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NFL Playoffs 2020: AFC playoff bracket, TV schedule and kickoff times

By Josh Hill

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs drops back to pass during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium on October 19, 2020 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 19: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs drops back to pass during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium on October 19, 2020 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) /
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The NFL Playoffs are finally here, and the AFC playoff picture is officially set. 

With the regular season in the books, it’s finally time to look ahead to the NFL playoffs. The AFC far and away looks like the better conference as far as the talent it’s bringing to the postseason. The playoff picture wasn’t officially set until the late window games of Week 17 were over, which indicates we’re in for a lot of fun on the AFC side of the playoff bracket.

It was a wild ride, but the real fun is just beginning.

Now that we know how the regular season shook out, it’s time to check out the playoff picture and see what the road to the Super Bowl will be in the AFC.

2020 AFC Playoff picture, bracket, and start times

Wild card weekend will kickoff on Saturday and feature everyone except the Chiefs, who secured the sole first-round bye under the new playoff format.

Here’s how the seeding shook out now that all is said and done:

  1. Kansas City Chiefs
  2. Buffalo Bills
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers
  4. Tennessee Titans
  5. Baltimore Ravens
  6. Cleveland Browns
  7. Indianapolis Colts

Wild Card Weekend Matchups and Schedule

Only two of the teams that will play on Wild Card weekend came into Week 17 having clinched a playoff berth, which made for an interesting finish to the year. But that was only the appetizer to what lies ahead for us in the first weekend of the playoffs for the AFC.

The Browns needed a win over the Steelers to clinch and snap a playoff drought that started all the way back in 2003 — the longest active streak in football. Their reward for breaking the streak is a rematch with the Steelers, this time back in Pittsburgh.

Speaking of rematches, the Titans and Ravens will meet for the second year in a row in the playoffs. Last year Tennessee stunned Baltimore, upsetting the No. 1 seed in the conference.

Meanwhile, the Bills return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 but do so as division winners. It’s a shame that fans won’t be allowed at Orchard Park (I don’t care what it’s called now) but regardless they’ll welcome the Indianapolis Colts. Frank Reich is celebrating the 28th anniversary of leading the Bills on a miraculous comeback in the 1993 playoffs but returns to Buffalo as the Colts coach.

  • Buffalo Bills vs. Indianapolis Colts – Saturday, Jan. 9 at 1:05pm ET on CBS
  • Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns – Sunday, Jan. 10 at  8:15pm ET on NBC
  • Tennessee Titans vs. Baltimore Ravens – Sunday, Jan 10 at 1:05pm ET on ABC/ESPN

Divisional Round Matchups and Schedule

The only AFC team that has its ticket punched for the second weekend of the playoffs is the Kansas City Chiefs. They’ll await the lowest remaining seed that survives Wild Card weekend.

  • Kansas City Chiefs vs. Lowest Remaining Seed  – Jan. 16/17 on CBS
  • TBD vs. TBD – Jan. 16/17 on CBS

AFC Championship Game 

Obviously, we don’t know who will be playing this weekend but we do know when the game will go down.

  • TBD vs. TBD – January 24th on CBS (Start time to be announced once the matchups are set)
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