Storylines to Follow For 2014 NFL Playoffs

The run for Super Bowl XLIX begins now.

NFL Playoffs Begin This Weekend - The NFL playoffs are upon us with wild-card action kicking off this weekend. On Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens will face their AFC North division rival Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC wild-card action, while the Arizona Cardinals visit the Carolina Panthers in an NFC wild-card matchup. Sunday will see the Cincinnati Bengals visit Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, while Dez Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys host Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions. Big games with plenty of noteworthy storylines. Click on for all the storylines to follow while watching this year's NFL playoffs. (Photos from Left: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images, Frederick Breedon/Getty Images, Leon Halip/Getty Images)

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NFL Playoffs Begin This Weekend - The NFL playoffs are upon us with wild-card action kicking off this weekend. On Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens will face their AFC North division rival Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC wild-card action, while the Arizona Cardinals visit the Carolina Panthers in an NFC wild-card matchup. Sunday will see the Cincinnati Bengals visit Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, while Dez Bryant and the Dallas Cowboys host Calvin Johnson and the Detroit Lions. Big games with plenty of noteworthy storylines. Click on for all the storylines to follow while watching this year's NFL playoffs. (Photos from Left: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images, Frederick Breedon/Getty Images, Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Will Andy Dalton Get First Playoff Win? - A playoff berth isn't anything new for the Cincinnati Bengals, but what would be new is if Andy Dalton can notch his first postseason victory. The Bengals quarterback is 0-3 in the playoffs and to get that first victory will have to outdo Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. The Bengals defense slowing Luck down will definitely be a tough task, perhaps signaling that Dalton needs to step up and perform. Now's the time to prove you're worth that $115 million extension, Andy.(Photos from Left: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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Will Andy Dalton Get First Playoff Win? - A playoff berth isn't anything new for the Cincinnati Bengals, but what would be new is if Andy Dalton can notch his first postseason victory. The Bengals quarterback is 0-3 in the playoffs and to get that first victory will have to outdo Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts. The Bengals defense slowing Luck down will definitely be a tough task, perhaps signaling that Dalton needs to step up and perform. Now's the time to prove you're worth that $115 million extension, Andy.(Photos from Left: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Can Big Ben Have Another Huge Playoff Performance? - Ben Roethlisberger goes into the 2015 playoffs sporting a 10-4 postseason record with two Super Bowl wins. It's safe to say Big Ben plays well in big games. And when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens last met on November 2nd, Roethlisberger lit up his AFC North rivals in the form of a ridiculous 340 yards and six touchdowns. He might need a similar performance since Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell has been ruled out Saturday's game due to a hyperextended knee. (Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

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Can Big Ben Have Another Huge Playoff Performance? - Ben Roethlisberger goes into the 2015 playoffs sporting a 10-4 postseason record with two Super Bowl wins. It's safe to say Big Ben plays well in big games. And when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens last met on November 2nd, Roethlisberger lit up his AFC North rivals in the form of a ridiculous 340 yards and six touchdowns. He might need a similar performance since Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell has been ruled out Saturday's game due to a hyperextended knee. (Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

How Far Can The Cowboys Go? - Tony Romo has all the tools he needs to reverse the Dallas Cowboys' playoff fortunes in the past several years. After all, them 'Boys have arguably the best offensive line in football, the running back, DeMarco Murray, with the most yards (1,845) and touchdowns (13) and the touchdown-leading wideout in Dez Bryant with 16 scores on the season. If there was ever a time for Romo to power a deep Cowboys' postseason run, it's now. The only thing standing in their way right now is an upset home loss to the Detroit Lions. (Photos from Left: Tom Pennington/Getty Images, Tom Pennington/Getty Images, Mitchell Layton/Getty Images, Leon Halip/Getty Images)

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How Far Can The Cowboys Go? - Tony Romo has all the tools he needs to reverse the Dallas Cowboys' playoff fortunes in the past several years. After all, them 'Boys have arguably the best offensive line in football, the running back, DeMarco Murray, with the most yards (1,845) and touchdowns (13) and the touchdown-leading wideout in Dez Bryant with 16 scores on the season. If there was ever a time for Romo to power a deep Cowboys' postseason run, it's now. The only thing standing in their way right now is an upset home loss to the Detroit Lions. (Photos from Left: Tom Pennington/Getty Images, Tom Pennington/Getty Images, Mitchell Layton/Getty Images, Leon Halip/Getty Images)

Are We Looking At Another Broncos-Patriots AFC Title Game? - Another season and the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos are once again two of the best teams in football. Are we looking at a repeat AFC title game between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and their two powerhouse squads? Quite possibly. The only difference is if the two teams meet again this year, the Patriots will have homefield advantage. Think they're on a crash course once again?(Photos from Left: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images, Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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Are We Looking At Another Broncos-Patriots AFC Title Game? - Another season and the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos are once again two of the best teams in football. Are we looking at a repeat AFC title game between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and their two powerhouse squads? Quite possibly. The only difference is if the two teams meet again this year, the Patriots will have homefield advantage. Think they're on a crash course once again?(Photos from Left: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images, Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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Don't Count Arizona Out - There was a point this season when it looked like the Arizona Cardinals would cruise to the NFC West division title. Then starting quarterback Carson Palmer suffered a season-ending torn ACL and backup Drew Stanton wound up getting hurt and the Cardinals wound up losing four of their final six games. Even though Arizona coach Bruce Arians is giving QB Ryan Lindley his first career playoff start Saturday against the Carolina Panthers, the Cards still have a balanced team that doesn't make many mistakes. Don't count 'em out just yet. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Don't Count Arizona Out - There was a point this season when it looked like the Arizona Cardinals would cruise to the NFC West division title. Then starting quarterback Carson Palmer suffered a season-ending torn ACL and backup Drew Stanton wound up getting hurt and the Cardinals wound up losing four of their final six games. Even though Arizona coach Bruce Arians is giving QB Ryan Lindley his first career playoff start Saturday against the Carolina Panthers, the Cards still have a balanced team that doesn't make many mistakes. Don't count 'em out just yet. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Panthers Still on The Prowl - Yes, the Carolina Panthers finished the season with a losing 7-8-1 record. But their finish was still good enough to wrap up the NFC South division and give them homefield advantage against the depleted Arizona Cardinals. Anything can happen in the postseason and Cam Newton remains a play-making quarterback. Hey, you never know. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Panthers Still on The Prowl - Yes, the Carolina Panthers finished the season with a losing 7-8-1 record. But their finish was still good enough to wrap up the NFC South division and give them homefield advantage against the depleted Arizona Cardinals. Anything can happen in the postseason and Cam Newton remains a play-making quarterback. Hey, you never know. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Seahawks' Biggest Threat - The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks finished the season 12-4 with homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. So, which teams are the 'Hawks' biggest threat in 2015? If we had to pick two squads, they'd be the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. Yes, Seattle handled Green Bay quite easily in Week 1, but the Pack has improved since then and stopping Aaron Rodgers wouldn't be an easy task even for the Seahawks' vaunted defense. As for Dallas, the Cowboys beat the 'Hawks in Week 6...and it was in Seattle. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Seahawks' Biggest Threat - The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks finished the season 12-4 with homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. So, which teams are the 'Hawks' biggest threat in 2015? If we had to pick two squads, they'd be the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers. Yes, Seattle handled Green Bay quite easily in Week 1, but the Pack has improved since then and stopping Aaron Rodgers wouldn't be an easy task even for the Seahawks' vaunted defense. As for Dallas, the Cowboys beat the 'Hawks in Week 6...and it was in Seattle. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Is Aaron Rodgers Unstoppable? - Only Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck threw for more touchdowns than Aaron Rodgers's 38 this season. As arguably the best quarterback in the NFL, Rodgers is riding a hot streak. It'll be interesting to see if Rodgers can produce fireworks against the Seahawks, if his Green Bay Packers do meet them in Seattle with the NFC title on the line.  (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Is Aaron Rodgers Unstoppable? - Only Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck threw for more touchdowns than Aaron Rodgers's 38 this season. As arguably the best quarterback in the NFL, Rodgers is riding a hot streak. It'll be interesting to see if Rodgers can produce fireworks against the Seahawks, if his Green Bay Packers do meet them in Seattle with the NFC title on the line.  (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)