2025 NFL Playoff Schedule: Wild Card Weekend Matchups
The race for the 2025 Super Bowl has officially commenced.
The NFL playoffs are set to begin with wild-card weekend on Jan. 11, featuring six matchups and some intriguing narratives.
The primary storyline this postseason revolves around whether the Kansas City Chiefs can achieve the remarkable feat of winning three Super Bowls in a row. In the NFL’s storied history, no team has accomplished this — in fact, no team that has won back-to-back Super Bowls has even reached the big game again, making the odds challenging for the Chiefs.
The Chiefs have secured numerous narrow victories this season, but critics point out their lack of dominance in those games. Nonetheless, they achieved an impressive NFL-best record of 15-2 this season (tied with the Detroit Lions) and captured the top seed in the AFC, a step up from last year’s third seed, from which they won the Super Bowl. And let’s not forget they have Patrick Mahomes, a proven winner in clutch moments.
Here are additional storylines to watch:
Can the Chiefs be unseated?
The 2025 Super Bowl is slated for Feb. 9 in New Orleans, and the Chiefs will face significant challenges on their path, given the competitive landscape of the AFC. The second-seeded Buffalo Bills, helmed by star quarterback Josh Allen, have been striving for a championship for years and have already triumphed over the Chiefs this season.
The Baltimore Ravens, seeded third, are considered by many to be poised for a title run with quarterback Lamar Jackson. Their wild-card matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a familiar rival, poses a challenging start — the teams know each other well, and the Steelers have won one of their two encounters this season. Plus, they are among the few teams that have managed to effectively contain Jackson.
The Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers will also clash in the wild-card round, both capable of causing upsets.
Can the Lions charge their way to the Super Bowl?
In the NFC, the top-seeded Lions have battled through a series of injuries, all while their dynamic offense continues to challenge opponents. After reaching the NFC Championship game last season, there are those who believe they were overly aggressive in their loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Head coach Dan Campbell remains committed to that aggressive style of play, making clear that he won’t shy away from it as they pursue their inaugural Super Bowl appearance.
Which teams could challenge the Lions?
The Philadelphia Eagles, featuring the versatile running back Saquon Barkley, pose a significant challenge for many teams, although the status of quarterback Jalen Hurts’ recovery from a concussion remains uncertain.
The lower-seeded teams also present interesting matchups. The Minnesota Vikings, who finished 14-3 in the regular season, found themselves as the fifth seed due to the Lions’ stronger performance in the NFC North. Quarterback Sam Darnold quieted his critics this year, but can he replicate that success in the playoffs, starting with a wild-card clash on the road against Super Bowl champion Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams?
The Green Bay Packers earned the seventh seed but are dealing with injuries. However, they should maintain confidence following a strong postseason run last season as the same seed. Additionally, don’t overlook the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and wide receiver Mike Evans, who just completed a season with at least 1,000 receiving yards for the 11th straight year, tying him with the legendary Jerry Rice for the longest streak in NFL history.
Will youth be a factor?
This year’s playoffs are noteworthy for featuring more than one rookie starting quarterback, a rare sight at this stage of the season. The Washington Commanders were expected to rebuild this season with No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels stepping in at quarterback. Instead, he has performed like a seasoned veteran, guiding the revitalized Commanders back to the playoffs for the first time in four years. Can he lead them to their first playoff victory since 2006?
Fans of the Denver Broncos can be optimistic about rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who has made his mark while leading Denver back to the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl 50 victory in 2016. Like the Commanders, the Broncos are progressing faster than expected in their rebuild. Can they carry that momentum into the playoffs?
Which teams have made the 2025 NFL playoffs?
Here’s a breakdown of the playoff teams and their respective seeds.
NFC playoff seeds
(1) Detroit Lions
(2) Philadelphia Eagles
(3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(4) Los Angeles Rams
(5) Minnesota Vikings
(6) Washington Commanders
(7) Green Bay Packers
AFC playoff seeds
(1) Kansas City Chiefs
(2) Buffalo Bills
(3) Baltimore Ravens
(4) Houston Texans
(5) Los Angeles Chargers
(6) Pittsburgh Steelers
(7) Denver Broncos
What is the 2025 NFL playoff schedule for wild-card weekend and how can I watch?
Saturday, Jan. 11
- No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers at No. 4 Houston Texans, 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
- No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 3 Baltimore Ravens, 8 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
Sunday, Jan. 12
- No. 7 Denver Broncos at No. 2 Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
- No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox, Fox Deportes)
- No. 6 Washington Commanders at No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock, Universo; Peacock is owned by TODAY.com’s parent company, NBCUniversal)
Monday, Jan. 13
- No. 5 Minnesota Vikings at No. 4 Los Angeles Rams, 8 p.m. ET. Game relocated to Arizona due to California wildfires. (ESPN, ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes; ManningCast: ESPN2, ESPN+)
