Red Flags For Each NFL Wildcard Playoff Team

Oct 19, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Tennessee Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt throws a red challenge flag onto the field to challenge a call against the Washington Redskins in the first quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

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December 28, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians (left) talks to quarterback Logan Thomas (6) and quarterback Ryan Lindley (14) during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi /

Can a 3rd string quarterback lead Arizona to playoff glory?

Even after a couple of starts late in the season, many fans are still saying, “Ryan who?” Ryan Lindley will be making his seventh career start on Saturday …

On the road …

In the playoffs.

A 6th round pick by the Cardinals out of San Diego State in 2012, Lindley was signed off the Chargers practice squad when Carson Palmer went down in November. After Drew Stanton also went down, Lindley found himself in the unlikely role of playoff game starting quarterback. The stakes are clear – Arizona was 8-1 with Palmer as the starter, and has gone 3-4 since. In those 7 games with backup quarterbacks, Arizona hasn’t scored more than 17 points in any single game.

The Cardinals defense can hold its own, but they can’t win if they don’t score points. Can Ryan Lindley calm the sudden chaos the Cardinals have at the QB position? If he can deliver, it would be one of the more improbable story lines in recent playoff memory.

Luckily, they face off against another improbable playoff contender, an opponent with a sub-.500 record.

Next: Can Carolina beat a playoff team?

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