It happens every single January. You're sitting there, the holiday leftovers are finally gone, and suddenly someone asks the million-dollar question: when do nfl playoffs begin this year? Honestly, it feels like the dates shift just enough every season to keep us on our toes. This year, the road to Super Bowl LX officially kicked off on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
If you're reading this right now, we’re already in the thick of it. The Wild Card dust has settled, and the bracket is narrowing down faster than a wide receiver on a fly route.
The 2026 Postseason Timeline You Actually Need
Forget the generic "January" answer. The NFL postseason is a precise machine, and for the 2025-26 cycle, the league followed its expanded 14-team format. That means more games, more Monday night drama, and fewer teams getting that coveted week off.
The schedule broke down like this:
- Super Wild Card Weekend: January 10–12, 2026
- Divisional Round: January 17–18, 2026
- Conference Championships: January 25, 2026
- Super Bowl LX: February 8, 2026
The Wild Card round was a massive three-day marathon. It started with the Rams and Panthers on that Saturday afternoon and didn't let up until the Texans and Steelers closed things out on Monday night. It’s a lot of football. Maybe too much? Nah, that’s not a thing.
Why the Start Date Matters So Much
The "when" is just as important as the "who." Because the NFL moved to a 17-game regular season a few years back, the playoffs now consistently bleed deeper into January. This year, the regular season wrapped up on January 4. That gave teams a mere six days to pivot from "trying to make the dance" to "playing for their lives."
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For the No. 1 seeds—the Denver Broncos in the AFC and the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC—the start of the playoffs meant something entirely different: a week on the couch. While everyone else was bruising each other in the Wild Card round, these two were at home, probably watching the same games we were, but with much higher stakes.
Breaking Down the Divisional Matchups
Since we’re past the opening gates, the real meat of the postseason is happening right now. The Divisional Round is often called the best weekend of football in the entire year. Why? Because the "fluke" teams are usually gone, and the heavy hitters are rested.
Take the Saturday, January 17 slate. We saw the Buffalo Bills head into the thin air of Denver to face the top-seeded Broncos. Later that night, an NFC West grudge match took over Seattle as the San Francisco 49ers tried to play spoiler against the Seahawks.
Then you’ve got the Sunday, January 18 games. The Houston Texans—who looked scary good in their Wild Card win—had to travel to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots. To cap it off, the Los Angeles Rams took their show on the road to a likely freezing Soldier Field to battle the Chicago Bears.
It’s a brutal schedule. One loss and you’re booking tee times in Florida.
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The Super Bowl LX Destination
Everything is funneling toward Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Mark your calendars for February 8, 2026. That’s the big one. If you're planning a party, that’s the date you need to stick on the fridge.
Interestingly, while we are focused on the "now," the NFL is already looking ahead. Next year? Super Bowl LXI is already slated for February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Yes, Valentine’s Day Super Bowl. Good luck navigating those dinner reservations.
How to Watch the Rest of the Way
If you’re trying to catch the remaining games, the broadcast rights are spread out like a prevent defense.
- CBS and Paramount+ are handling the AFC side of things, including the AFC Championship game at 3:00 PM ET on January 25.
- FOX and FOX One have the NFC rights, with their title game kicking off at 6:40 PM ET that same Sunday.
- NBC and Peacock have the biggest prize this year: Super Bowl LX.
The Monday night Wild Card game was an ESPN/ABC production, which has become a staple of the opening weekend. It’s a bit of a scavenger hunt to keep track of which app you need to open, but that’s the modern NFL for you.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
Knowing when do nfl playoffs begin is step one, but staying ahead of the bracket requires a bit more effort.
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1. Sync your digital calendar. Most major sports apps (including the official NFL app) allow you to "follow" the postseason. This will push live alerts to your phone for kickoff times and score changes so you don't miss the start of the Conference Championships on January 25.
2. Check the weather reports for host cities. Since the higher seeds host until the Super Bowl, venues like Chicago (Soldier Field) and Foxborough (Gillette Stadium) are going to be cold. This heavily impacts the "Over/Under" for betting and often favors teams with strong run games.
3. Set your streaming credentials now. Don't be the person trying to remember their Paramount+ password five minutes before the Bills and Broncos kick off. Log in to CBS, FOX, and NBC-affiliated apps a day early to ensure your subscriptions are active.
4. Track the injury reports. The Wednesday before the Divisional and Championship rounds is the "real" news day. That’s when the first official practice reports drop, telling us if those star quarterbacks are actually healthy or just "football healthy."
The 2026 playoffs are moving fast. From the first whistle on January 10 to the final trophy presentation on February 8, it’s a one-month sprint that defines legacies. Keep the schedule handy, get your snacks ready, and enjoy the ride.