Current:Home > ScamsNFL schedule today: Everything to know about playoff games on Jan. 13-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
NFL schedule today: Everything to know about playoff games on Jan. 13
View Date:2024-12-23 16:51:25
The NFL postseason begins Saturday with two games featuring Super Bowl MVPs, and rising stars hoping to lead their franchises on a deep playoff run.
Reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs will host Tua Tagovailoa, former Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill and the Miami Dolphins in prime time Saturday night.
To start the action Saturday afternoon: Super Bowl 47 MVP Joe Flacco hopes to continue his resurgence with the Cleveland Browns against rookie sensation C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans.
Both games will affect how the AFC playoff picture shakes out with the No. 1 seed Baltimore Ravens starting the postseason on a bye, and the No. 2 Buffalo Bills hosting the No. 7-seed Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday’s NFL playoff games:
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
BEST TD CELEBRATIONS OF 2023:Dolphins ride roller coaster, DK Metcalf's sign language taunts
NEXT MAN UP:Every Browns starting quarterback since their NFL return in 1999
How to watch Browns vs. Texans playoff game?
- The Browns and Texans will kickoff at NRG Stadium at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
How to watch Dolphins vs. Chiefs playoff game?
- The Dolphins and Chiefs will kickoff at 8 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium, and be the first NFL playoff game streamed by Peacock. (Fans in Kansas City and Miami will be able to watch on NBC.)
Cleveland Browns (11-6) at Houston Texans (10-7)
Youth vs. experience takes center stage in this playoff matchup.
Stroud, the Texans quarterback, will play his first NFL playoff game in front of his home fans in Houston after a stellar rookie season, while Flacco’s ride as the Browns’ starter continues.
Stroud did not play against Flacco when the Browns beat the Texans 36-22 on Christmas Eve, but the rookie helped Houston win the AFC South and secure the No. 4 seed in the playoffs in his first season along with new coach DeMeco Ryans.
Flacco has saved Cleveland’s season and elevated Kevin Stefanski to NFL coach of the year consideration with a 4-1 record down the stretch.
The No. 5-seed Browns finished with 11 wins and reached the postseason for just the third time since 2000, despite losing standouts such as QB Deshaun Watson, RB Nick Chubb and OT Jack Conklin, and OT Jedrick Wills Jr. for the season.
Flacco’s playoff experience could help Cleveland: He’s tied for first with Tom Brady with seven postseason wins on the road in his career.
Miami Dolphins (11-6) at Kansas City Chiefs (11-6)
It’s going to be a cold one. The temperature at kickoff is expected to be around 12 degrees, according to Jonathan Kurtz, of the National Weather Service in Kansas City, per the Miami Herald earlier this week.
The conditions will affect both the Dolphins, runners-up in the AFC East and the No. 6 seed in the playoffs, and Chiefs – the No. 3 seed and eight-time reigning AFC West champions.
This will be a rematch from earlier this season, when the Chiefs beat the Dolphins 21-14 in Germany on Nov. 5. And it will be Hill’s first game back in Kansas City since being traded after six seasons in March 2022.
The Dolphins are a hobbled bunch. They'll play without five defensive starters, done for the season, while three key offensive players in Hill (quad, ankle), running back Raheem Mostert (knee, ankle) and receiver Jaylen Waddle (high ankle sprain) are dealing with injuries.
Meanwhile, Mahomes and star tight end Travis Kelce are rested after sitting out last week’s season finale to begin their Super Bowl title defense. But their offense has underperformed by their standards.
The Chiefs averaged 21.8 points this season – the worst since Mahomes became coach Andy Reid’s starting quarterback in 2018. Kansas City has averaged at least 28 points in each of the previous five seasons.
While Miami’s offense is second in the NFL at 29.2 points per game this season, Tagovailoa and coach Mike McDaniel’s offense averaged 17.7 points in five games against playoff teams, and 35.5 points in 11 games against lesser competition.
Predictions for Saturday's NFL wild card games
Here are the USA TODAY Sports staff’s predictions for both of Saturday's playoff games:
- Jarrett Bell: Browns, Chiefs
- Chris Bumbaca: Texans, Chiefs
- Nate Davis: Browns, Chiefs
- Safid Deen: Texans, Chiefs
- Tyler Dragon: Texans, Chiefs
- Victoria Hernandez: Texans, Chiefs
- Jordan Mendoza: Browns, Chiefs
- Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Browns, Chiefs
- Lorenzo Reyes: Browns, Chiefs
veryGood! (6459)
Related
- In bizarro world, Tennessee plays better defense, and Georgia's Kirby Smart comes unglued
- Delta Air Lines employees work up a sweat at boot camp, learning how to deice planes
- Former CEO of China’s Alibaba quits cloud business in surprise move during its leadership reshuffle
- Tyler Reddick wins in overtime at Kansas Speedway after three-wide move
- NFL MVP rankings: Does Steelers QB Russell Wilson deserve any consideration?
- Florida football coach suspends himself after video shows him verbally attacking player
- Emily Blunt and John Krasinski and Their 2 Daughters Make Rare Public Family Appearance at U.S. Open
- Here’s Why Everyone Loves Candier Candles — And Why You Will, Too
- Man who stole and laundered roughly $1B in bitcoin is sentenced to 5 years in prison
- This Best-Selling Earbud Cleaning Pen Has 16,000+ 5-Star Amazon Reviews & It's on Sale
Ranking
- Ford agrees to pay up to $165 million penalty to US government for moving too slowly on recalls
- Spanish soccer president Luis Rubiales resigns after nonconsensual kiss at Women’s World Cup final
- Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's 1-month-old son's name has been revealed: Reports
- Ravens' J.K. Dobbins updates: RB confirmed to have Achilles injury
- Bodyless head washes ashore on a South Florida beach
- The first attack on the Twin Towers: A bombing rocked the World Trade Center 30 years ago
- AP Top 25 Takeaways: Texas is ready for the SEC, but the SEC doesn’t look so tough right now
- Sabotage attempts reported at polling stations in occupied Ukraine as Russia holds local elections
Recommendation
-
Catholic bishops urged to boldly share church teachings — even unpopular ones
-
Bruce Arena quits as coach of New England Revolution citing 'difficult' investigation
-
Residents mobilize in search of dozens missing after Nigeria boat accident. Death toll rises to 28
-
Governor's temporary ban on carrying guns in public meets resistance
-
Top Federal Reserve official defends central bank’s independence in wake of Trump win
-
The United States marks 22 years since 9/11, from ground zero to Alaska
-
Vatican ordered investigation into Catholic clerics linked to abuse, Swiss Bishops’ Conference says
-
With Rubiales finally out, Spanish soccer ready to leave embarrassing chapter behind