NFL Playoff Bracket Printable: Dates, Times, and Television for the Wild Card Round and Beyond
The NFL Playoffs are one of the most exciting times of the year for football fans. The race to the Super Bowl begins with the Wild Card Round, followed by the Divisional Round, Conference Championships, and the ultimate showdown in the Super Bowl. Here, we’ll walk you through a printable NFL playoff bracket, including dates, times, and television coverage for each round. We’ll also give you a comprehensive look at the teams involved, how the playoff system works, and what you can expect throughout the postseason.
NFL Playoff Structure
The NFL playoff system consists of 14 teams: seven from the AFC and seven from the NFC. These teams are determined by their regular-season record, with division winners and wild-card teams all making it to the postseason. Here’s a breakdown of how the NFL playoff bracket works:
- AFC & NFC Divisional Champs (1st seed to 4th seed): The four division champions from each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs. These teams earn the top four spots in their respective conference brackets.
- Wild Card Teams (5th to 7th seeds): The next three best teams in each conference also make the playoffs, based on their win-loss records, even if they didn’t win their division.
NFL Playoff Dates: Wild Card to Super Bowl
The 2025 NFL Playoffs will begin with the Wild Card Round on January 13, 2025, and the culmination will be the Super Bowl, which is scheduled for February 11, 2025. Below, we break down each round of the playoffs, including the dates, times, and television networks.
Wild Card Round: January 13-15, 2025
The Wild Card Round consists of four games, two in each conference. The top two seeds from each conference get a bye, meaning they do not play in the Wild Card Round and automatically advance to the Divisional Round.
AFC Wild Card:
- Game 1: 3rd Seed vs. 6th Seed
Date: January 13, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Television: CBS - Game 2: 4th Seed vs. 5th Seed
Date: January 13, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM ET
Television: NBC
NFC Wild Card:
- Game 3: 3rd Seed vs. 6th Seed
Date: January 14, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Television: FOX - Game 4: 4th Seed vs. 5th Seed
Date: January 14, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM ET
Television: ESPN
Divisional Round: January 20-21, 2025
The winners from the Wild Card Round advance to the Divisional Round, where they face the top two seeds in each conference. This round features the most exciting matchups, with only the best teams remaining.
AFC Divisional:
- Game 5: 1st Seed vs. Wild Card Winner
Date: January 20, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Television: CBS - Game 6: 2nd Seed vs. Wild Card Winner
Date: January 20, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM ET
Television: NBC
NFC Divisional:
- Game 7: 1st Seed vs. Wild Card Winner
Date: January 21, 2025
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Television: FOX - Game 8: 2nd Seed vs. Wild Card Winner
Date: January 21, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM ET
Television: ESPN
Conference Championships: January 28, 2025
The winners of the AFC and NFC Divisional Rounds meet in the Conference Championship Games, where they battle for the chance to represent their conference in the Super Bowl. These games are the final step before the big game.
AFC Championship:
- Date: January 28, 2025
- Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Television: CBS
NFC Championship:
- Date: January 28, 2025
- Time: 6:30 PM ET
- Television: FOX
Super Bowl LVIII: February 11, 2025
The grand finale of the NFL season is Super Bowl LVIII, where the AFC champion will face the NFC champion for the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy. This year’s Super Bowl will be held at the Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, a modern venue that has quickly become one of the NFL’s premier locations for big games.
Super Bowl LVIII:
- Date: February 11, 2025
- Time: 6:30 PM ET
- Television: FOX
NFL Playoff Bracket
Here’s a printable NFL Playoff bracket to help you track the games throughout the postseason. You can easily fill in the teams as they progress through each round.
AFC Playoffs NFC Playoffs
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------
| 1st Seed (Bye) | | 1st Seed (Bye) |
| | | |
| | | |
| Wild Card Winner 3 vs. Wild Card Winner 6 | | Wild Card Winner 3 vs. Wild Card Winner 6 |
|---------------------------------| |----------------------------------|
| Wild Card Winner 4 vs. Wild Card Winner 5 | | Wild Card Winner 4 vs. Wild Card Winner 5 |
---------------------------------- ------------------------------------
| Divisional Winner 1 | | Divisional Winner 1 |
| | | |
| | | |
| Wild Card Winner 3 vs. Wild Card Winner 6 | | Wild Card Winner 3 vs. Wild Card Winner 6 |
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| Divisional Winner 2 | | Divisional Winner 2 |
Key Considerations for NFL Fans
The NFL Playoffs offer thrilling matchups, with the possibility of some upsets and dramatic games each week. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Home-Field Advantage: The higher-seeded team always has home-field advantage for the Wild Card, Divisional, and Conference Championship games. The only exception is the Super Bowl, where a neutral site is used.
- Bye Weeks: The top two seeds from both the AFC and NFC receive a bye week in the Wild Card Round. This gives them extra time to rest and prepare for their upcoming opponent in the Divisional Round.
- Television Coverage: Every game in the NFL playoffs is broadcast nationally on a major network. CBS, FOX, NBC, and ESPN rotate the games each year, ensuring widespread coverage for all fans. Check your local listings for specific channels.
- Underdog Stories: The NFL playoffs often feature surprising runs from wild-card teams, making them an exciting time for fans of lesser-known franchises to rally behind their teams.
