The NFL has officially set the postseason calendar for 2026, announcing the complete Wild Card Weekend schedule during halftime of Sunday Night Football on January 4. With the regular season complete and 14 teams securing playoff berths, football fans now know exactly when and where the postseason journey begins for 12 of those franchises, while the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks enjoy hard-earned first-round byes as the AFC and NFC's top seeds respectively.
How the 2026 NFL Playoff Schedule Came Together
The league revealed the six-game Wild Card Weekend slate during the Baltimore Ravens-Pittsburgh Steelers broadcast on NBC, providing clarity to teams and fans about the road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara. According to multiple reports, the announcement came at approximately 11:00 PM ET on January 4, giving teams just under a week to prepare for their opening playoff contests.
"The NFL released the schedule for the 2026 Wild Card Weekend during halftime of Sunday Night Football between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers on NBC," confirmed Matt Clapp of Awful Announcing, capturing the timing of the official announcement.
The Complete Wild Card Weekend Lineup
The opening round of the 2026 NFL playoffs features a three-day schedule that kicks off in North Carolina and concludes in Pittsburgh. The Saturday slate begins with the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Carolina Panthers at 4:30 PM ET on FOX, followed by one of the league's most historic rivalries when the Green Bay Packers face the Chicago Bears at 8:00 PM ET exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
Sunday delivers a tripleheader starting with the Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars at 1:00 PM ET on CBS. The afternoon game features the San Francisco 49ers traveling to face the Philadelphia Eagles at 4:30 PM ET on FOX, while the nightcap showcases the Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots at 8:00 PM ET on NBC's Sunday Night Football.
The opening round concludes on Monday night with the Houston Texans visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers at 8:00 PM ET on ESPN and ABC. This marks the only Monday night playoff game of the weekend and will feature the popular ManningCast alternative broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
Timeline: From Regular Season Finale to Playoff Matchups
The path to this schedule announcement began with Week 18's dramatic conclusion to the regular season. The Pittsburgh Steelers secured the final playoff spot with their Sunday night victory over the Ravens, joining 13 teams that had already clinched postseason berths. Meanwhile, the Broncos and Seahawks secured first-round byes with their Week 18 victories, earning valuable rest before the divisional round.
"The final game of the season saw the Pittsburgh Steelers punch their ticket to the postseason, joining the 13 teams that had already clinched spots ahead of the Sunday Night Football finale," noted SB Nation's Mark Schofield, highlighting how the playoff field crystallized just hours before the schedule announcement.
NFL operations staff worked through Sunday night to finalize matchups and television assignments, considering factors like team travel, stadium availability, and television partner preferences before unveiling the complete schedule during the halftime break.
Why These Matchups and Time Slots Matter
The schedule reveals several strategic decisions by the NFL and its broadcast partners. The placement of Packers-Bears on Saturday night on Prime Video represents a significant move, as this historic rivalry typically commands network television placement. "The Packers-Bears being the Prime Video slot on Saturday night stands out as an eye-opener," analyzed Awful Announcing. "The assumption had been that it would land on Sunday with Fox or NBC as one of the biggest rivalries in sports that features a major market."
This scheduling choice underscores Amazon's growing influence in NFL broadcasting and represents a calculated gamble that the rivalry's appeal will drive significant streaming numbers. Meanwhile, the Chargers-Patriots matchup landing in the coveted Sunday Night Football slot on NBC features two of the league's most marketable quarterbacks in Justin Herbert and potential MVP candidate Drake Maye, ensuring strong ratings for the weekend's premier broadcast window.
The Rams-Panthers opening game on Saturday afternoon reflects Carolina's status as what one analysis called "the least appealing team in the tournament," while still providing FOX with a West Coast team in the early window. The Monday night Texans-Steelers matchup guarantees ESPN a standalone playoff game with significant implications for both franchises.
Where the Playoff Picture Stands Now
With the Wild Card schedule set, all 14 playoff teams now know their immediate paths. The Broncos and Seahawks await the winners of specific matchups, with Denver hosting the lowest-remaining AFC seed and Seattle hosting the lowest-remaining NFC seed in the divisional round. The other four division winners—Patriots, Jaguars, Eagles, and Bears—will host games against wild card opponents based on the weekend's results.
"Just like the postseason field itself, the NFL playoff schedule is now set," reported USA Today. "With a little more than a month remaining until Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, California, 14 teams are about to embark on a journey that they hope will lead to a Lombardi Trophy."
The complete playoff calendar extends beyond Wild Card Weekend, with divisional round games scheduled for January 17-18, conference championships on January 25, and Super Bowl LX on February 8 at Levi's Stadium. The NFL will announce specific times and television assignments for the divisional round after the wild card games conclude.
What Happens Next in the NFL Postseason
The focus now shifts to game preparation for the 12 teams competing this weekend, while the Broncos and Seahawks use their bye weeks to heal injuries and scout potential opponents. For teams like the Patriots and Bears hosting games, the week involves ticket sales, stadium preparation, and managing the increased media attention that accompanies playoff football.
Television networks will ramp up promotional campaigns for their assigned games, with particular emphasis on the streaming-exclusive Packers-Bears matchup on Prime Video. The NFL's flex scheduling rules don't apply to the postseason, meaning these matchups and time slots are locked in regardless of potential blowouts or weather concerns.
As teams make their final preparations, the league office will monitor weather forecasts for outdoor venues and coordinate with stadium operations staff to ensure ideal playing conditions for the most important games of the season to date.
The Bottom Line: Key Points to Remember
The 2026 NFL playoff schedule features six wild card games over three days from January 10-12, with the top-seeded Broncos and Seahawks earning first-round byes. Key matchups include Packers-Bears on Prime Video Saturday night, Chargers-Patriots on NBC Sunday Night Football, and Texans-Steelers on Monday Night Football. The complete postseason calendar runs through Super Bowl LX on February 8, with divisional round games scheduled for January 17-18 and conference championships on January 25. With the schedule now official, the road to Santa Clara begins in earnest this weekend.
