So, the question of exactly when does the nfl playoff start seems like it should have a one-sentence answer, right? Well, sort of. If you’re looking for a date to circle on your calendar so you don't miss the first kickoff, that date was January 10, 2026. But honestly, if you're asking this today, we’re already deep into the chaos of the bracket.
The 2025-26 postseason officially kicked off with a Wild Card triple-header that honestly felt more like a movie script than a football weekend. We saw the Los Angeles Rams barely scrape by the Carolina Panthers with a 34-31 win, while the Chicago Bears—playing in a freezing Soldier Field—ended the Green Bay Packers' season in a 31-27 nail-biter. That Saturday was just the beginning of what has become one of the most unpredictable playoff runs in recent memory.
Why the NFL Playoff Start Date Shifts Every Year
Most people get confused because the NFL doesn't use a fixed calendar date. Instead, everything hinges on when the 18-week regular season wraps up. For this cycle, the regular season ended on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
The league basically gives everyone a breath for five days, and then the postseason machines start humming. It’s a brutal turnaround. You’ve got teams playing 17 games of high-impact football, and then, boom—win or go home.
The structure of the when does the nfl playoff start timeline usually follows this rhythm:
- Wild Card Round: The second weekend of January.
- Divisional Round: The third weekend of January.
- Conference Championships: The final Sunday of January.
- The Super Bowl: The second Sunday in February.
This year, Super Bowl LX is set for February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. If you're planning a party, that’s your hard deadline.
The "Bye Week" Advantage: A Playoff Head Start
While 12 teams were beating each other up during the opening weekend, two teams were sitting on their couches with a bag of chips. The Denver Broncos (AFC) and the Seattle Seahawks (NFC) earned the No. 1 seeds this year.
For them, the answer to when does the nfl playoff start was actually a week later: January 17, 2026.
Having that week off is huge. Just look at the Buffalo Bills. They had to travel to Jacksonville on January 11, fight for a 27-24 win, and then immediately turn around to face a rested Broncos team in Denver on the 17th. It’s a massive disadvantage for the lower seeds, but that’s the "reward" the NFL gives for being the best in the regular season.
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Breaking Down the 2026 Postseason Schedule
If you’re trying to keep track of the remaining games, things move fast. We are currently in the thick of the Divisional Round.
Yesterday, January 17, the Broncos survived a massive scare from the Bills, winning 33-30 in overtime. Meanwhile, the Seahawks absolutely dismantled the 49ers, winning 41-6 in a game that honestly wasn't even as close as the score suggests.
Today, Sunday, January 18, we have two massive matchups:
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN)
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET on NBC/Peacock)
The winners of these games move on to the Conference Championships on January 25. That’s the final hurdle before the big game in Santa Clara.
The 14-Team Format: Does It Make It Better?
Some purists still hate the expanded 14-team format that the NFL adopted a few years back. It used to be 12 teams, meaning the top two seeds in each conference got a bye. Now, only the No. 1 seed gets to rest.
Does it watered down the product? Kinda. We saw the 8-9 Carolina Panthers make the playoffs this year as a division winner. They lost their opening game to the Rams. On the flip side, having three games on Saturday, three on Sunday, and a Monday night game for Wild Card weekend is a dream for fans. It's basically a 72-hour football marathon.
Key Matchups and Surprising Stats
One thing nobody talks about is how the "Monday Night Wild Card" game affects the rest of the bracket. The Houston Texans played the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, January 12. Because they won (30-6), they had the shortest rest period of any team heading into the Divisional Round today against the Patriots.
New England, led by a revitalized defense, has been waiting for them. The Patriots haven't looked this disciplined in years. On the NFC side, the Bears are the story. Caleb Williams has been playing like a veteran, and Soldier Field has become a graveyard for opposing teams this January.
How to Watch the Remaining Games
If you’re looking to catch the tail end of the postseason, you’ll need a mix of cable and streaming.
NBC and Peacock have the rights to the Super Bowl this year. For the Conference Championships next Sunday, January 25, CBS will handle the AFC game in the afternoon, while FOX takes the NFC nightcap. If you’re a cord-cutter, Paramount+ and the FOX Sports app are your best friends.
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The pricing for Super Bowl ads is already hitting record highs—around $7 million for 30 seconds. That tells you everything you need to know about the scale of this event.
Actionable Steps for NFL Fans
If you want to stay on top of the schedule and make the most of the 2026 playoffs, here is what you should do:
Check the Weather Reports
January football is notoriously messy. If you're betting or just curious about how a game will go, look at the wind speeds in Chicago or the thin air in Denver. It changes the play-calling completely.
Sync Your Calendar
The Conference Championships are always on the last Sunday of January. This year, that’s January 25. The games are usually set for 3:00 PM ET and 6:30 PM ET. Don't let a "late lunch" ruin your viewing plans.
Watch the Injury Reports
Since the playoffs started on January 10, several key players have been "banged up." The Rams, in particular, are dealing with some nagging injuries to their receiving corps that could be a huge factor against the Bears' secondary tonight.
The road to Super Bowl LX is narrowing. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just someone who shows up for the halftime show (which, by the way, features Bad Bunny this year), knowing the timeline is the first step to enjoying the ride.
Stay tuned to the live broadcasts today to see who punch their tickets to the final four. The playoffs might have started a week ago, but the real drama is just getting warmed up.