NFL Playoffs Arrive With Six Huge Games in Wildcard Weekend Live on ESPN – The NFL Playoffs begin on ESPN with six massive games across four days with NFL Wildcard Weekend, as the race to Super Bowl LX officially commences after one of the craziest finishes to the regular season we’ve ever seen. 14 teams remain in the Super Bowl race and winning is all that matters from here on out.
ESPN will deliver every game from the NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl LX live, available on Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ across the most widely distributed sports network in Australia and New Zealand.
This season remains one of the most open Super Bowl races in NFL history. AFC and NFC number one seeds Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks earn the week off, but the remaining 12 sides in the NFL Playoffs simply must win to survive.
The NFL Playoffs kick off on Sunday January 11 with a live Wildcard Weekend double header from 8.30am AEDT as the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers clash.
Quarterback Bryce Young is the key for Carolina. If he fires, the team can hang with anybody, showcased by wins over the Rams, and Super Bowl champion Eagles’ this season.
Rams’ QB Matthew Stafford has enjoyed an amazing season and has an NFL leading 46 touchdowns and 4707 passing yards.
That Panthers 31-28 win over the Rams back in Week 13 will give confidence, but the Rams have been considered Super Bowl contenders all season and hold big game experience.
Following live at 12pm AEDT is the latest instalment between historic rivals Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears.
Familiar foes given their long-time NFC North rivalry, this will be the third time the two have faced each other in just six weeks.
Their December 21 clash saw the Bears prevail 22-16 in overtime, whilst the Packers claimed the December 8 matchup 28-21.
Chicago enjoy the home field advantage this time around, and given recent results, a tight affair is expected.
Monday January 12 follows with three straight NFL Playoff games in a 10+ hour marathon of action.
Beginning at 5am AEDT, the Buffalo Bills will face off with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Buffalo have knocked on the door for a number of seasons now and have yet to end that Super Bowl hoodoo.
Regardless of their regular season success, pressure and expectation rises in Buffalo come playoff time.
Compounding things is the fact Jacksonville have come from the clouds to end the season in the number three spot in the conference, off the back of eight straight wins. They are one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now.
One of the most anticipated games of Wildcard Weekend begins at 8.30am AEDT live on ESPN as the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles collide.
The Philadelphia Eagles hope to defend their Super Bowl crown, whilst the San Francisco 49ers want to return to the Super Bowl on their home turf in Santa Clara.
Philadelphia’s offense has spluttered in recent weeks, but their defense remains one of the best in the league.
Meanwhile Brock Purdy’s return from injury has sparked the 49ers and the offence is averaging 30 points a game with Purdy at the helm.
Defense has been the 49ers achilles heel and they’ve fielded the league’s least productive pass rush this season. Injury clouds also remain over George Kittle and Trent Williams.
Offence vs Defence. A simply mouth watering NFL Playoff game awaits.
Rounding out Monday’s schedule are the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots at 12pm AEDT.
The Patriots seemed set for the AFC Number One seed for most of the regular season, only to be jumped by Denver by the slenderest of margins on the final weekend.
The Chargers meanwhile just scrapped into the playoffs, securing the final spot in the conference.
New England QB Drake Maye has been amazing in just his second year in the league and is firmly in MVP contention.
The final game of a massive Wildcard Weekend is Tuesday January 13 at 12.15pm AEDT with the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers going head-to-head.
Pittsburgh secured a playoff berth with the final kick of the NFL season, prevailing in a season-ending classic after Baltimore missed a field goal.
Veteran QB Aaron Rodgers holds the key to a side plagued by indifferent form all season long.
Houston though have found red-hot form at the right time, riding an eight-game winning streak all the way to the playoffs and look hard to stop at the moment.
NFL Wildcard Weekend on ESPN
Sunday January 11
8.30am AEDT, Los Angeles Rams vs Carolina Panthers, ESPN
12pm AEDT, Green Bay Packers vs Chicago Bears, ESPN
Monday January 12
5am AEDT, Buffalo Bills vs Jacksonville Jaguars, ESPN
8.30am AEDT, San Francisco 49ers vs Philadelphia Eagles, ESPN
12pm AEDT, Los Angeles Chargers vs New England Patriots, ESPN
Tuesday January 13
12.15pm AEDT, Houston Texans vs Pittsburgh Steelers, ESPN
ESPN and ESPN2 is available on Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ
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NFL Playoffs Arrive With Six Huge Games in Wildcard Weekend Live on ESPN
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