NFL Games Today: No Pro Football on TV on Saturday, January 2, 2021

NFL Football January 3

Getty The Dallas Cowboys are fighting for a playoff spot.

Sports fans will have to wait until Sunday as there are no NFL football games on TV on Saturday, January 2. The entire NFL Week 17 schedule takes place on Sunday, January 3.

A big reason for the one day of football is the league tries to schedule the final games in a way where teams are grouped together based on where they are in the playoff seeding. The NFL wants to avoid teams not playing at full strength in Week 17 as a result of other games making their regular-season finale less meaningful for seeding. The NFL playoffs start on Saturday, January 9 as the beginning of two days of triple-header football games.

The good news is there is plenty of college football alternative viewing options on Saturday with the bowl season in full swing. There are four college football games on Saturday’s schedule including the Fiesta Bowl along with the Orange Bowl. No. 10 Iowa State takes on No. 25 Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl at 4 p.m. Eastern on ESPN. The Orange Bowl features No. 5 Texas A&M squaring off with No. 13 North Carolina at 8 p.m. Eastern.

COVID-19 continues to impact the NFL as the Browns-Steelers matchup is in doubt with Cleveland having to shut down their facilities on the eve of the game. Both teams are fighting for playoff positioning, and it will be interesting to see if the NFL moves the game to a different date.

“The Cleveland Browns were informed this morning that a member of their coaching staff has tested positive for COVID-19,” the Browns said in a statement. “The team will continue virtual meetings as the facility is currently closed while contact tracing is conducted. We will consult with league medical professionals on the appropriate next steps.”

Here is a look at the NFL Week 17 schedule along with the January 2nd college football bowl games.


College Football Schedule: Bowl Games on Saturday, Jan. 2

DATE BOWL GAME TIME(ET)/TV CHANNEL
Saturday, January 2 Gator: NC St. vs. Kentucky 12 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, January 2 Outback: Miss. vs. Indiana 12:30 p.m. ABC
Saturday, January 2 Fiesta: Oregon vs. Iowa St. 4 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, January 2 Orange: TAMU vs. UNC 8 p.m. ESPN


NFL Schedule Week 17

DATE MATCHUP TIME(ET)/TV CHANNEL
Sun., January 3 Falcons vs. Buccaneers 1 p.m. Fox
Sun., January 3 Cowboys vs. Giants 1 p.m. Fox
Sun., January 3 Jets vs. Patriots 1 p.m. CBS
Sun., January 3 Vikings vs. Lions 1 p.m. Fox
Sun., January 3 Steelers vs. Browns 1 p.m. CBS
Sun., January 3 Ravens vs. Bengals 1 p.m. CBS
Sun., January 3 Dolphins vs. Bills 1 p.m. CBS
Sun., January 3 Seahawks vs. 49ers 4:25 p.m. Fox
Sun., January 3 Cardinals vs. Rams 4:25 p.m. CBS
Sun., January 3 Jaguars vs. Colts 4:25 p.m. CBS
Sun., January 3 Titans vs. Texans 4:25 p.m. CBS
Sun., January 3 Raiders vs. Broncos 4:25 p.m. CBS
Sun., January 3 Chargers vs. Chiefs 4:25 p.m. Fox
Sun., January 3 Packers vs. Bears 4:25 p.m. Fox
Sun., January 3 Saints vs. Panthers 4:25 p.m. Fox
Sun., January 3 Washington vs. Eagles 8:20 p.m. NBC

NFC Playoff Matchups

Here are the current NFC playoff matchups heading into Week 17. The top seed gets a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

No. 7 Chicago Bears vs. No. 2 New Orleans Saints
No. 6 L.A. Rams vs. No. 3 Seattle Seahawks
No. 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. No. 4 Washington Football Team
Bye: No. 1 Green Bay Packers


AFC Playoff Matchups

Here is a look at the current AFC playoff matchups if the postseason started today.

No. 7 Cleveland Browns vs. No. 2 Buffalo Bills
No. 6 Baltimore Ravens vs. No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers
No. 5 Miami Dolphins vs. No. 4 Tennessee Titans
Bye: No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (Clinched)


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