The NFL playoffs are heating up as the divisional round kicks off on Saturday, January 17, promising an exhilarating weekend of football. The top-seeded teams from both the AFC and NFC will be hosting games after receiving byes in the wild-card round, setting the stage for potentially thrilling matchups.
The action begins at 3:30 p.m. CT, with the Denver Broncos welcoming the sixth-seeded Buffalo Bills to Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. The Broncos, known for their formidable defense, are slight favorites (-1.5) against the Bills, who are fresh off a narrow victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Buffalo aims to overcome past playoff hurdles and make a deeper postseason run.
Later in the evening, at 7 p.m. CT, the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks will take on their NFC West rivals, the sixth-seeded San Francisco 49ers, at Lumen Field in Seattle. The Seahawks, boasting the league’s top-ranked scoring defense, will be looking to secure their spot in the NFC Championship after splitting their regular-season series with the 49ers, including a recent clash just two weeks prior. Seattle is favored by a touchdown heading into this pivotal matchup.
With a place in the conference championship games on the line, each match promises to deliver high-stakes drama and excitement.
For viewers, the full playoff schedule for today includes the following games:
– Buffalo Bills (6) at Denver Broncos (1), 3:30 p.m. CT on CBS, featuring commentary from Jim Nantz and Tony Romo. The game can also be streamed on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers.
– San Francisco 49ers (6) at Seattle Seahawks (1), 7 p.m. CT on Fox, with the coverage led by Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady. This game can also be streamed via Fubo.
As the weekend unfolds, football fans will be eager to see if the momentum of road teams that triumphed during the wild-card round continues in the divisional playoffs. The stakes couldn’t be higher as each team vies for a chance to advance, making this a must-watch weekend for fans of the sport.