The NFL playoffs are finally upon us. After a wild 18 weeks, the NFL regular season is finally underway and it's now time for the postseason
Although there will be some familiar faces in the playoffs this year – like the 49ers, Chiefs and Cowboys – there will also be some new players. In fact, of the four teams in NFL history that have never been to a Super Bowl, three – Houston, Cleveland and Detroit – are in the playoffs this year. Unfortunately for the Browns and Texans, they will face each other, meaning one of these teams will go home after the first round.
As for Detroit, the Lions will host their first playoff game in 30 years and will face someone they are very familiar with: Matthew Stafford. With Jared Goff starting for the Lions, the game between Los Angeles and Detroit marks the first time in playoff history that both starting quarterbacks will face their former team. The game will be broadcast on NBC on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
You can see the rest of the 2024 NFL playoff schedule below.
Super Wildcard weekend
Saturday, January 13th
- (5) Browns vs. (4) Texans, 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC). The Browns are in the playoffs for the second time in 20 years. These two teams met back in Week 16, but you probably shouldn't take too much away from Cleveland's 36-22 win since CJ Stroud didn't play. The Texans' superstar rookie will be on the field this week facing one of his biggest challenges of the season in the Browns' defense.
- (6) Dolphins at (3) Chiefs, 8 p.m. ET (Peacock). Tyreek Hill will get a second chance to beat his former team, and this time he'll get it in Kansas City. These two teams met back in Week 9 in a game that Kansas City won 21-14, but that game was played in Germany. The temperature in Kansas City is expected to be below 12 degrees Saturday night.
Sunday, January 14th
- (7) Steelers at (2) Bills, 1 p.m. ET (CBS/Stream on Paramount+ (click here). This game will be played in Buffalo, where the Bills have been nearly unbeatable this year at 7-1. Josh Allen has played against the Steelers four times in his career and went 3-1 in those games. Sunday's forecast for Buffalo calls for temperatures below freezing and possible snowfall.
- (7) Packers at (2) Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox). This will be a revenge game for Mike McCarthy. This is only the second time the Cowboys coach has faced the Packers since he was fired by them in December 2018. McCarthy lost the first meeting of 2022 and is looking for his first win against Green Bay.
- (6) Rams at (3) Lions, 8 p.m. ET (NBC). For their first home playoff game in 30 years, the Lions welcome an old friend back to Detroit: Matthew Stafford. The Rams QB led the Lions to the playoffs three times, but was never allowed to play a home game. This will also be a big game for Jared Goff, who will face a team and head coach that traded him away because they no longer wanted him.
Monday, January 15th
- (5) Eagles at (4) Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN). The Eagles stumble into the playoffs, but travel to Tampa Bay knowing they beat the Buccaneers 25-11 in Week 3 at Raymond James Stadium.
Divisional round
Saturday, January 20th
TBD vs. TBD, 4:30 p.m. ET
TBD vs. TBD, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, January 21st
TBD vs. TBD, 3:00 p.m. ET
TBD vs. TBD, 6:30 p.m. ET
Divisional Round Notes: The 49ers will play the worst remaining seed in the NFC divisional round, while the Ravens will play the worst remaining seed in the AFC. Additionally, the winner of Monday night's game gets to play in the divisional round on Sunday.
Championship Sunday
Sunday, January 28th
AFC Championship, 3 p.m. ET (CBS)
NFC Championship, 6:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
AFC vs. NFC in Las Vegas, 6:30 p.m. ET
The Super Bowl will be broadcast on CBS, with an alternative broadcast available on Nickelodeon. You can also stream the game on Paramount+.