The NFL playoffs are finally upon us. After a wild 18 weeks, the NFL regular-season is finally in the books 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 blood. As a matter of fact, of the four teams in NFL history that have never been to a Super Bowl, three of them — Houston, Cleveland and Detroit — are in the playoffs this year. Unfortunately for the Browns and Texans, they’ll be facing each other, which means one of those teams will be going home after the first round.
As for Detroit, the Lions will be hosting their first playoff game in 30 years and in a twist, they’ll be facing someone they’re very familiar with: Matthew Stafford. With Jared Goff starting for the Lions, the game between Los Angeles and Detroit will mark the first time in playoff history where both starting quarterbacks are facing their former team. That game will be going down on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
As for the rest of the 2024 NFL playoff schedule, you can see that below.
Super Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, Jan. 13
- (5) Browns at (4) Texans, 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC). For just the second time in 20 years, the Browns are in the playoffs. These two teams met back in Week 16, but you probably shouldn’t take too much away from that 36-22 win by Cleveland because C.J. Stroud didn’t play. The Texans superstar rookie will be on the field this week and he’ll be facing one of his biggest tests of the season in the Browns defense.
- (6) Dolphins at (3) Chiefs, 8 p.m. ET (Peacock). Tyreek Hill is going to get a second chance at beating his former team, and this time, he gets to do it in Kansas City. These two teams did meet 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 on Saturday night.
Sunday, Jan. 14
- (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, going 7-1. Josh Allen has faced the Steelers four times in his career and he’s gone 3-1 in those games. The Sunday forecast in Buffalo is calling for sub-freezing temperatures with possible snow.
- (7) Packers at (2) Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox). This will be a revenge game for Mike McCarthy. This will mark just the second time that the Cowboys coach has faced the Packers since being fired by them in December 2018. McCarthy lost the first meeting in 2022 and will be looking to get his first win over Green Bay.
- (6) Rams at (3) Lions, 8 p.m. ET (NBC). For their first home playoff game in 30 years, the Lions will be welcoming an old friend back to Detroit: Matthew Stafford. The Rams QB led the Lions to the playoffs three times, but never got to play a home game. This will also be a huge game for Jared Goff, who will be facing a team and a head coach that traded him away because they didn’t want him anymore.
Monday, Jan. 15
- (5) Eagles at (4) Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN). The Eagles are stumbling into the playoffs, but they will head to Tampa Bay knowing that they beat the Buccaneers 25-11 at Raymond James Stadium back in Week 3.
Divisional Round
Saturday, Jan. 20
TBD vs. TBD, 4:30 p.m. ET
TBD vs. TBD, 8:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 21
TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m. ET
TBD vs. TBD, 6:30 p.m. ET
Divisional round notes: The 49ers will be playing the worst remaining seed in the NFC divisional round while the Ravens will face the worst remaining seed in the AFC. Also, the winner of the Monday night game will get to play on Sunday in the divisional round.
Championship Sunday
Sunday, Jan. 28
AFC Championship, 3 p.m. ET (CBS)
NFC Championship, 6:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
Super Bowl LVIII
AFC vs. NFC in Las Vegas, 6:30 p.m. ET
The Super Bowl will be televised on CBS with an alternate broadcast available on Nickelodeon. You’ll also be able to stream the game on Paramount+.
