18 weeks are in the books, and the NFL playoffs are finally here.
After one of the most unpredictable regular seasons in history that continued to shape the playoff picture right until the final kick, this year's post-season could go any way. With perennial contender such as the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens already out of the equation, the field is set to be wide open.
Is this the year Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills finally get over the hump? Will Jordan Mailata and the Philadelphia Eagles defend their title? Or will a rising star, like Drake Maye or Trevor Lawrence, announce themselves to the world?
AllSportsPeople has all the information you need, including the schedule, start times, and how to watch week one of the NFL playoffs.
MORE: NFL playoff picture: Which Australians are in the running for the Super Bowl?
NFL wildcard weekend schedule
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers
- Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
- Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
- Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots
- Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Despite losing in week 18 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Atlanta Falcons helped out Carolina to see the Panthers top the NFC South division for the first time since Cam Newton's MVP season a decade ago. However, after finishing the season with just an 8-9 record, the Panthers will go into week one of the playoffs as massive underdogs against MVP favourite Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. Carolina have already defeated the Rams once this season though, and you can't count them out with a home Bank of America Stadium crowd behind them.
From there we go to Chicago as traditional NFC North rivals the Bears and Packers do battle for just the third time in post-season history. The Packers have been decimated by injuries late in the season, and star quarterback Jordan Love may need to shake some rust off after spending a number of weeks on the sidelines. On the other hand, Caleb Williams and the Bears have pulled off several miraculous wins this season, including against the Packers. Will they repeat their magic again?
The following day of action kicks off with Buffalo in Jacksonville, with an epic quarterback battle as Josh Allen takes on Trevor Lawrence. Allen, the consensus best quarterback in the league, will be expected to take Buffalo to the mountain top now that they don't have to deal with their nemesis, the Kansas City Chiefs. But they will have to shake the weight of history right out of the gates, with the Bills having not won an away playoff game in over three decades. Across from them, Lawrence and the Jaguars have been playing some of the hottest football down the stretch of the season, having won their last eight straight games.
One could consider it a miracle that the San Francisco 49ers have even made it this far after being destroyed by injuries this season. Amazingly, they were one win away away from topping the entire NFC. But after losing to Seattle in week 18, they are now tasked with taking on the defending Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles championship defence hasn't always been steady so far, but they know how to win big games in January.
After a few years of relief, the New England Patriots could be on the verge of another dynasty, with young quarterback Drake Maye looking to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Tom Brady. Maye is already in strong consideration for the MVP award, having thrown 31 touchdowns to just eight interceptions for 4,394 yards, all while throwing at over 72 per cent completion. He's set for a tough battle though against a gritty Los Angeles Chargers side, led by Justin Herbert at quarterback.
The first week of the playoffs ends with a fascinating battle between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers. The young Texans boast arguably the best defence in the league, and have been a revelation over the second half of the season to book their spot in the playoffs. Young quarterback C.J. Stroud is in store for his fifth playoff game, as he faces off against the veteran Aaron Rodgers, whose playing future remains up in the air. This year's playoffs could prove to be the swan song for the 42-year-old's legendary career, and there's no doubt he would love to add a second Super Bowl to his incredible resume. Despite a depleted receiving cast, Rodgers fended off a brilliant Lamar Jackson performance against the Baltimore Ravens to book the Steelers' spot in the post-season, but he will have wide receiver DK Metcalf back from suspension for support.
NFL wildcard weekend start times
Week one of the NFL playoffs will take place over three-action packed days.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers
| Date | Start time | |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time | Sun, Jan. 11 | 8:30 a.m. |
| Australian Central Daylight Time | Sun, Jan. 11 | 8:00 a.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Sun, Jan. 11 | 5:30 a.m. |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Sun, Jan. 11 | 7:30 a.m. |
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
| Date | Start time | |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time | Sun, Jan. 11 | 12:00 p.m. |
| Australian Central Daylight Time | Sun, Jan. 11 | 11:30 a.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Sun, Jan. 11 | 9:00 a.m. |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Sun, Jan. 11 | 11:00 a.m. |
Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
| Date | Start time | |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time | Mon, Jan. 12 | 5:00 a.m. |
| Australian Central Daylight Time | Mon, Jan. 12 | 4:30 a.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Mon, Jan. 12 | 2:00 a.m. |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Mon, Jan. 12 | 4:00 a.m. |
San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
| Date | Start time | |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time | Mon, Jan. 12 | 8:30 a.m. |
| Australian Central Daylight Time | Mon, Jan. 12 | 8:00 a.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Mon, Jan. 12 | 5:30 a.m. |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Mon, Jan. 12 | 7:30 a.m. |
Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots
| Date | Start time | |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time | Mon, Jan. 12 | 12:15 p.m. |
| Australian Central Daylight Time | Mon, Jan. 12 | 11:45 a.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Mon, Jan. 12 | 9:15 a.m. |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Mon, Jan. 12 | 11:15 a.m. |
Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
| Date | Start time | |
| Australian Eastern Daylight Time | Tue, Jan. 13 | 12:15 p.m. |
| Australian Central Daylight Time | Tue, Jan. 13 | 11:45 a.m. |
| Australian Western Standard Time | Tue, Jan. 13 | 9:15 a.m. |
| Australian Eastern Standard Time | Tue, Jan. 13 | 11:15 a.m. |
How to watch NFL playoffs
- Channel: 7Mate / ESPN on Foxtel
- Live Stream: 7Plus / Kayo Sports / Disney+ / NFL Game Pass
All games these NFL playoffs are set to be broadcast on both 7Mate and ESPN, and can be streamed via 7Plus and Kayo Sports. In addition, NFL Game Pass, the NFL's official streaming service, also allows fans to catch the all action.
New users of Kayo can currently sign up for a FREE trial. This dedicated streaming service offers affordable, contract-free plans starting at just $25 per month. Plus, it’s a paradise for sports fans, streaming plenty of live action, including cricket, AFL, NFL, F1, and much more.
