NFL playoff schedule: Kickoff times, TV channels for divisional round games

Tadd Haislop

NFL playoff schedule: Kickoff times, TV channels for divisional round games image

The schedule for the 2019 NFL divisional playoffs is set — four games in two days, with four spots in the conference championship round on the line.

On Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, those four spots will be filled. The Colts and Chiefs kick off the divisional playoffs Saturday in Kansas City, with Cowboys vs. Rams in Los Angeles set to follow. On Sunday, the Chargers and Patriots face off in New England, followed by Eagles vs. Saints in New Orleans.

MORE: Analysis of divisonal playoff bracket

Here is everything you need to know about the schedule for the 2019 NFL divisional playoffs, including kickoff times, TV info and predictions.

NFL divisional playoff schedule

Date Matchup Time TV channel
Sat., Jan. 12 No. 6 Colts vs. No. 1 Chiefs 4:35 p.m. NBC/fuboTV
Sat., Jan. 12 No. 4 Cowboys vs. No. 2 Rams 8:15 p.m. FOX/fuboTV
Sun., Jan. 13 No. 5 Chargers vs. No. 2 Patriots 1:05 p.m. CBS/fuboTV
Sun., Jan. 13 No. 6 Eagles vs. No. 1 Saints 4:40 p.m. FOX/fuboTV

Colts at Chiefs: Saturday, Jan. 12, 4:35 p.m. ET, NBC

A divisional playoff matchup featuring the Colts and Chiefs seemed impossible a couple months ago given the status of what was considered a rebuilding Indianapolis team. As hard as it is to remember now, the same can be said for Kansas City, which before the season was breaking in what amounted to a rookie quarterback.

Yet here we are, with Andrew Luck and Patrick Mahomes providing the NFL playoff QB matchup we never knew we needed.

The passers will be the focus of the hype leading into the divisional playoffs for good reasons — Luck's comeback story and Mahomes' historic numbers. But the keys to victory for both teams are embedded deeper.

For example, the Colts are here thanks to a revived rushing attack around Marlon Mack and what feels like an unstoppable third-down offense. Their defensive revival behind rookie linebacker Darius Leonard can't be understated; the Texans, who scored just seven points in the wild-card round, would agree.

In Kansas City, hiding behind the glare of Mahomes is an underrated rushing attack, even without Kareem Hunt, and arguably the NFL's best set of mismatch creators in Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. The star of the Chiefs’ defense, tackle Chris Jones, finally will have some help on the back end with safety Eric Berry healthy enough to play.

Here are Sporing News’ picks and predictions for Colts vs. Chiefs.

Cowboys at Rams: Saturday, Jan. 12, 8:15 p.m. ET, FOX

The Cowboys, after holding off the Seahawks in the NFL wild-card round, will try to beat another NFC West team in the divisional playoffs. The NFC East champions last played the Rams at home in October of 2017, falling just short in a 35-30 shootout.

For Dallas, the Los Angeles area is a home away from home. The Cowboys’ training camp site in Oxnard, Calif., is about an hour away from where they will play Saturday night. There should be plenty of support for America’s Team in the Coliseum.

While the Rams’ weak run defense will face a big test from red-hot Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys’ strong front seven will try to contain Todd Gurley, who’s expected to return to 100 percent from his knee injury. Dak Prescott and Jared Goff also will duel to seek the defining third-year moment of their promising careers.

There is plenty of star power and drama made for Hollywood, down to Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips trying to stop the team he used to coach. As the Cowboys’ Jason Garrett coaches more for vindication, the Rams’ Sean McVay will try to back his offensive genius label with his first playoff win after going one-and-done last year.

Here are Sporing News’ picks and predictions for Cowboys vs. Rams.

MORE: Full 2019 NFL playoff schedule

Chargers at Patriots: Sunday, Jan. 13, 1:05 p.m. ET, CBS

A divisional playoff game in New England featuring the Chargers and Patriots feels like a time warp. Gillette Stadium is where the Chargers' postseason runs ended after the 2006 and 2007 seasons, the former in the divisional round and the latter in the AFC championship game.

This time, one could argue the Chargers, this time from Los Angeles, are bringing to New England the best team they’ve had during quarterback Philip Rivers' career.

Some interesting numbers around this game: The Chargers are 0-7 against Tom Brady and the Patriots, including playoffs, since Rivers became the starter in ’06. Rivers’ only career win against New England came in 2008, when Matt Cassel was the Patriots’ starting QB.

Another nugget: The Patriots are undefeated at home this season, a perfect 8-0. The Chargers are 8-1 on the road, with their only loss coming to the Rams early in the season. That sets up one juicy divisional playoff game.

Here are Sporting News’ picks and predictions for Chargers vs. Patriots.

Eagles at Saints: Sunday, Jan. 13, 4:40 p.m. ET, FOX

The Eagles and Saints will meet again Sunday in the only regular-season rematch in the NFL divisional playoff round. The first game, also in New Orleans, in Week 11, wasn't much of a contest.

The Saints dominated from wire to wire in a 48-7 rout. Eagles quarterback Nick Foles will try to continue to reverse fortunes, as that marked one of the worst games in the young career of Carson Wentz.

Foles has more in common with counterpart Drew Brees than just their being Super Bowl MVP-winning QBs. They both wear No. 9 on their jerseys, and each is an alumnus of Westlake High School in Austin, Texas.

A lot of will be on Foles again after the Eagles' No. 28 rushing attack sputtered in the wild-card round against the Bears; the Saints finished as the No. 2 run defense in the regular season. In the November meeting, the Saints out-gained the Eagles 546-196 with both Brees and their running game doing whatever they wanted.

The Eagles are the reigning Super Bowl champions, and the Saints are the heavy Super Bowl favorites. New Orleans tried to deliver the knockout blow to Philadelphia two months ago, but in true Rocky fashion, the Eagles have played their underdog card again to get another shot. Will there be more of Foles’ magic, or will Brees begin the march for his long-desired second ring?

Here are Sporting News’ picks and predictions for Eagles vs. Saints.

Tadd Haislop

Tadd Haislop is the Associate NFL Editor at SportingNews.com.