2015 NFL Division Round Predictions

Here are my predictions for the Divison Round of the 2015 NFL Playoffs.

Saturday, January 10th
(A6) Baltimore Ravens (10-6) vs (A1) New England Patriots (12-4)- This is one of the more underrated rivalries in the league. These two teams met in two of the last three AFC Championships and now they meet again here. Baltimore played great on both sides of the ball last week in their Wild Card matchup against Pittsburgh. New England had a first round bye and head coach Bill Belichick better have his team ready for this game because Baltimore is poised to pull off the upset. Expect this game to be very close and I really am feeling the upset here.
Prediction: Baltimore 27, New England 24.

(N4) Carolina Panthers (7-8-1) vs (N1) Seattle Seahawks (12-4)- These two teams played a close game the two times they met in the last two regular seasons. Carolina beat a short handed Arizona team at home in the Wild Card round. Seattle had a first round bye, so they should be very prepared to face this Carolina team. That said, I believe this will be a closer game than people think, but I like Seattle to pull away late here.
Prediction: Seattle 27, Carolina 14.

Sunday, January 11th
(N3) Dallas Cowboys (12-4) vs (N2) Green Bay Packers (12-4)- This is arguably the most intriguing game of the weekend considering these are two storied franchises that have a lot of history against each other. Dallas took advantage of a bad call to win their Wild Card game against Detroit. Green Bay had a first round bye and stories came out today that quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a slight tear in his calf. I fear that Rodgers is not one-hundred percent and I really like Dallas to pull off the upset here.
Prediction: Dallas 30, Green Bay 24.

(A4) Indianapolis Colts (11-5) vs (A2) Denver Broncos- The dominating storyline of this game is obviously the quarterbacks in Andrew Luck, who replaced Peyton Manning in Indianapolis, are playing against each other for the third time of their respective careers and the first time in the playoffs. Manning has not looked like himself the last few weeks, but the first round bye is probably what he and the team needed. Indianapolis won their Wild Card game against a short handed Cincinnati team. That said, Denver is the better team than Indianapolis, but I believe Luck will keep Indianapolis in it until the end.
Prediction: Denver 31, Indianapolis 27.