NFL divisional schedule: Bracket, matchups, odds, TV, broadcast, kickoff times

We are close to Super Bowl LX. The NFL playoffs began with a bang during the A busy Wild Card Weekend featuring several photo finishes. No matter where you looked, the playoffs came down to the wire that cut off the opening slate. In all, there were four comeback wins in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter — the so much for one postseason.

Now, just eight teams remain, hoping to punch their ticket to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX. As we head into the divisional round that begins Saturday, the No. 1 seeds in both conferences, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, come off their first-round bye weeks and enter contention, adding more firepower to the playoff bracket.

As we prepare for more action, let’s first take a look at the divisional matchups, along with the odds and a quick preview of each contest.

AFC

• Saturday, 4:30 pm ET on CBS (Stream on Paramount+)

We don’t have to look back to find the last time these teams met in the postseason, beating each other last year in the wild card round. Buffalo defeated the Broncos at Highmark Stadium, 31-7. Denver scored on the opening drive, then was held the rest of the way.

However, this combination should be different. First, it will be played at Mile High after Denver gets the No. 1. The Broncos also boast one of the NFL’s top defenses, allowing just 18.3 points per game in the regular season. They’ll need that high level of play again to keep Josh Allen — who scored three touchdowns last week — in check.

The Bills quarterback is coming off his first playoff win after defeating the Jaguars in Jacksonville and looks to add to his postseason resume, entering this matchup as a road favorite.

• On Sunday, 3pm ET on ESPN (Stream: Fubo — try for free)

This will be the first meeting between the two teams since the 2016 divisional round, which New England won en route to a Super Bowl title. They last met in Week 6 of last season, when Houston rolled to a 41-21 victory, but both teams look very different now.

Both quarterbacks are also looking to bounce back from uneventful wild-card play. Drake Maye threw two innings in a win over the Chargers, and CJ Stroud went three innings against Pittsburgh. Houston still boasts one of the NFL’s top defenses and showed it again Monday night against the Steelers.

New England is rarely included among the elite units, however it proved to be a half after sacking Justin Herbert six times on Sunday night, setting the stage for what could be a defensive battle.

NFC

• Saturday, 8pm ET on Fox (Stream: Fubo — try for free)

We have a rubber match between two NFC West rivals. The Seahawks and 49ers split the regular season series, with San Francisco winning in Week 1 before Seattle returned the favor with a 13-3 victory in Week 18 to claim the No. 1 and the division title. Ironically, both games were won by the road team, but the 49ers will have to overcome some injury issues to keep that streak alive here.

San Francisco has been hit hard by injuries all season and will come off a playoff loss to Philadelphia where George Kittle was injured. an Achilles end-of-season tear. That leaves Brock Purdy without one of his primary weapons against Seattle’s defense. The Seahawks ranked No. 1 in scoring defense this season, allowing just 17.2 points per game, and also led the league in third down and yards per rush allowed.

That defensive dominance, along with Sam Darnold’s strong play at quarterback, helped Seattle win 11 of its last 12 games to close out the regular season. This is the fourth time the Seahawks have earned the No. 1 seed.

• Sunday, 6:30 pm ET on NBC

Both teams pulled out late wins on Wild Card Weekend. Los Angeles avoided a road upset against the Carolina Panthers after Matthew Stafford led a seven-play, 71-yard, game-winning touchdown drive in the final two minutes of regulation.

Meanwhile, Chicago, played in a miraculous way in the second half against the Green Bay Packers, erasing the deficit with 18 points. Caleb Williams and the offense came on late, outscoring Green Bay 25-6 in the fourth quarter.

The last time these teams met came in the 2024 regular season, when Chicago won 24-18. In that game, D’Andre Swift piled up 165 yards from scrimmage, while Stafford didn’t throw a touchdown and committed two turnovers.