NFL Playoff Picture: Wild-card matchups set after Week 17 madness
The 2017 regular season has ended, so it is time for the real fun to begin. The final Sunday of the season saw a barrage of moving pieces sort out the final standings and determine who plays who in the first round of the playoffs.
AFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patriots | East | 13-3 |
| 2 | Steelers | North | 13-3 |
| 3 | Jaguars | South | 10-6 |
| 4 | Chiefs | West | 10-6 |
| 5 | Titans | South | 9-7 |
| 6 | Bills | East | 9-7 |
Wild-card schedule
| Matchup | Date | Time | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titans at Chiefs | Saturday Jan. 6 | 4:35 PM ET | ESPN/ABC |
| Bills at Jaguars | Sunday Jan. 7 | 1:00 PM ET | CBS |
The Patriots and Steelers locked up their first-round byes with wins in Week 16, though New England earned home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs with its victory Sunday.
The Bills ended the longest playoff drought in pro sports on Sunday by virtue of beating the Dolphins and the Ravens losing to the Bengals. They will face the Jaguars as the No. 6 seed in the AFC.
The Chiefs, who secured their division title and the fourth seed last week, will host the Titans, who clinched a spot by beating the Jaguars on Sunday.
The Chargers missed out on a postseason spot again due to wins by the Bills and Titans, despite winning their own Week 17 game. The Ravens also missed the playoffs after losing to the Bengals 31-27 in the final minute of the game.
NFC
| Seed | Team | Division | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagles | East | 13-3 |
| 2 | Vikings | North | 13-3 |
| 3 | Rams | West | 11-5 |
| 4 | Saints | South | 11-5 |
| 5 | Panthers | South | 11-5 |
| 6 | Falcons | South | 10-6 |
Wild-card schedule
| Matchup | Date | Time | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons at Rams | Saturday Jan. 6 | 8:15 PM ET | NBC |
| Panthers at Saints | Sunday Jan. 7 | 4:40 PM ET | FOX |
The Eagles will get a week to prepare Nick Foles for a home playoff game. The Vikings also secured a bye with their 11th win in their last 12 matchups.
The NFC South title was claimed by the Saints, who will now face the Panthers thanks to the Falcons' win over Carolina.
The Rams will host the Falcons, who return to the playoffs after the infamous Super Bowl collapse last season, in the first round.
Seattle was the one other NFC team still alive in the playoff race on Sunday, but Atlanta's win killed their chances before the Seahawks lost to the Arizona Cardinals to fall to 9-7 and miss the postseason for the first time since 2011.
Divisional schedule
| Matchup | Date | Time | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD at Eagles | Saturday Jan. 13 | 4:35 PM ET | NBC |
| TBD at Patriots | Saturday Jan. 13 | 8:15 PM ET | CBS |
The top seeds in both conferences will play on the opening day of the divisional round. The No. 1-seeded Eagles host the lowest remaining seed in the NFC on Saturday, Jan. 13. The Patriots will play the nightcap against the lowest remaining seed in the AFC.
| Matchup | Date | Time | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD at Steelers | Sunday Jan. 14 | 1:05 PM ET | CBS |
| TBD at Vikings | Sunday Jan. 14 | 4:40 PM ET | FOX |
The Steelers and Vikings will open their playoff campaigns on the Sunday of the divisional round.
Conference championship schedule
| Matchup | Date | Time | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| TBD at TBD | Sunday Jan. 21 | 3:05 PM ET | CBS |
| TBD at TBD | Sunday Jan. 21 | 6:40 PM ET | FOX |
The AFC will kick off the conference championship round on Sunday, Jan. 21. The winner of that game will learn its Super Bowl opponent after the two final NFC teams standing do battle in the nightcap.