The NFL playoff bracket for the wild-card round literally was set in the final seconds of the regular season. The 49ers beat the Seahawks, clinching the NFC West and sending their rivals on the road for the first round of the postseason. Seattle will head to Philadelphia for a wild-card game vs. the Eagles while San Francisco enjoys a first-round bye.
The 49ers' win in Week 17 also means the Saints will be forced to play a wild-card game. They'll host the Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 5, before the Eagles play the Seahawks in Philly.
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Playoff picture analysis | Full TV schedule
As for the AFC, the final week of the regular season brought a twist to the playoff seeding. The Patriots were upset by the Dolphins, knocking them down to the No. 3 seed and allowing the Chiefs to enjoy a first-round bye. New England now will host a wild-card game, against Tennessee on Saturday, Jan. 4, upon the conclusion of the Bills-Texans game earlier that day.
Below is the full NFL playoff picture, plus an overview of the wild-card playoff matchups and a TV schedule for the opening round of the postseason.
NFL wild-card matchups
- AFC
3. New England Patriots vs. 6. Tennessee Titans
New England's loss to the Miami in Week 17, coupled with Kansas City's win over the Los Angeles Chargers, denied the Patriots the comfort of a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. They'll play their wild-card game at home against the Titans, who sneaked into the playoffs with their Week 17 win over the Texans.
4. Houston Texans vs. 5. Buffalo Bills
Houston became locked into this seed before it even took the field against Tennessee in Week 17, and Buffalo has been locked into the No. 5 spot since Week 16. This should be a closely contested wild-card game in Houston, with Deshaun Watson facing the Bills' stingy defense.
- NFC
3. New Orleans Saints vs. 6. Minnesota Vikings
The Saints had a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed and/or a first-round bye in the playoffs entering Week 17, but even though they took care of their business against the Panthers, wins by the 49ers and Packers prevented a New Orleans jump. Now the Vikings will have to play their wild-card game in the Superdome.
4. Philadelphia Eagles vs. 5. Seattle Seahawks
This will be a matchup of two relentless teams led by MVP-caliber quarterbacks, a formula for a dandy of a wild-card game even though the Eagles limped into the playoffs with their Week 17 win over the Giants. For all the injuries Philadelphia has dealt with this season, its playoff visitor is short on personnel at key positions, too.
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NFL wild-card TV schedule
With the exception of those in the AFC (Ravens, Chiefs) and NFC (49ers, Packers) that earned first-round byes for the playoffs, teams get just a week to prepare for the postseason; just six days for the teams scheduled to play their wild-card games on Saturday, Jan. 4, when the playoffs begin.
Beginning with the wild-card round, NFL playoff games each week will be shown nationally on NBC, CBS, Fox and ESPN. The four networks each get one game during the first round of the postseason.
Below is the full NFL wild-card playoff schedule for 2020, complete with TV channels and live stream links.
- Saturday, Jan. 4
| Matchup | Start time | TV channel | Live stream |
| Bills at Texans | 4:35 p.m. ET | ESPN | ESPN app |
| Texans at Patriots | 8:18 p.m. ET | CBS | fuboTV |
- Sunday, Jan. 5
| Matchup | Start time | TV channel | Live stream |
| Vikings at Saints | 1:05 p.m. ET | Fox | fuboTV |
| Seahawks at Eagles | 4:40 p.m. ET | NBC | fuboTV |
MORE: Watch every NFL playoff game on DAZN (Canada only)
NFL playoff bracket 2020
- AFC
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched |
| 1. | Baltimore Ravens | 14-2 | No. 1 seed; division |
| 2. | Kansas City Chiefs | 12-4 | No. 2 seed; division |
| 3. | New England Patriots | 12-4 | No. 3 seed; division |
| 4. | Houston Texans | 10-6 | No. 4 seed; division |
| 5. | Buffalo Bills | 10-6 | No. 5 seed |
| 6. | Tennessee Titans | 9-7 | No. 6 seed |
- NFC
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched |
| 1. | San Francisco 49ers | 13-3 | No. 1 seed; division |
| 2. | Green Bay Packers | 13-3 | No. 2 seed; division |
| 3. | New Orleans Saints | 13-3 | No. 3 seed; division |
| 4. | Philadelphia Eagles | 9-7 | No. 4 seed; division |
| 5. | Seattle Seahawks | 11-5 | No. 5 seed |
| 6. | Minnesota Vikings | 10-6 | No. 6 seed |