What time are NFL playoff games today? TV schedule, channels for Sunday's divisional doubleheader

Edward Sutelan

What time are NFL playoff games today? TV schedule, channels for Sunday's divisional doubleheader image

Half of the NFL divisional round matchups are over. The winning teams' opponents will be determined Sunday.

Four Super Bowl contenders will battle, with the Bills hosting the Bengals and the Cowboys traveling to face the 49ers in Santa Clara.

The slate begins in Orchard Park, N.Y., with the clash between Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, a quarterback matchup whose hype has been reminiscent of what preceded Chiefs-Bills in the 2022 playoffs. After that, two of the NFL's top defenses will battle, led by Defensive Player of the Year candidates Micah Parsons (Cowboys) and Nick Bosa (49ers).

The Sporting News has all the information you need to watch the two Sunday playoff games, including channel, start time and matchup information.

MORE: Watch NFL playoff games live with fuboTV (free trial)

What time are the NFL playoff games today?

Game 1

  • Matchup: Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals
  • Location: Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, N.Y.
  • Start time: 3 p.m. ET

Game 2

  • Matchup: San Francisco 49ers vs. Dallas Cowboys
  • Location: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
  • Start time: 6:30 p.m. ET

The "Monday Night Football" matchup between the Bills and Bengals in Week 17 was perhaps the most anticipated prime-time game of the regular season, but it was canceled after Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest in the first quarter. On Sunday, Allen and Burrow will meet for the first time since.

While both quarterbacks rank among the NFL's elite, both defenses have reason for confidence. The Bengals' offensive line is missing three starters, which could allow the Bills to get after Burrow in the backfield. Allen, meanwhile, turned the ball over three times against the Dolphins and has six in his past three games, while the Bengals' defense has forced turnovers in six straight games and 13 total during that span.

MORE BENGALS-BILLS:
Betting preview | Best props | DK lineup | FD lineup

he 49ers and Cowboys have plenty of history. They will set the record for the most playoff games against one another with their ninth matchup. They recently met in the 2022 playoffs, when the 49ers knocked out the Cowboys in the wild-card round. These teams each won their wild-card games this year in routs, with Dallas eliminating the Buccaneers and the 49ers sending the Seahawks home.

Both teams boast plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball, but this matchup could come down to which quarterback can most take advantage of opportunities. Rookie quarterbacks don't have a long history of success in the postseason, but Brock Purdy has performed well since he became the starter in San Francisco. Does he run into a wall against the best defense he'll have faced in the NFL? As for Dak Prescott, he delivered perhaps the best game of his career against the Buccaneers. He'll be hard-pressed to repeat that against a San Francisco defense that has forced turnovers in all but three games this season.

MORE COWBOYS-49ERS:
Betting preview | Best props | DK lineup | FD lineup

How to watch NFL playoff games

Bills vs. Bengals

  • TV channel: CBS
  • Live stream: fuboTV, Paramount+ (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada)

CBS will start Sunday's slate, with the network's top NFL broadcast crew on for the game. Jim Nantz will provide play-by-play and Tony Romo will analyze the contest. Tracy Wolfson and Jay Feely will be reporting from the sidelines.

49ers vs. Cowboys

  • TV channel: Fox
  • Live stream: fuboTV, Fox Sports Go (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada)

The matchup of historic franchises will be called by Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play) and Greg Olsen (color analyst) in the booth, with Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi reporting from the sidelines.

NFL live streams for playoffs

There are always several ways to watch NFL playoff games, even without cable. Here's a look at options for streaming the playoffs.

Streaming option Cable subscription needed? Free? Cost Free trial?
NFL App Yes Yes
Yahoo! Sports App Yes Yes
NFL+ No No $9.99/month Yes
DirecTV Stream No No $49.99/month Yes
fuboTV No No $69.99/month Yes
Hulu Plus Live TV No No $69.99/month Yes
Sling TV No No $35/month Yes
YouTube TV No No $54.99/month Yes

NFL playoff schedule 2023

Wild-card round

Saturday, Jan. 14

Matchup Result TV Live stream Tickets
Seahawks at 49ers SF 41, SEA 23 Fox fuboTV Buy tickets
Chargers at Jaguars JAX 31, LAC 30 NBC Peacock, fuboTV Buy tickets

Sunday, Jan. 15

Matchup Result TV Live stream Tickets
Dolphins at Bills BUF 34, MIA 31 CBS Paramount+, fuboTV Buy tickets
Giants at Vikings NYG 31, MIN 24 Fox fuboTV Buy tickets
Ravens at Bengals CIN 24, BAL 17 NBC Peacock, fuboTV Buy tickets

Monday, Jan. 16

Matchup Result TV Live stream Tickets
Cowboys at Buccaneers DAL 31, TB 14 ESPN, ABC ESPN+, fuboTV Buy tickets

Divisional round

Saturday, Jan. 21

Matchup Start time TV channel Live stream Tickets
Jaguars at Chiefs 4:30 p.m. NBC Peacock, fuboTV Buy tickets
Giants at Eagles 8:15 p.m. Fox fuboTV Buy tickets

Sunday, Jan. 22

Matchup Start time TV channel Live stream Tickets
Bengals at Bills 3 p.m. CBS Paramount+, fuboTV Buy tickets
Cowboys at 49ers 6:30 p.m. Fox fuboTV Buy tickets

Conference championships

Sunday, Jan. 29

Matchup Time (ET) TV Live stream Tickets
AFC championship TBD CBS Paramount+, fuboTV Buy tickets
NFC championship TBD Fox Fox Sports app, fuboTV Buy tickets

Super Bowl 57

Sunday, Feb. 12

Matchup Time (ET) TV Live stream Tickets
Super Bowl 57 6:30 p.m. Fox Fox Sports app, fuboTV Buy tickets

When is Super Bowl 57 in 2023?

  • Date: Sunday, Feb. 12
  • Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Super Bowl 57 will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Feb. 12. It will be the third time that State Farm Stadium, home of the Cardinals, hosts the Super Bowl.

The game will be televised by Fox, with Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen on the call.

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.