After a wild season, the NFL playoffs are finally here and if you like rematches then you’ll definitely love what the NFL has in store for the wild card round.
There will be a regular season rematch in all six games of the opening round only the fifth time since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 that all rematches take place in the opening round. Prior to this year, the last time it happened was in 2009.
Although there will be some familiar faces this year – Hello, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes – there will also be three teams coming in with the Jaguars (2017), the Giants (2016) and making the playoffs for the first time in several years Dolphins (2016), each making their first post-season trip in at least five years.
As for Brady, he will indeed be in an unfamiliar position this year. The NFL legend will lead the 8-9 Buccaneers, who will go into the playoffs as only the sixth team on record in history. Brady’s first game will be against a Cowboys team he has never lost to in his career (7-0).
And don’t forget, this postseason could also give us a twist: when the Bills and Chiefs play each other in the AFC Championship, the game will be played at a neutral venue. However, there’s no guarantee the game will go ahead as the defending AFC champions – the Cincinnati Bengals – could have something to say about it.
When and where will everyone play during the postseason?
Let’s get to the playoff schedule and find out.
Super Wild Card Weekend
Saturday January 14th
- (7) Seahawks at (2) 49ers, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
- (5) Chargers at (4) Jaguars, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Sunday January 15th
- (7) Dolphins at (2) Bills, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
- (6) Giants at (3) Vikings, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
- (6) Ravens at (3) Bengals, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Monday 16 January
- (5) Cowboys at (4) Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)
division round
Saturday 21st January and Sunday 22nd January
The NFL will announce the divisional round schedule during the wild card round. Here are two things we definitely know about the divisional round: The Chiefs and Eagles will host a game, and the Cowboys-Buccaneers game winner will play on Sunday, January 22nd.
Championship Sunday
January 29th
- NFC Championship, 3:05 p.m. ET (Fox)
- AFC Championship, 6:40 p.m. ET (CBS)
Super Bowl LVII
February 12th
AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. 6:30 p.m. ET (Fox)