NFL Wildcard weekend is over; can any of the winners advance next week?

In this episode of The Red Light Sports Ramble; presented by The Red Light Sports Network, Evan Witalison and Troy Otradovec will talk about all four of the NFL Wildcard games, from this weekend.  Four teams kept their Lombardi Trophy dreams alive, while four others are now preparing, for the off-season.

Saturday afternoon, the sub .500 Carolina Panthers, hosted the injury ridden, Arizona Cardinals.  The Panthers entered the game, on a four game winning streak.  Because they won the NFC South, they hosted the game, even though they finished with a 7-8-1 record.  The Cardinals started their third string quarterback Ryan Lindley.  After starting the season 9-1, the Cardinals stumbled, into the playoffs.  Did the Cardinals even have a chance?  Lindley finished with a 44.3 quarterback rating, and only 82 yards passing.  With a group of back up running backs, they could not establish any running game.  The Panthers did not need to look great to beat the Cardinals, but they now face, number one seed; Seattle.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were without Le'Veon Bell, and it proved costly, against the Baltimore Ravens.  John Harbaugh has never lost a first round playoff game.  Joe Flacco did enough to lead the Baltimore Ravens over the Steelers.  Flacco was rarely pressured, and completed 18 of 29 for 259 yards, and two touchdowns.  Two costly interceptions proved to be the doing in, of the Steelers.  The first interception, in Steelers territory, was a tipped ball, that led to a Ravens touchdown.  The second came, after Ben Roethlisberger had re-entered the game, after the concussion protocol. His throw into coverage was intercepted, in the end zone, by Darian Stewart. The Ravens will travel to New England.

On Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts dominated the Cincinnati Bengals, once again.  Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton have yet to win a playoff game.