NFL Playoff Schedule 2021: Wild Card Games, Dates & Times for NFC-AFC

Getty The NFL playoffs start on January 9th.

The NFL playoff schedule has yet to be set, but we do know a few things about the upcoming slate of games. We will be updating this page as the full playoff schedule is announced. All of the NFL playoff matchups are set with the exception of the No. 4 seed in the NFC which will either be the Giants or Washington. The NFC East champion will host Tom Brady and the Buccaneers during Wild Card Weekend.

The NFL playoffs get started on Saturday, January 9 with the first of two straight days of triple-header action. The playoff expansion means there are two extra games on Wild Card Weekend than has previously been the case. Kansas City locked up the No. 1 seed in the AFC, but things were much more complicated in the NFC where Seattle, New Orleans and Green Bay all had a chance at the top spot. All three teams held serve meaning the Packers are the No. 1 seed as Aaron Rodgers and company will have a bye during the Wild Card round.

There is more incentive than ever before to be the No. 1 seed as the Chiefs and Packers will be the only two teams with a first-round bye this postseason. Patrick Mahomes admitted that history is on the Chiefs’ side when it comes to their ability to play one less game to once again reach the Super Bowl.

“It’s one of your goals when you go into the season,” Mahomes said of securing the No. 1 seed, per ESPN. “If you look at the history of that bye week, usually it’s a good thing for teams trying to make a championship run.”

For the first time in the current playoff format, the No. 2 seeds will play during Wild Card Weekend instead of the traditional week off. The Titans, Ravens, Browns and Colts all secured playoff spots on the final day of the regular season. Miami’s blowout loss to Buffalo means the Dolphins will once again miss the postseason. The Rams and Bears secured the final two playoff spots in the NFC as Chicago was able to advance despite losing to the Packers.

Here is a look at the 2021 NFL playoff schedule.

NFL Wild Card Weekend Schedule

NFL Playoff Divisional Round: AFC-NFC Matchups

NFC-AFC Championship Games

Super Bowl 2021: Date, Time & TV Channel

NFL Playoff Teams 2021

Here is a list of the NFL teams that have clinched a postseason berth heading into Week 17.

NFC Playoff Matchups

Here are the current NFC playoff matchups if the postseason started today. 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.

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

READ NEXT: NFL Playoff Picture 2021: AFC & NFC Standings for Week 17