After just two games, Super Bowl Wild Card Weekend has already lived up to its name by giving NFL fans a Super Wild Saturday.
Almost all the drama from the first day of the NFL playoffs came in a game Saturday night where the Jaguars rallied from a 27-point deficit to surprise the Chargers 31-30, with Riley Patterson’s 36-yard field goal on the final play of the game.
Trevor Lawrence threw four interceptions in the first half where the Jaguars fell behind 27-0, but he played nearly perfect football after that. The 27-point comeback was the third-longest in NFL postseason history.
In the game before Saturday, the 49ers also staged a comeback, but it wasn’t as dramatic. San Francisco trailed the Seahawks 17–16 at halftime and went on to win 41–23 in the second half. Like Lawrence, Brock Purdy struggled in the first half, but then bounced back to throw for 332 yards and three touchdowns for the game. Christian McCaffrey (136 total yards, one TD) and DeBo Samuel (six catches for 133 yards, one TD) also played big roles in the win.
Although two games are now in the books for the wild-card round, there are four more games to go, so get ready and get ready.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the entire postseason schedule. (And don’t forget, there could be a neutral-site AFC title game this year: If the Bills and Chiefs play each other in the AFC Championship, the game will be played in Atlanta.)
Super Wild Card Weekend
Saturday, January 14
- (2) 49ers 41-23 over (7) Seahawks. The 49ers got a bit of a scare from the Seahawks on a day when Seattle jumped out to a 17-16 halftime lead. But in the second half, San Francisco opened the game with a dominant performance. Brock Purdy threw for 332 yards and became the first rookie in NFL history to score four total touchdowns in a playoff game. (Purdy finished with three passing touchdowns and one rushing score).
- (4) Jaguars 31-30 over (5) Chargers. The Jaguars won the game by pulling off one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history. The Jags fell behind 27-0 early in the game thanks to four interceptions by Trevor Lawrence, but they rallied to win thanks in large part to Lawrence, who threw four touchdown passes.
Sunday, January 15
- (7) Dolphins (2) Bills (-10), 1 pm ET (streaming on CBS, Paramount+). These two teams each won their season-series at home, but it’s worth noting that both games were decided by three points or less. The big question here revolves around who will start at quarterback for the Dolphins. Right now, Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) and Teddy Bridgewater (finger) are both out. If they can’t go, Skylar Thompson will get the start.
- (6) Giants (3) at Vikings (-3), 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox, Stream on fuboTV). The two played in one of the wildest games of the season on Christmas Eve that wasn’t decided until Greg Joseph made a 61-yard field goal on the final play. This will be Minnesota’s first home playoff game since the Minneapolis Miracle in January 2018.
- (6) Ravens (3) Bengals (-6.5), 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC, Stream on fuboTV). It’s unclear if Lamar Jackson (knee) will play Sunday, but even if he does, it will be his first action in six weeks if he’s on the field. Jackson led the Ravens to a 19–17 win over the Bengals in Week 5, but the Bengals won 27–16 in Week 18 to split the season series.
Monday, January 16
- (5) Cowboys (4) at Buccaneers (+3), 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN, Stream on fuboTV). If the Cowboys are going to advance to the divisional round, they’ll have to do something they’ve never done: beat Tom Brady. The Cowboys are 0-7 all-time against the Buccaneers QB and that includes a Week 1 loss where Tampa Bay topped Dallas 19-3.
Divisional round
Saturday, January 21 and Sunday, January 22
NFC
- (1) Giants/Buccaneers/Cowboys at Eagles
- (2) Vikings/Buckaneers/Cowboys at 49ers
If the Giants beat the Vikings on Sunday, they will play the Eagles, which leaves the 49ers hosting the Cowboys-Buccaneers winner. If the Vikings win, they will play the 49ers while the Eagles will host the Cowboys-Buccaneers winner. The Cowboys-Buccaneers winner will play host on Sunday, Jan. 22.
AFC
- Jaguars/Dolphins/Crows (1) on Chiefs
- TBD at TBD
The NFL will announce the Divisional Round schedule during the Wild Card Round.
Championship Sunday
January 19
- NFC Championship, 3:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
- AFC Championship, 6:40 p.m. ET (CBS)
Super Bowl LVII
12 February
AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
