NFL on ESPN playoffs begin – The race to Super Bowl LIX begins at NFL Wildcard Weekend where ESPN delivers six live NFL playoff games from Sunday January 12 to Tuesday January 14 as the post-season begins.
After one of the most exciting NFL regular seasons in recent memory 14 teams remain in the hunt to be crowned Super Bowl champions.
The NFL Playoffs begin with a double header on Sunday January 12.
Starting at 8.30am AEDT Sunday are the Houston Texans and the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Texans enter the playoffs for the second straight season after finishing as fourth seed in the AFC.
Home ground advantage is crucial come playoff time and the Texans are 5-2 at home on Wildcard Weekend.
Los Angeles have found their groove under coach Jim Harbaugh and after going 5-12 in 2023, they are now a playoff team, and one that could very well find themselves in week two of the NFL post-season.
Following at 12pm AEDT, the Baltimore Ravens meet the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Ravens and Steelers face off for the third time this season as AFC North rivals.
The pair split wins this season – Pittsburgh winning 18-16 in Week 11 before the Ravens prevailed 34-17 in their most recent clash in Week 16.
The Ravens won their final four games, outscoring opponents 135-43 in a stretch that included victories over the playoff-bound Steelers and Texans.
Monday January 13 delivers a triple-dose of NFL Playoff action, beginning at 5am AEDT with the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos.
Entering their sixth straight post-season hopes are again high in Buffalo after finishing as the number two seed in the AFC.
This year they have been led superbly by Josh Allen, the MVP favourite.
Buffalo did not meet Denver this season, but when they last clashed in 2023, the Broncos prevailed thanks to a last-minute field goal – after the Bills were bizarrely caught with 12 men on the field.
That’s the kind of luck that has haunted the Bills when it has mattered the most – but 2025 may just be the year their curse is broken.
At 8.30am AEDT, the Philadelphia Eagles do battle with the Green Bay Packers in a clash of two storied NFL franchises.
The Eagles and Packers met on the opening day of the NFL season in Brazil – where Philadelphia proved too classy in a 34-29 win.
After a 14-3 season, the Eagles will start heavy favorites – however they have not won a playoff game since the NFC Championship Game in 2022.
Green Bay was also the number seventh seed last season and upset the then #2 ranked Dallas Cowboys on Wildcard Weekend.
The Monday action concludes from 12pm AEDT with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers facing off against the Washington Commanders.
The Commanders are in the playoffs for the first time since 2020. That run was ironically ended by the Buccs, who are 2-1 in the post-season head-to-head battle.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels gives Washington hope and has already shown this season that he is a big game player.
Tampa Bay will look to their own QB star Baker Mayfield, who with 41 touchdown passes sits second in the NFL.
Tampa Bay won 37-20 when the two sides met during the regular season.
Wildcard Weekend then finishes on Tuesday January 14 at 12pm AEDT when the Los Angeles Rams tackle the Minnesota Vikings.
The Rams are one of just three sides to hand the Vikings a defeat this season.
After a 1-4 start, Los Angeles came to life to finish at 10-7 and clinch fourth spot in the NFC.
The Vikings could have earnt a week off had they overcome Detroit last week.
That defeat has placed pressure on QB Sam Darnold and receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, who simply must turn a 14-3 season into a deep playoff push.
Every game from the NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl LIX will be LIVE on ESPN
Sunday January 12
8.30am AEDT, Houston Texans vs Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN
12pm AEDT, Baltimore Ravens vs Pittsburgh Steelers, ESPN
Monday January 13
5am AEDT, Buffalo Bills vs Denver Broncos, ESPN
8.30am AEDT, Philadelphia Eagles vs Green Bay Packers, ESPN
12pm AEDT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Washington Commanders, ESPN
Tuesday January 14
12pm AEDT, Los Angeles Rams vs Minnesota Vikings, ESPN
ESPN and ESPN2 is available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ
Media Release – ESPN
Link to ESPN HERE
TV Central ESPN content HERE
NFL on ESPN playoffs begin
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