The NFL playoffs kick into another gear this weekend with the divisional round taking place. Four teams remain in the AFC, while another four teams are still alive in the NFC.
The winner of each game this weekend will advance to their respective conference championship game next weekend. The winners of those games head to the Super Bowl.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves, because we have to get through the four games on tap this weekend first. And there are some doozies.
Here’s a look at this weekend’s games, including when they will be played and how you can watch.
What is the 2025 NFL playoff schedule for the divisional round and how can I watch?
Saturday, Jan. 18
AFC: (4) Houston Texans at (1) Kansas City Chiefs, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN, ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes)
No team has a bigger target on its chest than the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, who are seeking to become the first team to ever win three straight Super Bowls. They haven’t been dominant this season, but they still found a way to win 15 games. They are coming off a bye week and sat many starters in its regular-season finale two weeks ago, so will new dad Patrick Mahomes and company show any signs of rust in this battle?
The Texans, meanwhile, ran roughshod over the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round, intercepting Justin Herbert four times. The Texans, which lost to the Chiefs, 27-19, in Kansas City in Week 16, are young and talented, but the franchise has never made it past this round, so history is not exactly on its side.
NFC: (6) Washington Commanders at (1) Detroit Lions, 8 p.m. ET (Fox, Fox Deportes)
The Commanders edged the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a doinked game-winning field goal to move past the wild-card round and secure their first playoff win since 2006. Their reward? The Lions and their prolific offense. Washington may be ahead of schedule in its development as a team, but it may also be playing with house money. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has been everything the team could have hoped he’d be, but he now gets an even bigger test.
Detroit is the top seed in the NFC and has eyes on its first trip to the Super Bowl in franchise history. The Lions have a high-octane offense and head coach Dan Campbell is not afraid to take chances in games. They’ve had a chance to rest after earning a first-round bye. Will that affect them?
Sunday, Jan. 19
NFC: (4) Los Angeles Rams at (2) Philadelphia Eagles, 3 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, Universo)
(Peacock is owned by TODAY.com’s parent company, NBCUniversal.)
The Eagles put on a stout defensive effort to take down the Green Bay Packers in their wild-card showdown. They are a loaded team on both sides of the ball, with weapons everywhere on the field. This is a team that very much looks the part of the Super Bowl contenders that they are.
The Rams destroyed the Minnesota Vikings, 27-9, in their wild-card game, played in Arizona because of the wildfires in Los Angeles. The Rams sacked Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold nine times (tying an NFL playoff record in the Super Bowl era) and looked great on both sides of the ball. The Rams opened the season 1-4 but have been solid since then, although the Eagles did beat them 37-20 at LA in Week 12.
AFC: (3) Baltimore Ravens at (2) Buffalo Bills, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
The weekend’s final game is also the weekend’s marquee game. The Ravens breezed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in their wild-card game, while the Bills took care of the Denver Broncos. The Bills and Ravens are similar teams — they’re led by MVP candidates at quarterback (Lamar Jackson for the Ravens, Josh Allen for the Bills) who have done just about everything on the field in the NFL except make a Super Bowl. It’s the glaring omission from each of their résumés.
The Ravens crushed the Bills, 35-10, in Baltimore in Week 4.