The NFL playoffs are finally coming and this year, they will look decidedly different. Not only will there be 14 teams in the postseason for the first time in league history, but there will also be some new faces, and that’s because the two longest NFL playoff droughts have come to an end this year.
At AFC, the Browns are in the postseason for the first time since 2002, which ends the longest NFL playoff drought. In a twist of fate, the Browns will be forced to play against a Steelers team that has taken Cleveland out of the playoffs each of the last two times the Browns have managed (1994, 2002). The Browns will try to win their first playoff game since 1994, but they will not be the only team trying to end a drought. Bills, who will face the Colts, will try to win their first game in the postseason since 1995.
The Bills will kick off this year’s playoffs with their first game on Saturday, while the Browns will end the wild card round with a game against the Steelers on Sunday night.
At NFC, Tom Brady took the Buccaneers to their first post-season appearance since 2007, which ended the longest playoff drought of that conference. Although Brady has gone to the playoffs 17 times, this will be the first time he has qualified on a wild card team. (He had played the wild card round before, but that was only because the Patriots were hosting a game as the division champion.)
The NFC is absolutely charged with the power of the stars. In addition to Brady, the conference will also feature three other Super Bowl winning quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson. Compared to the three, Rodgers will have a slightly easier time returning to the Super Bowl and that’s because the Packers will have a goodbye in the first round.
With 14 teams, the playoffs will have a slightly different look this year. For the first time, the wild-card round will feature a triple header on Saturday and Sunday. After being able to play 256 regular season games during a pandemic, all the NFL needs to do is play another 13 to crown a Super Bowl champion. With that in mind, here’s the entire postseason schedule.
Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, January 9
(7) Colts at (2) Bills, 1:05 pm ET (CBS)
(6) Rams in (3) Seahawks, 4:40 pm ET (Fox)
(5) Buccaneers at (4) Washington, 8:15 pm ET (NBC)
Sunday, January 10
(5) Ravens in (4) Titans, 1:05 pm ET (ABC)
(7) Bears at (2) Saints, 4:40 pm ET (CBS / Nickelodeon / Amazon Prime)
(6) Browns at (3) Steelers, 8:15 pm ET (NBC)
Divisional Round
Saturday, January 16
AFC Divisional Round
NFC Divisional Round
Sunday, January 17
AFC Divisional Round
NFC Divisional Round
note: The Chiefs and Packers will be playing their first postseason game in the divisional round, but the schedule for this round has not yet been released.
Championship Sunday
Sunday, January 24
NFC Championship, 3:05 pm Eastern Time (Fox)
AFC Championship, 18:40 ET (CBS)
Super Bowl LV
Sunday, February 7
AFC Champion vs. NFC champion in Tampa, 6:30 pm ET (CBS)