The resting period for the No. 1 seeds is almost over. The divisional round of the NFL playoffs is coming up.
Super Wild Card Weekend ends Monday, and it already has delivered some stunning results. The first three games of the playoffs all were lopsided contests, with the Texans blowing out the Browns, the Chiefs shutting down the Dolphins and the Packers upsetting the Cowboys.
Sunday night delivered the first nail-biting matchup, with the Lions surviving the Rams to win a 24-23 thriller. And there are still two games left, with the Bills and Steelers set to face off in a snowy Monday afternoon matchup in Buffalo and the Eagles heading to a much toastier Tampa to face the Buccaneers.
MORE: Watch the 2024 NFL playoffs with Fubo (free trial)
The bracket for the next is taking shape, with one matchup set after Sunday’s games. Monday’s games will lock in the remaining matchups.
Here’s a sneak peek of the schedule for the divisional round.
NFL playoff bracket 2024
Here are the matchups for the divisional round of the playoffs.
AFC
— Ravens (1) vs. Texans (4)/Steelers (7)
— Bills (2) vs. Chiefs (3) OR Chiefs (3) vs. Texans (4)
NFC
— 49ers (1) vs. Packers (7)
— Lions (3) vs. Buccaneers (4)/Eagles (5)
NFL playoff schedule
Here’s how you can watch all the divisional round matchups next weekend.
Saturday, Jan. 20 Matchup Time (ET) TV Live stream Texans at Ravens/Chiefs 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN ESPN+, Fubo Packers at 49ers 8 p.m. Fox FuboSunday, Jan. 21 Matchup Time (ET) TV Live stream Eagles/Buccaneers at Lions 3 p.m. NBC Peacock, Fubo Chiefs at Bills/Steelers at Ravens 6:30 p.m. CBS Paramount+, Fubo
AFC divisional round matchups
Ravens (1) vs. TBD
The Ravens are well rested, having sat their starters for Week 18 and getting Super Wild Card Weekend off.
Their opponent, yet to be determined, could be either running on very short rest or operating on a normal schedule. If the Steelers pull off the improbable win over the Bills, it will be AFC North rival Pittsburgh heading to Baltimore after playing their game on Monday. Should Buffalo hang on, it will be rookie sensation C.J. Stroud and the Texans, fresh off a dominating win over the Browns, that will square off against Lamar Jackson.
Chiefs (3) vs. TBD
The only known team here is the Chiefs. Kansas City looked red-hot in the sub-zero elements against the Dolphins, running the score up to 26-7 to win in commanding fashion. What isn’t known is whether Patrick Mahomes will be on the road for the first time or whether his improbable streak of home playoff games to start a career will continue.
Like the Ravens, that hinges on Monday’s game between the Bills and Steelers. The Chiefs will either hit the road to face frequent playoff foe Buffalo or they will return home to host the Texans.
NFC divisional round matchups
49ers (1) vs. Packers (7)
At three different points for three different teams, Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur were on the same team. Now, for the second time in three years, the two will square off as head coaches looking to advance their teams in the playoffs.
The No. 1-seeded Packers were eliminated in the divisional round of the 2021 playoffs by the No. 6-seeded 49ers. These two will enter in reverse positions this time with the Packers as the seventh seed, fresh off a stunning win over No. 2 Dallas, facing the well-rested 49ers. The Packers are clicking on all cylinders with four straight wins, led by Jordan Love, who ranks first among all quarterbacks in EPA (expected points added) per play + CPOE (completion percentage over expected) composite since Week 11.
Lions (3) vs. TBD
The Lions won their first playoff game since 1991, when Detroit reached the conference championship. They did so by taking down longtime quarterback Matthew Stafford with Jared Goff, the quarterback they acquired in the deal with the Rams.
Detroit can thank their division rival Packers for their win over the Cowboys to ensure the Lions have at least one more home game left this season. The Lions will now await either the Buccaneers or the Eagles.