NFL releases playoff schedule for wild-card weekend
The NFL playoff field is finally set.
Here’s everything you need to know for the expanded start to the postseason.
Saturday, Jan. 15
No. 5 Las Vegas Raiders at No. 4 Cincinnati Bengals
4:35 p.m. ET | NBC
After clinching the AFC North last week, the Bengals will host the Raiders to kick off their postseason. The Raiders survived a wild overtime game with the Chargers on Sunday night to take the final playoff spot in the conference.
The Bengals, who rested most of their starters in their loss to the Browns on Sunday, are ready for their first postseason berth since 2015.
The Bengals are an early 6.5-point favorite on BetMGM.
No. 6 New England Patriots at No. 3 Buffalo Bills
8:15 p.m. ET | CBS
The Bills clinched the AFC East with a win over the Jets on Sunday, something done thanks largely to the Patriots’ struggles in recent weeks. Buffalo — which has won four in a row — will host the Patriots in just their second ever postseason match against each other.
The Patriots, who fell 33-24 to the Dolphins on Sunday, have lost three of their past four coming off a seven-game win streak.
The Bills are a 4.5-point favorite on BetMGM.
Sunday, Jan. 16
No. 7 Philadelphia Eagles at No. 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1:05 p.m. ET | Fox
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers will begin their quest to defend their Super Bowl title against the Eagles, who were just throttled by the Cowboys on Saturday night. The Bucs, who beat the Panthers 41-17 on Sunday, have won seven of their past eight.
The Buccaneers are a 7.5-point favorite on BetMGM.
No. 6 San Francisco 49ers at No. 3 Dallas Cowboys
4:30 p.m. ET | CBS, Nickelodeon, Amazon Prime Video
The 49ers snuck into the playoffs on Sunday with a clutch overtime win over the Rams. That, along with a Seahawks upset over the Cardinals, bumped the Cowboys up to the No. 3 seed and set up a throwback postseason matchup between Dallas and San Francisco, their first since 1994.
The Cowboys are fresh off a blowout 51-26 win over the Eagles. They are a 3.5-point favorite on BetMGM.
No. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs
8:15 p.m. ET | NBC
The Chiefs narrowly missed out on the top seed in the AFC, but they are headed into the postseason with nine wins in their past 10 games. The Chiefs escaped the Broncos to close out their season with a win, and will now host the Steelers.
Pittsburgh barely beat the Ravens on Sunday, its second straight win, to narrowly reach the postseason thanks to an overtime field goal in Las Vegas.
The Chiefs are an early 13.5-point favorite on BetMGM.
Monday, Jan. 17
No. 5 Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 Los Angeles Rams
8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN
Neither team had a great finish to its season, but the Rams eked out the NFC West title thanks to the Seahawks’ win over the Cardinals.
The two divisional foes, who split their regular-season matchups, will square off in Los Angeles in their first postseason game.
The Rams are a 3.5-point favorite on BetMGM.