The NFL playoffs are a thrilling time for football fans, with the best teams in the league competing for a spot in the Super Bowl. If you’re eager to catch all the action, you’ll want to know when and where to tune in. Here’s your comprehensive TV schedule guide for the NFL playoff games.
Understanding the NFL Playoff Structure
Before we dive into the schedule, let’s quickly review the NFL playoff structure. The playoffs consist of six teams from each conference: four division winners and two wild-card teams. The teams are seeded based on their regular-season record, with the top seed in each conference receiving a first-round bye. The playoffs are divided into four rounds: the Wild Card Round, the Divisional Round, the Conference Championships, and the Super Bowl.
Wild Card Round
The Wild Card Round kicks off the NFL playoffs, featuring the 5th seed vs. the 4th seed and the 6th seed vs. the 3rd seed in each conference. These games are typically played on the first weekend of January. Here’s a general outline of what you can expect:
- AFC Wild Card Game 1: 5th seed vs. 4th seed (Saturday, early afternoon)
- NFC Wild Card Game 1: 5th seed vs. 4th seed (Saturday, late afternoon)
- AFC Wild Card Game 2: 6th seed vs. 3rd seed (Sunday, early afternoon)
- NFC Wild Card Game 2: 6th seed vs. 3rd seed (Sunday, late afternoon)
Divisional Round
The Divisional Round features the winners of the Wild Card Round games, along with the top two seeds in each conference. These games are typically played on the second weekend of January. Here’s a general outline of what you can expect:
- AFC Divisional Game 1: 1st seed vs. lowest remaining seed (Saturday, early afternoon)
- NFC Divisional Game 1: 1st seed vs. lowest remaining seed (Saturday, late afternoon)
- AFC Divisional Game 2: 2nd seed vs. highest remaining seed (Sunday, early afternoon)
- NFC Divisional Game 2: 2nd seed vs. highest remaining seed (Sunday, late afternoon)
Conference Championships
The Conference Championships determine the AFC and NFC champions, who will advance to the Super Bowl. These games are typically played on the third weekend of January. Here’s a general outline of what you can expect:
- AFC Championship Game: winners of AFC Divisional Games (Sunday, early afternoon)
- NFC Championship Game: winners of NFC Divisional Games (Sunday, late afternoon)
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the culmination of the NFL playoffs, featuring the AFC champion vs. the NFC champion. The game is typically played on the first Sunday in February. Here’s a general outline of what you can expect:
- Super Bowl: AFC champion vs. NFC champion (Sunday, early evening)
TV Schedule
So, where can you catch all the NFL playoff action? The games will be broadcast on various networks, including CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN. Here’s a breakdown of the TV schedule:
- CBS: AFC games, including the AFC Championship Game
- FOX: NFC games, including the NFC Championship Game
- NBC: Select games, including the Super Bowl
- ESPN: Select games, including the AFC Wild Card Game
Streaming Options
If you prefer to stream the games, you have several options:
- NFL Sunday Ticket: Available on DirecTV, this service allows you to stream live NFL games, including playoff games.
- NFL Game Pass: This service allows you to stream live and on-demand NFL games, including playoff games.
- CBS All Access: This streaming service offers live and on-demand access to CBS content, including NFL games.
- FOX Sports: This streaming service offers live and on-demand access to FOX content, including NFL games.
- NBC Sports: This streaming service offers live and on-demand access to NBC content, including NFL games.
- ESPN+: This streaming service offers live and on-demand access to ESPN content, including select NFL games.
Conclusion
The NFL playoffs are an exciting time for football fans, with the best teams in the league competing for a spot in the Super Bowl. With this comprehensive TV schedule guide, you’ll be able to catch all the action, whether you’re watching on traditional TV or streaming online. So grab your favorite snack, gather your friends and family, and get ready to cheer on your favorite team as they battle for NFL supremacy.
What is the format of the NFL playoffs?
+The NFL playoffs consist of six teams from each conference: four division winners and two wild-card teams. The teams are seeded based on their regular-season record, with the top seed in each conference receiving a first-round bye. The playoffs are divided into four rounds: the Wild Card Round, the Divisional Round, the Conference Championships, and the Super Bowl.
When are the NFL playoff games typically played?
+The NFL playoff games are typically played on weekends in January, with the Wild Card Round and Divisional Round games played on Saturdays and Sundays. The Conference Championships are played on the third weekend of January, and the Super Bowl is played on the first Sunday in February.
Where can I watch the NFL playoff games?
+The NFL playoff games will be broadcast on various networks, including CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN. You can also stream the games online through services such as NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL Game Pass, CBS All Access, FOX Sports, NBC Sports, and ESPN+.
