NFL Playoff Schedule 2018: TV Info, Live Stream for Sunday's Wild-Card Games

Sunday's NFL wild-card games both present an intriguing set of storylines.

In Jacksonville, the host Jaguars are returning to the postseason for the first time since 2007. However, their opponent (the Buffalo Bills) are back in the playoffs for the first time this century.

In New Orleans, two divisional rivals will battle when the Saints host the Carolina Panthers. These two teams always seem to light up the scoreboard when they play in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, so we'll see if that trend continues.

Here's a look at Sunday's wild-card schedule in addition to the television and live-stream information.

Wild-Card Sunday Playoff Schedule

1:05 p.m. ET on CBS and CBS All-Access: No. 6 Buffalo Bills at No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars

4:40 p.m. ET on Fox and Fox Sports Go: No. 5 Carolina Panthers at No. 4 New Orleans Saints

Wild-Card Questions

Will Bills RB LeSean McCoy Play, and How Effective Will He Be?

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported on Friday that Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy, who suffered a sprained ankle in Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins and was forced to leave the game, is considered questionable but is expected to play.

If McCoy plays, then it's a matter of how many snaps he'll see and how effective he will be. If McCoy can't go, then we'll see how the Bills respond. Would Buffalo turn the ball over to Marcus Murphy or Mike Tolbert for the majority of the carries, or will they split time in the backfield?

McCoy provided more comments on Thursday to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com regarding his ankle:

"I want to be able to cut well enough to where I don't have a lot of pain cutting. I just want to be close, or the best as far as [being] 100 percent as I can get. The type of game like this, you got to lay it all on the line. If I can't get 100 percent, as long as I'm out there and I can work effective enough, I'll do it. We'll just see."

If McCoy is close to 100 percent, then the Bills have a shot. If not, then it could be a long day for the Buffalo offense against a Jacksonville defense that is best attacked with the run (the Jags were 26th in rushing yards allowed per carry).

Will the Jaguars' Uneven Late-Season Play Continue into the Playoffs?

After a 3-3 start, the Jaguars won seven of eight games to help propel them to an AFC South title. However, the Jags lost their next two games: a 44-33 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers and a 15-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

In the first game, the Jags allowed 369 yards of total offense and turned the ball over three times. In the second contest, the defense stiffened, but the offense struggled, accruing just 229 yards and turning the ball over four times.

Given that the Jaguars have turned the ball over seven times in two games, the game plan for the playoffs should be simple—run the ball with Leonard Fournette as often as possible.

The rookie hasn't lost a fumble this year despite 304 touches, and he's been one of the most productive backs in the league thanks to 1,342 yards from scrimmage.

With Bills running back LeSean McCoy potentially out or limited, it seems as though the most obvious path to a Jags loss is through turnovers, much like the previous two games. Therefore, it's imperative that Jacksonville sticks to the run game here.

Can Cam Newton and His Receivers Stay on the Same Page?

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton did not close the regular season on a high note, as he finished 14-of-34 with 180 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17.

No wide receiver had more than two catches (running back Christian McCaffrey led the way with five), and tight end Greg Olsen hauled in just one reception on nine targets.

The week before, Newton threw for just 160 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and no pass-catcher accrued more than three receptions.

Newton has been off recently, notably missing his receivers a touch high at times. That being said, when the former Auburn Tiger is at his best, he can throw lasers all over the field and create plays on the run that no signal-caller can make aside from Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson.

Will a week of practice be enough to get the Panthers on the right track heading into the playoffs, or will their passing game struggles continue?

Was Week 17 a Mirage or Foreshadowing for the Saints Pass Defense?

The New Orleans Saints pass defense has been fantastic for the most part this season. According to Football Outsiders, New Orleans ranked fifth in pass defense DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average). The Saints also finished sixth in adjusted sack rate and finished third in the league with 20 interceptions.

Like the Panthers, however, the Saints did not finish the year well, losing to the 5-11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-24 on New Year's Eve. During the game, they allowed 363 passing yards to quarterback Jameis Winston and a pair of 100-yard games from wideouts Chris Godwin and Adam Humphries.

That being said, the Saints have been able to neutralize the Panthers this year, holding Cam Newton to 167 passing yards in their first matchup and 183 in their second. Both of those games ended with the Saints winning by double digits.

As noted before, the Panthers offense has struggled heading into the playoffs as well, so it should be interesting to see which side breaks its slump in this matchup.