NFL Wild Card weekend: Matchups, dates and start times
By Josh Hill
The NFL Wild Card picture is set, but when will the games be on next weekend?
After a full 17 week schedule, we have our final 12 teams standing in the NFL. The playoffs kick off next weekend and the race to Super Bowl 50 begins with Wild Card weekend in both the NFC and AFC.
The teams are set and we know who will be matched up against who — but when will the games be played and what part of your weekend should you block off and devote to football?
Here’s a look at the NFC Wild Card picture and when you can expect those games to kickoff:
Vikings vs. Seahawks – Sunday, 1:05pm ET (NBC)
Redskins vs. Packers – Sunday 4:40pm ET (FOX)
On the AFC side of things:
Bengals vs. Steelers – 8:15pm ET (CBS)
Texans vs. Chiefs – 4:35pm ET (ESPN/ABC)
The AFC side of things seem to be more wide open than the NFC, with the Chiefs primed for a deep run thanks to how weak the field seems to be. The Patriots and Broncos will get first-round byes but they both looked weak on Sunday and will need to prove a lot in their Divisional Playoff matchups.
In the NFC playoff picture, there isn’t a clear cut favorite in the Wild Card weekend as anyone outside of Washington seems to have a shot to make a deep playoff run if they get hot. Minnesota is a dangerous team to watch, but there’s also the Packers and Seahawks who seem to turn it on this time of year.
No matter what, the NFL Wild Card weekend is set, and the playoffs are just around the corner from kicking off.