Luck and Co. are poised for a big day at home. They’ll win this one by double-digits. Let’s go with 31-21.

Dallas Cowboys vs. Detroit Lions, Sunday, 4:40 p.m., FOX

We’re talkin’ about … playoffs!

Detroit fans have stayed true to their team and are now being rewarded with a playoff matchup. Unfortunately for the “Ford Field Faithful”, they have to do battle with arguably the hottest team in the NFL. Jerry Jones has been smiling down from the owner’s box all season … Can the improbable run continue this week?

Cowboys keys to the game

• Put the game on the shoulders of the playmakers
• Generate pass-rush early and often, make the secondary look better than they are
• Create mistakes by flying to the ball on defense

Lions keys to the game

• Create long drives, keep the defense off the field
• Be in the game by the time the 4th quarter rolls around
• Generate a game plan to snuff out the run

Lions fans are excited to be in the dance, but the ride is likely to come to an end fairly quickly. Dallas is too impressive on the ground to go against them here. 31-17 Cowboys.