NFL playoff schedule: What games are on today? TV channels, times, scores for 2023 wild-card round

Jacob Camenker

NFL playoff schedule: What games are on today? TV channels, times, scores for 2023 wild-card round image

The 2023 NFL playoffs are here, and with Super Wild Card Weekend underway, the path to Super Bowl 57 is starting to crystalize.

By Monday night, six playoff teams will be eliminated. Meanwhile, six more will move on to the NFL's divisional round and set up some good-looking battles en route to the Super Bowl.

The only two playoff teams that won't be in action are the Chiefs and Eagles. They are the No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC brackets respectively and earned a bye week as they await the lowest-seeded surviving teams in their respective conferences.

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

Here's everything you need to know about the NFL wild-card games, including a full schedule with TV channels and start times.

NFL playoff schedule: What games are on today?

Wild-card round

Monday, Jan. 16

Matchup Time (ET) TV Live stream Tickets
Cowboys at Buccaneers 8:15 p.m. ESPN, ABC ESPN+, fuboTV Buy tickets

POWER RANKINGS: Where each NFL playoff team stands as postseason begins

NFL playoff game TV channels, live stream

Dolphins vs. Bills

  • Date: Sunday, Jan. 15
  • Time: 1 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: CBS
  • Live stream: Paramount+, fuboTV (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada)

Key storyline: What will the Dolphins do at quarterback?

Tua Tagovailoa's status was murky for this game as he continues to recover from a concussion. Meanwhile, his normal backup Teddy Bridgewater is dealing with a dislocated pinkie in his throwing hand. Bridgewater will start if he can grip the ball enough, but Miami could be forced to start seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson again if Bridgewater can't go.

Either way, the Dolphins will be hard-pressed to beat the Bills without Tagovailoa. They are 1-2 in three starts without him and average just 14.7 points per game when he doesn't start. Comparatively, the Dolphins are 8-5 and average 25.5 points per game when he starts.

MORE: Updates, highlights from Dolphins vs. Bills wild-card game

Giants vs. Vikings

  • Date: Sunday, Jan. 15
  • Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: Fox
  • Live stream: Fox Sports app, fuboTV (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada)

Key storyline: Who will win the turnover battle?

When these two teams met in Week 16, the Giants outgained the Vikings 445-353 and averaged 6.7 yards per play compared to 5.0 for Minnesota. Still, they lost 27-24 thanks, in part, to the Vikings winning the turnover battle.

The Giants had two turnovers in the contest, an interception by Daniel Jones and a lost fumble by Daniel Bellinger. Those ultimately helped swing the game in favor of the Vikings.

Indeed, the Vikings have thrived when able to take the ball away. They have 25 takeaways this year, good for eighth-most in the NFL. So, if they get the Giants to make mistakes again, they can control the game. 

However, this season, the Giants have just 16 giveaways, the second-fewest in the NFL to only the Lions. So, if they win the turnover battle against a Minnesota defense that has allowed the second-most yards per game to opposing offenses (388.7), they may be able to control the clock and get revenge on Minnesota.

FOLLOW LIVE: Updates, highlights from Giants vs. Vikings wild-card game 

Ravens vs. Bengals

  • Date: Sunday, Jan. 15
  • Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: NBC
  • Live stream: Peacock, fuboTV (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada)

Key storyline: Can the Ravens find offensive success with or without Lamar Jackson?

The Ravens have struggled immensely on offense at times this season. Things have been particularly bad since Lamar Jackson went down with a PCL sprain against the Broncos. The Ravens have averaged just 13 points in five games without him in the lineup and have scored 17 or fewer points in seven of their last eight contests.

Jackson is no sure thing to return, so the Ravens are going to have to do one of two things: They will either need to put forth an elite defensive performance against the Bengals or have one of their best offensive performances of the season. Baltimore may only be able to contain Joe Burrow for so long, however, so it will probably have to lean on the latter to try to upset the reigning AFC champions.

MORE NFL PLAYOFFS: Full TV schedule | Wild-card breakdown | Updated bracket

Cowboys vs. Buccaneers

  • Date: Monday, Jan. 16
  • Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
  • TV channel: ESPN
  • Live stream: ESPN+, fuboTV (U.S.) | DAZN (Canada)

Key storyline: Which offense will have the better day?

Both of these offenses have their share of issues. The Cowboys have quality weapons in CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, but Dak Prescott can be shaky at times, as we saw in Week 18 against the Commanders. The Buccaneers have Tom Brady and a couple of strong receivers, but their blocking is inconsistent outside of Tristan Wirfs and they can't run the ball.

The Cowboys have an elite defense while the Buccaneers have a strong one when healthy that stifled Dallas in a 19-3 Week 1 win. The winner of this game will probably see its offense sputter at times but put together enough quality scoring drives to pull away at the end. Seemingly, that would favor the Cowboys, but you can never count Brady out — even at age 45.

NFL scores for wild-card games

Wild-card round

Saturday, Jan. 14

49ers 41, Seahawks 23
Jaguars 31, Chargers 30

Sunday, Jan. 15

Bills 34, Dolphins 31
Giants 31, Vikings 24
Bengals 24, Ravens 17

Monday, Jan. 16

Matchup
Cowboys at Buccaneers

Jacob Camenker

Jacob Camenker Photo

Jacob Camenker first joined The Sporting News as a fantasy football intern in 2018 after his graduation from UMass. He became a full-time employee with TSN in 2021 and now serves as a senior content producer with a particular focus on the NFL. Jacob worked at NBC Sports Boston as a content producer from 2019 to 2021. He is an avid fan of the NFL Draft and ranked 10th in FantasyPros’ Mock Draft Accuracy metric in both 2021 and 2022.