NFC playoff tree 2016: Divisional round matchups
By John Buhler
With the completion of the NFL Wild Card slate of games, let’s take a look at the updated NFC playoff picture. Who advanced and who plays this weekend?
Wild Card Weekend is in the books in the NFL. All four of the higher seeds advanced, with the Green Bay Packers pounding the New York Giants in the final game of this weekend’s quartet, 38-13.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers continues to prove that he is the best player on the planet with four passing touchdowns on the vaunted Giants defense. He connected with Randall Cobb three times in the end zone, including a Hail Mary to close out the first half against New York.
Green Bay knew that with a win the Packers would have to go on the road to play the No. 1 Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Round. This is because the No. 3 Seattle Seahawks sunk the No. 6 Detroit Lions on Saturday night 26-6. Seattle will play the No. 2 Atlanta Falcons on Saturday afternoon.
Atlanta will host Seattle for a 4:35 p.m. ET kickoff at the Georgia Dome on Saturday, Jan. 14. FOX will have the telecast. Dallas will host Green Bay for a 4:40 p.m. ET kickoff at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Sunday, Jan. 15. FOX will have the national broadcast.
Here is the updated NFC playoff picture through wild card weekend.
Wild Card
Saturday, Jan. 7
8:15 p.m. ET NBC
No. 3 Seattle Seahawks 26, No. 6 Detroit Lions 6
Sunday, Jan. 8
4:40 p.m. ET FOX
No. 4 Green Bay Packers 38, No. 5 New York Giants 13
Divisional
Saturday, Jan. 14
4:35 p.m. ET FOX
No. 3 Seattle Seahawks (10-6-1) at No. 2 Atlanta Falcons (11-5)
Sunday, Jan. 15
4:40 p.m. ET FOX
No. 4 Green Bay Packers (10-6) vs. No. 1 Dallas Cowboys (13-3)
Conference Championship
Sunday, Jan. 22
3:05 p.m. ET FOX
NFC 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