NFL playoff bracket: Divisional matchups, TV schedule for AFC, NFC games

The NFL playoff bracket for the divisional round was finalized when the Seahawks beat the Eagles last week to close the wild-card round, which featured nothing but wildly entertaining games to kick off the 2020 NFL playoffs.

Tthe Vikings pulled off a massive upset over the Saints in New Orleans to advance to the divisional round, where they will play the top-seeded 49ers in San Francisco. Yet Minnesota's win might not be considered the biggest stunner of the playoffs thus far.

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The Titans not only upset the Patriots on the road and guaranteed a new team will win the Super Bowl this year, but they very well might have ended Tom Brady's tenure in New England. Tennessee now will travel to Baltimore for the divisional round.

The other divisional playoff game in the AFC features the Texans and the Chiefs. On the strength of Deshaun Watson's magical play, Houston won an overtime thriller over Buffalo in the wild-card round. It heads to Kansas City for Round 2.

NFL divisional playoff matchups

• AFC

1. Baltimore Ravens vs. 6. Tennessee Titans

Like everybody else, the Ravens likely did not expect to draw the Titans in the divisional round, because it required Tennessee's shocking upset win in New England in the wild-card round. After frustrating Tom Brady, a stingy Titans defense draws the soon-to-be MVP in Lamar Jackson, who presents very different, tougher challenges. Baltimore opened as a 10-point home favorite over Tennessee.

2. Kansas City Chiefs vs. 4. Houston Texans

The Texans beat the Bills in the wild-card round to create a rematch of their Week 6 regular season game against the Chiefs in Kansas City. Houston won that game 31-24 on the strength of 2018 passing yards from Deshaun Watson and 116 rushing yards from Carlos Hyde. Kansas City's defense, though, has made big strides since that meeting. Which is why the Chiefs opened as eight-point home favorites for the divisional round.

• NFC

1. San Francisco 49ers vs. 6. Minnesota Vikings

Like the top-seeded Ravens in the AFC, the top-seeded 49ers in the NFC likely were shocked to end up with a game against the Vikings in the divisional round. San Francisco should know not to take Minnesota lightly. The same physical, run-oriented approach that allowed the Vikings to upset the Saints on the road will be useful against a 49ers defense that's stronger against the pass than it is against the run.

2. Green Bay Packers vs. 5. Seattle Seahawks

This is a juicy divisional-round matchup between two high-profile teams. (It also means we could have an all-NFC West or an all-NFC North championship game.) The football world gets another glorious week of Marshawn Lynch playing running back for the Seahawks. That's an ideal scenario for everybody but Packers fans, as Green Bay has struggled to stop the run all season, and Seattle has been a strong rushing team no matter who's in the backfield. Good thing the home team will have that Aaron Rodgers guy.

NFL divisional playoff TV schedule

The four NFL divisional playoff games are split between three networks, with CBS scheduled to broadcast a game Saturday and Sunday. ESPN, which presented the Texans' wild-card win over the Bills, doesn't carry a divisional round game.

Unlike in years past, when the Sunday divisional playoff games kicked off in early time windows that resembled those of the regular season, this year's Sunday divisional playoff game start times are the same as those for the AFC and NFC championship games.

Below is the full NFL divisional round playoff schedule for 2020, complete with TV channels and live stream links.

Saturday, Jan. 11

Sunday, Jan. 12

MORE: Watch every NFL playoff game on DAZN (Canada only)

NFL playoff bracket 2020

• AFC

• NFC