Normally, this is where you’d come for all your information on what part of the country will see what game. Well, that’s only for the regular season. Now we enter the postseason where every game gets its own national television window. There is no competition — save for a hockey or basketball game here or there — and we’re all stuck with the matchups we are stuck with. Let’s get right to it, shall we?
AFC Wild-card Game 1
(5) Buffalo Bills at (4) Houston Texans
Saturday, January 4th, 4:35 p.m. ET / 1:35 p.m. PT
ESPN, ABC
The first playoff game is normally reserved for teams that don’t have a huge draw. Basically, the winner of the AFC South is constantly in this game. Hey, would you look at that . . . it’s the Texans!
Houston hosts another early Saturday playoff game and the Buffalo Bills are coming into town. This is another reason this game is being played in the early time slot. The Bills aren’t exactly the most exciting team in the playoffs. Sure, they play great defense and are well-coached, but we don’t know what version of Josh Allen we are getting.
The Texans should be happy and healthy. They essentially had a bye last week. J.J. Watt is coming back from injury. Will Fuller should play in this game which helps DeAndre Hopkins.
This game will be simulcast on both ESPN and ABC — expect this to continue and expand in the next few years as ABC wants a football property and ESPN won’t want to only play the game on broadcast because they like having it on cable as an option as well — so we get the last of Tessitore and Booger — maybe forever.
AFC Wild-card Game 2
(6) Tennessee Titans at (3) New England Patriots
Saturday, January 4th, 8:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. PT
CBS
CBS gets the best game with the biggest star power, most recognizable national team, and Jim Nantz and Tony Romo all in the primetime slot. CBS executives and their advertising partners have to be ecstatic.
The second the Patriots lost the bye, it was obvious they would play in the Saturday night time frame. Luckily for CBS, NBC didn’t have this game and CBS gets to either see one last gasp from the Patriots or the downfall of the dynasty.
There are storylines galore in this game. Is this Tom Brady’s last game in New England? Do the Patriots have what it takes to sneak into the second round? Does Mike Vrabel know how to beat the Patriots from his time there as a player? Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Jim Nantz, and Tony Romo. Ratings heaven.
NFC Wild-card Game 1
(6) Minnesota Vikings at (3) New Orleans Saints
Sunday, January 5th, 1:05 p.m. ET / 10:05 a.m. PT
Fox
Just a little Minnesota Miracle rematch, but this game is happening in the bayou. Somehow, the 13-3 Saints didn’t get a bye so they’ll be hosting Kirk Cousins and the Vikings on Fox for the first game on Sunday.
I hope Fox has all of those great primetime Kirk Cousins stats ready. This game was the other option for Saturday night if we are being honest. The Vikings are a national brand — somewhat loveable losers — versus a big name quarterback on a quest for one final title — Drew Brees is the NFC version of Tom Brady without the titles at this point.
Fox gets the game which means we will get Joe Buck and Troy Aikman in the booth. Not a bad way to start off the first Sunday of 2020.
NFC Wild-card Game 2
(5) Seattle Seahawks at (4) Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, January 5th, 4:40 p.m. ET / 1:40 p.m. PT
NBC
We get two AFC games on Saturday — which feels weird — and two NFC games on Sunday — the weirdness continues. This means that one of those NFC teams is going to have a short week since they will split up the AFC and NFC next weekend. They just have to.
The Eagles are the least scary four-seed in a while but the Seahawks are a banged-up fifth-seed. This is a battle of attrition.
NBC gets Sunday Night Football on Sunday afternoon because CBS and Fox picked up the biggest games of the weekend. At least Philadelphia is a major market team and Seattle has a strong following because of their recent success. Chris and Al will be in the booth for the last game of wild-card weekend.
