All the NFL divisional playoff essentials you need: Four intriguing matchups highlight weekend of football
It's the divisional playoffs. Welcome to what many consider the best weekend of the NFL season.
The divisional playoffs have featured some of the most epic games in league history: The Minneapolis Miracle, the Tuck Rule game, the Fog Bowl, the Epic in Miami, Red Right 88, Ghost to the Post, the Marathon by the Lake, the Cowboys' Hail Mary game, the Immaculate Reception, the NFL's longest game and last season's dramatic Chiefs-Bills game.
That's A LOT of awesome NFL lore!
Sports fans can only hope one of this weekend's games can one day be mentioned in that pantheon of football classics. Paste BN Sports' experts break down the big weekend in the NFL:
- Which teams will emerge victorious this weekend?
- Watchability rankings: Helping you prioritize which divisional playoff game to watch.
- Ranking the top four seeds based on which team should worry most.
Divisional playoff matchups
Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
- What will the Jaguars do as a follow-up to the third-largest comeback win in NFL playoff history?
- The Chiefs are aiming at reaching the AFC championship game for the fifth straight season.
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Giants QB Daniel Jones silenced the naysayers with last week's playoff win.
- Eagles QB Jalen Hurts got an extra week to rest his ailing right shoulder.
Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills, 3 p.m. ET (CBS)
- The teams will play after their Week 17 game was canceled after Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest. Hamlin, meanwhile, is now a regular visitor to the Bills' facility.
- If the Bills and Chiefs both win this weekend, the AFC championship game will be held at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Can Dak Prescott and the Cowboys keep up the high level of play after winning the franchise's first road playoff game since the 1992 NFC Championship Game?
- How the 49ers played in the second half of their wild-card playoff win should be scary for opponents.
NFL news, notes and analysis
- Where will Tom Brady play in 2023? Or, will he play? The NFL career of the G.O.A.T. has reached a new crossroad. What are his options moving forward?
- Where will Lamar Jackson play in 2023? Ravens leadership wants the 2019 MVP back, but will they actually be able to reach an agreement on a new contract?
- #KickersArePeopleToo: Brett Maher grabbed the spotlight in the Cowboys' wild-card playoff win for all the wrong reasons, and had to deal with being the punchline of jokes.
- The guy from the USAA commercials brings up a good point: On Tuesday, Aaron Rodgers said that he thinks could win another MVP award "in the right situation." On Wednesday, Rob Gronkowski wondered why Rodgers was thinking MVPs and not Super Bowls.
- Ranking NFL's five* open head coaching jobs: Nate Davis evaluates which teams have the most attractive openings.
- Jerry Jones should use his power to be bigger force for NFL diversity: The Cowboys owner appears to easily shrug off criticism. Yet a recent firestorm related to race seemed to sting. He has the ability to change the narrative, Jarrett Bell writes.
2023 NFL draft: Mock and more
- Mock draft 1.0: Three quarterbacks go in the top 10 of our initial first-round projection.
- First-round order: The top 23 selections are locked in place following the events of Super Wild Card Weekend.
- Draft film room: Alabama QB Bryce Young | Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud | Florida QB Anthony Richardson | Kentucky QB Will Levis | Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker
NFL playoff schedule
SUPER WILD CARD WEEKEND
Saturday
San Francisco 49ers 41, Seattle Seahawks 23
Jacksonville Jaguars 31, Los Angeles Chargers 30
Sunday
Buffalo Bills 34, Miami Dolphins 31
New York Giants 31, Minnesota Vikings 24
Cincinnati Bengals 24, Baltimore Ravens 17
Monday
Dallas Cowboys 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14
DIVISIONAL ROUND
Saturday, Jan. 21
Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:15 p.m. ET (FOX)
Sunday, Jan. 22
Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills, 3 p.m. ET (CBS)
Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers, 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sunday, Jan. 29
NFC championship game, 3:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
AFC championship game, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Feb. 12
AFC winner vs. NFC winner, State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (FOX)
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