The NFL has revealed the full 2026 Wild Card Weekend schedule: games run January 10–12 with dates, kickoff times, and national TV windows across FOX, CBS, NBC, Prime Video, and ESPN/ABC.
The NFL has officially released the 2026 Wild Card Weekend schedule, with six games set across three days to kick off the 2025–26 postseason.
The opening round runs Saturday, January 10 through Monday, January 12, with a full slate of matchups, kickoff times, and broadcast windows that set the stage for the divisional round and beyond.
Here’s everything you need to know heading into Wild Card Weekend.
Day-by-Day Wild Card Game Schedule
The NFL’s official schedule outlines the following Wild Card Weekend slate:
Saturday, January 10
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4:30 p.m. ET: No. 5 Los Angeles Rams at No. 4 Carolina Panthers — FOX / FOX Deportes
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8:00 p.m. ET: No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Chicago Bears — Amazon Prime Video
Sunday, January 11
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1:00 p.m. ET: No. 6 Buffalo Bills at No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars — CBS / Paramount+
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4:30 p.m. ET: No. 6 San Francisco 49ers at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles — FOX / FOX Deportes
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8:00 p.m. ET: No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers at No. 2 New England Patriots — NBC / Peacock / Universo
Monday, January 12
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8:00 p.m. ET: No. 5 Houston Texans at No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers — ESPN / ABC / ESPN+ / ESPN Deportes (ManningCast on ESPN2/ESPN+)
This weekend marks the official start of the NFL playoffs, with multiple prime-time spotlight games and a cross-section of division champions, battle-tested wild cards, and historic rivalries.
Network Coverage and Viewing Options
Wild Card Weekend features a nationally distributed broadcast footprint across several networks and streaming platforms:
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FOX & CBS: Lead traditional afternoon windows and primary network coverage.
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NBC: Hosts a marquee Sunday night Wild Card game with dual streaming on Peacock and Universo.
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Prime Video: Carries a Saturday night game, part of the NFL’s growing streaming partnership with Amazon.
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ESPN/ABC/ESPN+: Handles Monday night action with cross-platform streaming and the fan-favorite ManningCast on ESPN2/ESPN+.
This mix of platforms ensures fans will have numerous ways to catch every Wild Card matchup live during the busy three-day slate.
Weekend Storylines and Highlight Matchups
Several compelling narratives and rivalries headline the schedule:
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Packers vs. Bears: Historic NFC North rivals open Wild Card Weekend in a rare postseason meeting, televised in prime time on Saturday.
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49ers at Eagles: The reigning NFC champions host a marquee Sunday matchup against a familiar divisional foe.
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Chargers at Patriots: Two of the top young NFL QBs featuring two high-powered offenses close Sunday’s slate on NBC.
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Texans at Steelers: Monday’s primetime finale pits a hungry Houston unit against Pittsburgh’s home-field advantage to cap a dramatic weekend.
Each game carries significant momentum implications, with winners advancing to the divisional round the following weekend.
Wild Card Weekend Sets Up Intense Postseason Action
The NFL’s 2026 Wild Card Weekend is now fully scheduled and promises three days of high-stakes playoff football, transporting fans from heated divisional races into the intensity of the postseason.
With kickoff times, networks, and platforms in place, fans can plan around a stacked slate headlined by historic rivalries and championship aspirations.
As teams vie for divisional round positioning, January 10–12 will serve as the foundation for the march toward Super Bowl LX.
