The 2026 NFL playoffs are upon us, and the action gets started with the Wild Card round.
In the first playoff round, the three division winners that didn't earn the No. 1 seed host a wild-card team. The New England Patriots finished the 2025 regular season as the AFC East champion, but couldn't quite catch the Denver Broncos for the No. 1 seed in the conference.
This set up a massive wild-card weekend game between the Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers. The game was chosen for Sunday night and will be featured in primetime on NBC.
New England had missed the playoffs the last three years. The Patriots hired Mike Vrabel ahead of the 2025 season, and he led New England to a 14-3 record and the No. 2 overall seed in the AFC.
Here is all the information you need about when the Patriots play next.
When is the Patriots' next game?
- Matchup: No. 7 Chargers at No. 2 Patriots
- Date: Sunday, January 11
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- TV channel: NBC
- Live stream: Peacock
With the Patriots earning the No. 2 seed in the AFC, they will play during Wild Card Weekend this year. New England boasts an overall 14-3 record, tied for the best in the NFL.
The No. 7 Chargers will travel across the country to take on the Patriots to end the Sunday slate of Wild Card Weekend. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the game will air on NBC.
Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (color commentator) will be in the broadcast booth. Sideline reporter Melissa Stark will join them.
Fans can stream the game with Peacock.
If the Chargers win, the Patriots will be eliminated from playoff contention. If the Patriots win, they will return home next weekend to host an opponent in the Divisional Round.
NFL playoff schedule 2026
Wild-card round
Saturday, Jan. 10
| Matchup | Start time (ET) | TV channel |
| Panthers vs. Rams | 4:30 p.m. | Fox |
| Bears vs. Packers | 8 p.m. | Prime Video |
Sunday, Jan. 11
| Matchup | Start time (ET) | TV channel |
| Jaguars vs. Bills | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| Eagles vs. 49ers | 4:30 p.m. | Fox |
| Patriots vs. Chargers | 8 p.m. | NBC |
Monday, Jan. 12
| Matchup | Start time (ET) | TV channel |
| Steelers vs. Texans | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN, ABC |
Divisional round
Saturday, Jan. 17
| Matchup | Start time (ET) | TV channel |
| TBD Divisional | TBD | TBD |
| TBD Divisional | TBD | TBD |
Sunday, Jan. 18
| Matchup | Start time (ET) | TV channel |
| TBD Divisional | TBD | TBD |
| TBD Divisional | TBD | TBD |
Conference championships
Sunday, Jan. 25
| Matchup | Start time (ET) | TV channel |
| NFC championship | TBD | TBD |
| AFC championship | TBD | TBD |
Super Bowl
Sunday, Feb. 8
| Matchup | Start time (ET) | TV channel |
| Super Bowl 60 | 6:30 p.m. | NBC |