The NFL playoffs are finally on hand and this year they are going to have a decidedly different look. Not only will there be 14 teams in the league history for the first time in the off-season, but there will also be some fresh faces, and that’s because the two longest splash droughts in the NFL have both come to an end this year. has.
In the AFC, the Browns are in the post-season for the first time since 2002, ending the longest playoff drought in the NFL. In a twist of fate, the Browns will be forced to play a Steelers team that knocked Cleveland out of the playoffs each of the last two times the Browns made it (1994, 2002). The Browns will win their first playoff game since 1994, but they will not be the only team to want to end a dry game. The Bills, who will take on the Colts, will try to win their first post-season game since 1995.
The Bills begin the playoffs this year with the first game on Saturday, while the Browns conclude the game card round on Sunday night with a game against the Steelers.
In the NFC, Tom Brady led the Buccaneers to their first post-season appearance since 2007, ending the longest playoff drought in that conference. Although Brady has been in the playoffs 17 times already, this is the first time he has qualified in a wild card team. (He had played in the wild card round before, but that only happened because the Patriots hosted a game as division champions.)
The NFC is absolutely full of star power. In addition to Brady, the conference will also feature three other Super Bowl backs in Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson. Compared to the three, Rodgers is going to return to the Super Bowl a little easier, and that’s because the Packers have a first round.
With 14 teams, the playoffs this year will look a little different. For the first time ever, the game card round will feature a hat-trick on both Saturday and Sunday. After NFL somehow played 256 regular games during a pandemic, the NFL only needs to play 13 more to crown a Super Bowl champion. With that in mind, here’s the full schedule for the post-season.
Wild Card weekend
Saturday 9 January
(7) Colts at (2) Bills, 1:05 PM ET (CBS)
(6) Ramme by (3) Seahawks, 16:40 ET (Fox)
(5) Buccaneers by (4) Washington, 20:15 ET (NBC)
Sunday 10 January
(5) Ravens by (4) Titans, 13:05 ET (ABC)
(7) Bears at (2) Saints, 16:40 ET (CBS / Nickelodeon / Amazon Prime)
(6) Browns by (3) Steelers, 20:15 ET (NBC)
Section round
Saturday 16 January
AFC Division Round
NFC Divisional Round
Sunday 17 January
AFC Division Round
NFC Divisional Round
Note: The Chiefs and Packers are both playing their first game of the post-season in the division round, but the schedule for this round has not yet been announced.
Championship Sunday
Sunday 24 January
NFC Championship, 3:05 PM ET (Fox)
AFC Championship, 6:40 PM ET (CBS)
Super Bowl LV
Sunday 7 February
AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion in Tampa, 6:30 PM ET (CBS)