And so it begins: a cloudy, wet day in Charlotte, N.C., and a cold, wet day in Pittsburgh introduce the NFL playoffs.
First up: The Arizona Cardinals (11-5) visit the Carolina Panthers (7-8-1) in the first NFC wild-card game. Saturday's nightcap pits AFC North rivals in a showdown: Baltimore Ravens (10-6) against the Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5). Kickoff in Pittsburgh is 8:15 p.m. ET.
Kickoff in Charlotte: 4:35 p.m. ET
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Despite the obvious disparity in their records, the NFC game will be much closer than it appears. In fact, many are picking the Panthers to win. Among them, SN football analyst Ross Tucker.
"You've got to go with Carolina over Arizona," Tucker tells SN's Sara Jane Harris in the accompanying video. "It just seems these are teams going in opposite directions."
The Panthers needed a victory in their final regular-season game to win the NFC South, albeit with a losing record. Where is the difference, the edge for the Panthers?
Tucker points to quarterback, where he says the Cardinals "are beat up."
Ryan Lindley will start again at quarterback from coach Bruce Arians, essentially the Cardinals' third-stringer directing the offense in a win-or-go-home game. No. 1 Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton are out. Lindley's backup for this game is Logan Thomas, who is erratic and inexperienced.
Don't dismiss Lindley out of hand, however. In previewing the game, The Arizona Republic noted Lindley's play improved over the course of his past two starts. Despite losing the finale in San Francisco, Lindley is showing a feel for the offense.
Still, SN's David Steele says Lindley is in over his head. That's a shame, Steele says, with the way the Cardinals started out, shocking the league and storming toward a division title.
If Cam Newton is on, there's no way the Panthers are at a disadvantage in a quarterback matchup. Week 17's dismantling of the Atlanta Falcons shows Newton is primed and ready.
In Newton, Steele says, the Panthers have a game-shaking, field-tilting, prediction-rattling offensive force of their own that can cancel out the negativity of that bad record.
Keys to watch: The Panthers' running game must exploit the Cardinals' defense. And, Lindley should find open receivers if given protection.