AFC playoff tree 2016: Divisional round matchups
By John Buhler
With both AFC Wild Card games in the books, let’s take a look at the playoff picture in the AFC heading into the divisional round.
The No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5) clobbered the No. 6 Miami Dolphins (10-6) in the AFC Wild Card round, 30-12. Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell would run all over a Dolphins defense that didn’t want any part of the cold weather in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh advances in a laugher over Miami.
That means the AFC Divisional Round games are all set. With the Steelers’ win over the Dolphins, Pittsburgh will travel on the road to play the No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs (12-4) in the divisional round.
Kickoff from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City will be at 1:05 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 15. NBC will have the national telecast. This is a rematch from the regular season, where Pittsburgh throttled Kansas City on Sunday Night Football back on October 2nd, 43-14 at Heinz Field.
By seeing the Steelers win at home over the Dolphins, that means the No. 4 Houston Texans will play the No. 1 New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round. Houston bested the No. 5 Oakland Raiders on Saturday evening, 27-14.
Kickoff from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough will be at 8:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 14. CBS will have the national telecast. This will be a rematch from Week 3, where the Patriots slaughtered the Texans on Thursday Night Football in Foxborough, 27-0. Jacoby Brissett was quarterbacking New England on that prime time telecast.
Here is the updated AFC Playoffs bracket through Wild Card Weekend.
Wild Card
Saturday, Jan. 7
4:35 p.m. ET ESPN
No. 4 Houston Texans 27, No. 5 Oakland Raiders 14
Sunday, Jan. 8
1:05 p.m. ET CBS
No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers 30, No. 6 Miami Dolphins 12
Divisional
Saturday, Jan. 14
8:15 p.m. ET CBS
No. 4 Houston Texans (9-7) vs. No. 1 New England Patriots (14-2)
Sunday, Jan. 15
1:05 p.m. ET NBC
No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5) vs. No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)
Conference Championship
Sunday, Jan. 22
6:40 p.m. ET CBS
AFC Championship: TBD
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Super Bowl LI
Sunday, Feb. 5
6:30 p.m. ET FOX
Super Bowl LI (NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas): TBD