NFL playoff bracket 2015: Panthers advance to divisional round

The first wild card game is in the books, as the Carolina Panthers took down the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.

The first game of the 2015 NFL playoffs is officially in the books, as the No. 4 seed Carolina Panthers downed the No. 5 seed Arizona Cardinals, 27-16, on Saturday. Playing in the NFC's first wild card game, the Panthers hosted the Cardinals as the winners of the NFC South, despite a worse record.

Carolina finished the season at 7-8-1, while the Cardinals finished with an 11-5 record. But Arizona wasn't able to hold off the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West, dropping both second-half games to fall into the No. 5 seed and the first wild card spot. Carolina bested the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17 to win the NFC South, guaranteeing them a home game.

There will be arguments on both sides as to whether or not Arizona would have won had there been re-seeding and they earned a home game. But whatever the case, the Cardinals are out and the Panthers are moving up. Carolina, as the No. 4 seed, will likely be taking on the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round. That's because the Seahawks are the top seed, and the Dallas Cowboys will likely beat the Detroit Lions on Sunday. If Dallas doesn't beat them, then Detroit will take on Seattle and the Panthers will face the Green Bay Packers.

On Sunday, the Cowboys will take on the Lions in the second wild card game for the NFC, at 4:40 p.m. ET. The Pittsburgh Steelers are taking on the Baltimore Ravens Saturday night, while the AFC's second game will feature the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Whoever winds up playing the Seahawks will be playing at 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, while the team playing Green Bay will be in action on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 1:05 p.m. Here's a look at the remaining schedule for the weekend

Saturday, Jan. 3

AFC Wild Card Game 1: (3) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. (6) Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 4

AFC Wild Card Game 2: (4) Indianapolis Colts vs. (5) Cincinnati Bengals, 1:05 p.m.

NFC Wild Card Game 2: (3) Dallas Cowboys vs. (6) Detroit Lions, 4:40 p.m.

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