The NFL Playoffs schedule picks up with wild card weekend and the first games on Saturday will have the AFC teams facing off. The Seahawks, Vikings, Packers and Redskins will play Sunday after the first matchups with the Chiefs, Texans, Steelers and Bengals.
The first game of the weekend has the Chiefs taking on the Texans in Houston and that game will be on ESPN/ABC starting at 4:20 pm ET. The Chiefs come in as a wild card team and are on a hot streak entering the playoffs. Houston won the AFC South and this could be one of the under the radar games of the weekend. Both teams have been playing strong defense and it could come down to which side doesn't make a major mistake on offense.
The Steelers and Bengals are the second game on the schedule and that will be on CBS starting at 8:15 pm ET. The two teams have played twice already this season in AFC North games and now a third will determine who will move on in the playoffs. The Steelers made it into the playoffs on the final weekend of the season and now they will have to travel to play the Bengals. Cincy will be without Andy Dalton most likely with a thumb injury and that will put AJ McCarron back under center for the team.
The NFC playoffs start with the Seattle Seahawks taking on the Minnesota Vikings and that game will be on NBC starting at 1:05 pm ET. The game temperatures in Minnesota are expected to be below zero and the teams are playing for the second time this season. Seattle won in Minnesota in early December and took down the Vikings by 30 points and now the teams will battle again. Marshawn Lynch is expected to return for Seattle after missing the first game between these teams. Adrian Peterson is dealing with a back injury but is expected to be fine for Sunday.
The final game of Wild Card Weekend has the Green Bay Packers visiting the Washington Redskins and that game will be on Fox starting at 4:40 pm ET. The Packers come in as a wild card after losing in Week 17 to the Vikings for the NFC North division title, while the Redskins won the NFC East. Kirk Cousins has had a strong season and will try and continue that in the playoffs, while the Packers are struggling a bit, but have playoff experience with Aaron Rodgers under center. The Panthers, Cardinals, Broncos and Patriots all have first round byes and the teams will have to wait and see who they will play in the next round.
