NFL Playoff Schedule 2023: Wild-Card Matchups, Bracket Dates and Start Times

The final NFL playoff seedings truly came down to the wire in Week 18.

The outcome of Sunday Night Football between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions had a major outcome on the wild-card picture in the NFC. The Packers had a win-and-they're-in opportunity, but couldn't get out of their own way in a 20-16 loss.

That meant that the Seattle Seahawks, with their 19-16 win over the Los Angeles Rams Sunday afternoon, held on to the No. 7 and final seed in the NFC. Seattle's win eliminated Detroit from playoff contention, so the Lions had nothing to play for but pride Sunday night.

With their 38-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, the San Francisco 49ers clinched the No. 2 seed, setting up a wild-card matchup against the No. 7 Seahawks. By beating the New York Giants 22-16, the Philadelphia Eagles finally locked down the No. 1 seed and earned a first-round bye.

With San Francisco clinching the No. 2 seed, the Minnesota Vikings are locked into the No. 3 seed, setting up a matchup with the Giants next weekend.

Rounding out the NFC matchups on Wild Card Weekend, the No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the No. 5 Dallas Cowboys, who suffered a somewhat shocking loss to the Washington Commanders on Sunday, 26-6.

In the AFC, the playoff picture is set as of the conclusion of the Week 18 early games, and we can begin breaking down the wild-card matchups.

The Kansas City Chiefs earned a first-round bye when they clinched the No. 1 seed Saturday. The Buffalo Bills' win over the New England Patriots Sunday locked them into the No. 2 seed, setting up a wild-card matchup with the division rival Miami Dolphins.

The Cincinnati Bengals clinched the AFC's No. 3 seed with their win against the Baltimore Ravens, who are slotted into No. 6 seed. The two rivals will meet again next weekend in their wild-card matchup.

The AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars, as the No. 4 seed, will host the No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers.

The start times for the wild-card games were released at the conclusion of Week 18. They will be played between Saturday, Jan. 14 and Monday, Jan. 16. There will be two games on Saturday, three on Sunday and one on Monday Night Football.

Let's take a closer look at the clashes that are set to go down on Wild Card Weekend.

AFC Wild-Card Bracket

Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 08: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills attempts a pass during the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

AFC Seeding

1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-3, clinched AFC West)

2. Buffalo Bills (13-3, clinched AFC East)

3. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4, clinched AFC North)

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8, clinched AFC South)

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)

6. Baltimore Ravens (10-7)

7. Miami Dolphins (9-8)

---

AFC Wild-Card Bracket

1. Chiefs (bye)

Saturday, Jan. 14

(5) Chargers vs. (4) Jaguars: 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC

Sunday, Jan. 15

(7) Dolphins vs. (2) Bills: 1 p.m. ET, CBS

(6) Ravens vs. (3) Bengals: 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC

NFC Wild-Card Bracket

AP Photo/Ben VanHouten

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16) celebrates a touchdown with teammates during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Seattle, WA. The Seahawks defeated the Rams in overtime 19-16. (AP Photo/Ben VanHouten)

NFC Seeding

1. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3, clinched NFC East)

2. San Francisco 49ers (13-4, clinched NFC West)

3. Minnesota Vikings (13-4, clinched NFC North)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9, clinched NFC South)

5. Dallas Cowboys (12-5)

6. New York Giants (9-7-1)

7. Seattle Seahawks (9-8)

---

NFC Wild-Card Bracket

(1) Eagles (bye)

Saturday, Jan. 14

(2) 49ers vs. (7) Seahawks: 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox

Sunday, Jan. 15

(3) Vikings vs. (6) Giants: 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox

Monday, Jan. 16

(4) Buccaneers vs. (5) Cowboys: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN, ABC