NFC Playoff Schedule: Arizona Cardinals To Visit Carolina Panthers On Wild Card Weekend

The Arizona Cardinals got more production out of their offense but failed to push past the San Francisco 49ers, dropping the season finale 20-17.  The loss officially drops the Cardinals into the fifth seed on the NFC Playoff Bracket.  That means they will travel to Charlotte, NC to face the Panthers on Wild Card weekend.

The Cardinals get the fifth seed over the Detroit Lions by virtue of their head to head meeting, a game Arizona won 14-6.

The Panthers secured their playoff spot by beating the Atlanta Falcons to win the NFC South while improving their record to just 7-8-1. They are the lowest seeded division winner.

A Cards win in Carolina could set up a rubber match with the Seattle Seahawks at Century Link Field in round two. That is if the Detroit Lions lose their game in Dallas.  A Detroit win means the Cardinals will head to Green Bay to face the Packers in the divisional round.

The Cardinals will enter the playoffs with both their starting quarterback and running back done for the season.  That alone would be enough to finish most teams but head coach Bruce Arians feels confident in his teams offensive ability if they can play a little better around third stringer Ryan Lindley.

"“Offensively, I thought we did a good enough job to win this game,” coach Bruce Arians said talking about the game against the 49ers. “We don’t have to play perfect but we have to play much better around him.”"

Arians is certainly earning his money this season. With all the adversity facing the Cardinals this postseason, we will see if Arians’ coaching magic has run out of if he has a few more tricks up his sleeve.

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers Wild Card Weekend

Where: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

When: Saturday January 3rd

Start Time: 4:35 pm

TV: ESPN

Live Stream: Watch NFL Live