CNN
—
After 272 regular season games, the final 14 teams in the NFL will compete for the Lombardi Trophy.
Twelve of those teams that qualified for the postseason will play in the wild-card round, while the Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions won a full week’s worth of games after clinching first place in their respective conferences. I will take a good rest.
The next three rounds of playoff action will determine who will play in Super Bowl LIX on February 9th at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Here’s the matchup, how to watch, and what to watch from the first round of the playoffs.
Full schedule and how to watch the Wild Card Round
Whether on the go or at home
Saturday, January 11th
AFC: No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers vs. No. 4 Houston Texans – 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
AFC: No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. No. 3 Baltimore Ravens – 8pm ET (Prime Video)
Sunday, January 12th
AFC: No. 7 Denver Broncos vs. No. 2 Buffalo Bills – 1 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
NFC: No. 7 Green Bay Packers vs. No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles – 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
NFC: No. 6 Washington Commanders vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 8 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)
Monday, January 13th
NFC: No. 5 Minnesota Vikings vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Rams – 8 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC/ESPN+)
The 2024 playoffs opener will be held at Houston’s NRG Stadium, with the Texans hosting the Los Angeles Chargers.
After a promising 2023 season, the Texans failed to capture the AFC South title. Conversely, the Chargers dramatically improved last year’s performance in Jim Harbaugh’s first year as head coach.
Chargers star quarterback Justin Herbert blossomed under Harbaugh, posting 3,870 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and just three interceptions.
In the case of C.J. Stroud, LA will be facing a quarterback who struggled in his second NFL season but managed to qualify for the postseason.
But the star of Saturday’s show will be the defense, and both have the potential to excel in 2024. Houston has 19 interceptions, the second-most this year, but Los Angeles has game-changing talent in Derwin James, Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack.
Given the holes on both teams’ rosters, the Chargers don’t have a pass-catcher to replace Herbert, while the Texans’ wide receiving core is depleted with injuries, meaning neither team will have Vince Lombardi. – Not expected to challenge for the trophy.
But there could still be intrigue in the opening round of the playoffs, as each team takes its first steps to New Orleans and looks to upset one or two of its favorites along the way.
The second game of the Wild Card Round sees two teams heading in different directions square off at M&T Bank Stadium.
After getting off to a very strong start this year, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost four straight and finished the season with a record of 10-7, while the Baltimore Ravens finished the season with four straight wins.
The two AFC North rivals currently look like a one-sided clash between an MVP candidate and a team struggling to regain its identity.
The effectiveness of the Ravens rushing attack could decide Saturday’s game. They led the league in rushing yards during the regular season, with the combination of superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry proving to be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
If the Steelers defense can stop Jackson and Henry, it could open the door to an upset for Pittsburgh. However, they will need to find their offensive footing again after struggling to finish the regular season and failing to score more than 17 points at any point during their four-game losing streak.
Star wide receivers for both teams, with Baltimore’s Zai Flowers dealing with an ankle injury suffered in Week 18 and Pittsburgh’s George Pickens remaining consistent after returning from a hamstring injury. We should also pay attention to his health condition.
The division rivals faced each other on December 21st, with the Ravens coming out on top 34-17, and hopes are high for a repeat of that smooth victory.
The first playoff football game on Sunday will be the Buffalo Bills hosting the Denver Broncos at frigid Highmark Stadium.
The Broncos clinched a last-minute postseason berth with a dominant victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, who rested many of their starting pitchers, and ended the Cincinnati Bengals’ hopes and late-season charge.
With rookie quarterback Bo Nix and veteran head coach Sean Payton, Denver surprised many by winning 10 games and making the playoffs.
But they will face a tough test when they travel to New York to take on the Bills. Buffalo finished with the NFL’s second-highest scoring offense during the regular season and has an MVP candidate in quarterback Josh Allen who can hurt defenses in a variety of ways.
Whether it’s his big arm or his running ability, Allen is playing at his best. After years of postseason misery, will this season be the one that helps the Bills turn playoff woes into a Super Bowl title?
The first game of NFC postseason action will see two of the best running back acquisitions of the offseason take to the field in the City of Brotherly Love.
Saquon Barkley had a historic year after joining the Philadelphia Eagles from the New York Giants, rushing for over 2,000 yards but just 100 yards shy of Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. There wasn’t.
Meanwhile, Josh Jacobs brought a physical element to the Green Bay Packers offense and complemented the team’s existing skill set. In his first season at Wisconsin, Jacobs ran for 1,329 yards.
The Packers will be without wide receiver Christian Watson, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 18 against the Chicago Bears, but their deep pool of pass-catchers may help them survive that loss.
Green Bay boasts one of the youngest rosters in the league and is filled with players who will grow together. Meanwhile, the Eagles have star players who dream of winning a Super Bowl or a championship.
Of note is the health of Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts after suffering a concussion in Week 17 and missing the team’s final game of the season. Hurts remains in concussion protocol but could play against the Packers. Otherwise, the Eagles’ offense could be severely hampered without a starting QB.
NFC: No. 6 Washington Commanders vs. No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 8 p.m. ET
One of the most exciting rookie quarterbacks in recent years will make his NFL playoff debut on Sunday when the Washington Commanders travel to Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jaden Daniels, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, had a historic rookie season in Washington, breaking numerous records and having many memorable moments in a great season.
Daniels brought hope to an organization that had been struggling for years and breathed life into a stagnant offense.
While the Commanders have plenty of young talent, the Bucks are led by veterans and have won two straight games to help them win the NFC South title and earn a postseason berth.
While quarterback Baker Mayfield’s resurgence in Tampa Bay continues to garner attention, veteran receiver Mike Evans will be the team’s first player to reach the record-tying 1,000-yard receiving mark for a record-tying 11th season. Had to make the catch in the final seconds of the Week 18 win.
The Bucks may be considered the favorites with an experienced roster that will likely face the team ahead of schedule, but as Daniels proved through his NFL debut, you can’t count him out.
The final game of the wild card offer will be held at SoFi Stadium and will be a repeat of the controversial contest held in October.
A controversial late penalty call botch overshadowed the Los Angeles Rams’ impressive win over the Minnesota Vikings, with Rams linebacker Byron Young missing a key fourth-quarter sack and safety scene. and grabbed Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold’s facemask, television replays showed.
Well, the Vikings avenged that loss, with a disappointing and comprehensive loss in Week 18 to the Detroit Lions, who fell to fifth place in the NFC despite boasting an impressive 14-3 regular season record. He will be heading to California to recover. .
Coming off a magical 2024 season, Darnold and the Minnesota offense struggled against Detroit and will be looking to get back on track against a young but growing Los Angeles defense.
The Rams won six of the final eight games of the regular season, helped by the return to health of star players such as wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp.
Their offense, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford and head coach and renowned offensive play caller Sean McVay, will be in top shape if they want to keep up with the offensive star power the Vikings have to offer. There would need to be.
Amid ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, the NFL announced Thursday that games will be held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, instead of in Los Angeles.
“This decision was made in consultation with public officials, participating clubs and the NFLPA,” the NFL said in a statement.
