The 2023-2024 NFL regular season gets underway on Thursday 7th September, and the playoffs begin with the Wildcard Round on January 13th, 2024.
We’re breaking down the playoff schedule today, including picks and predictions for some of the favorites to make it to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on February 11th.
When do the NFL Playoffs Start?
- Wildcard Round: January 13th to January 15th
- Divisional Round: January 20th to January 21st
- Championship Round: January 28th
- Super Bowl LVIII: February 11th
Who are the defending Super Bowl Champions?
The Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII with an inspired second-half performance from Patrick Mahomes and his teammates. Mahomes was battling a high ankle sprain suffered just weeks earlier, and despite barely re-aggravating the injury in the Super Bowl he was able to propel his team to the title and a second Super Bowl victory for the Chiefs in four seasons.
In 2023, the Chiefs will be looking to defend that title and have a great chance of doing so too. They have played in three of the last four Super Bowls and made the AFC Championship game in all five years since Mahomes took over as the starting quarterback.
When is the Super Bowl 2024?
Super Bowl LVIII (58) will take place on February 11th at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The game is expected to kick off at 6:30 PM EST.
How to watch the NFL Playoffs in 2024
The NFL playoffs will be aired on several mainstream networks, including CBS, ESPN, FOX, and NBC, and this year, an exclusive Wildcard round game on Peacock.
International viewers can find all the NFL playoff action via DAZN, which has taken over from NFL Game Pass.
Wildcard Round
Matchup Date Time (EST) Network AFC: 4 seed vs 5 seed January 13th 4:30 PM CBS AFC: 3 seed vs 6 seed January 13th 8:15 PM Peacock NFC: 2 seed vs 7 seed January 14th 1:00 PM CBS/FOX NFC: 3 seed vs 6 seed January 14th 4:30 PM CBS AFC: 2 seed vs 7 seed January 14th 8:15 PM NBC NFC: 4 seed vs 5 seed January 15th 8:15 PM ABC/ESPN Divisional Round
Matchup Date Time (EST) Network AFC: 4/5 seed winner vs 1 seed January 20th TBC TBC NFC: 4/5 seed winner vs 1 seed January 20th TBC TBC AFC: 2/7 seed winner vs 3/6 seed winner January 21st TBC TBC NFC: 2/7 seed winner vs 3/6 seed winner January 21st TBC TBC Conference Championship
Matchup Date Time (EST) Network AFC: Two Remaining Teams January 28th 3:00 PM CBS NFC: Two Remaining Teams January 28th 6:30 PM FOX Super Bowl LVIII
Matchup Date Time (EST) Network AFC Champion vs NFC Champion February 11th 6:30 PM CBS Best Super Bowl LVIII odds (subject to change)
Kansas City Chiefs +550
Philadelphia Eagles +700
Buffalo Bills +900
Cincinnati Bengals +900
San Francisco 49ers+900
Dallas Cowboys +1400
New York Jets +1400
Baltimore Ravens +1800
Detroit Lions +2000
Miami Dolphins +2000
Super Bowl favorites
The Kansas City Chiefs are unsurprisingly the favorites going into the 2023 NFL season, with Patrick Mahomes already among the very best quarterbacks in history with two Super Bowl rings.
Andy Reid’s side have been in the conversation for five years now, and with Mahomes and Kelce teaming up on offense, anything is possible. The defense will rely on a young secondary that impressed last season, with some experienced veterans in the front seven.
Nick Bolton made a major play in the Super Bowl with his scoop and score for a touchdown, and the linebacker is becoming a real leader in the defensive unit as his career develops.
The Eagles came so close to claiming the Super Bowl, and that controversial holding call that ultimately ended the game will fuel them in 2023.
Despite the loss, Jalen Hurts was phenomenal and was rewarded for his efforts with a brand new contract during the summer. With their QB locked up for the long term, the Eagles can focus on winning, and the depth they have on their roster this year is as good as anybody in the NFL.
Philly drafted incredibly well with key additions on both sides of the ball, and are expected to fight their way back into a playoff run this year with hopes of challenging for the Super Bowl in February.
Don’t sleep on the 49ers, who will also be fueled by last year’s experience having come within one game of the Super Bowl before having to play without a quarterback, resulting in their anti-climactic exit against the Eagles in the Conference Championship.
Joe Burrow and the Bengals have a great shot too, and teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, and even Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions offer great odds as an outside shot to go all the way.