NFL playoff preview for Saturday’s games
5. Arizona Cardinals (11-5) at 4. Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)
3:35 p.m. Saturday, ESPN
Line: Panthers by 61/2
How the Cardinals got here: Behind the resurgence of QB Carson Palmer, and help from backup Drew Stanton, Arizona bolted to a 9-1 record and eventually was the first team to qualify for the postseason. Now they could be the first one out. No team has proven the value of a quality quarterback like the Cardinals. Since losing Palmer on Nov. 9, Arizona has averaged 12.4 points over the last seven games with a high of 18 points. The lowest point total of their first nine games was 18. When backup QB Drew Stanton went down, Ryan Lindley was next up.
How the Panthers got here: After winning only once during a 10-game stretch in the middle of the season, Carolina took advantage of a weak closing schedule to win its last four games and become just the fourth team with a losing record to make the playoffs. The Panthers are here because they have made strides of late. QB Cam Newton, who has career lows across the board this season, was sacked nine times by the Eagles in Week 10 but only eight times in six games since. Carolina’s four highest rushing totals this year have come in the past five games.
Key stat: The Cardinals are stuck with Lindley, whose 1-5 record gives him the worst career winning percent (.167) for a starting playoff QB since at least 1950, according to NFL.com. He’ll be the seventh QB since the 1970 merger to start in the playoffs with one or fewer career wins. On the bright side, Lindley threw his first career TD pass last week, after an NFL-record 228 attempts without one.
The skinny: Teams heading in opposite directions continue down their respective paths. Panthers 15, Cardinals 9
6. Baltimore Ravens (10-6) at 3. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
7:15 p.m. Saturday, KXAS/5
Line: Steelers by 3
How the Steelers got here: In his 11th season, QB Ben Roethlisberger has had an MVP-caliber season. He posted career highs in attempts (608), completions (408), completion percent (67.1), yards (4,952), yards per game (309.5) and tied his previous high for TD passes (32). He has been the catalyst of Pittsburgh’s offense, second in the NFL in yards per game (411.1). But he was hardly a one-man show. RB Le’Veon Bell, who was ruled out Friday after injuring a knee in the regular-season finale, is second in the NFL in rushing (1,361 yards) and accounted for 32.8 percent of the team’s offense. All-Pro WR Antonio Brown led the league in catches (129), receiving yards (1,698) and was second in TD catches (13) in his breakout season.
How the Ravens got here: Baltimore’s strength is on the other side of the ball. The Ravens’ defense can rush the passer, recording 49 sacks — tied for second in the NFL with Philadelphia — and stop the run. They were the only team to not allow a 100-yard rusher this season. Sack masters Elvis Dumervil (17), Terrell Suggs (12) and LB Pernell McPhee (7.5) get a bonus with the return of DT Haloti Ngata, back from a four-game suspension for a performance-enhancing drug violation. Baltimore got a decent year out of QB Joe Flacco (3,986 yards, 27 TDs, 12 INTs) and a surprising boost from Grace Prep Academy graduate RB Justin Forsett (1,266 rushing yards, 263 receiving yards, 8 TDs). The Ravens won three of their last four to reach the playoffs but again will play without both starting offensive tackles because of injury.
Key stat: The Steelers are 5-1 this season against playoff teams, averaging 34 points in those games. Their only loss? A 26-6 defeat at Baltimore in Week 2. The Ravens are 1-6 this season against teams with a winning record. That lone win? Week 2 against Pittsburgh.
The skinny: The loss of Bell puts the ball in Roethlisberger’s hands. And this season, that’s not a bad thing. Big Ben is no stranger to the playoffs, making his seventh appearance. He is 10-4 overall but hasn’t won a postseason game since the 2010 AFC Championship against the Jets. Look for that to change. Steelers 31, Ravens 23
— Stephen Schroats
This story was originally published January 2, 2015 at 9:38 PM with the headline "NFL playoff preview for Saturday’s games."