Everything you need to know about the NFL playoffs

The NFL playoffs are here.

Beginning Saturday, 14 teams will face off for the honor of playing in the much-anticipated Super Bowl LV, scheduled for February 7.

With games being played during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the season has been anything but typical. Now, though, we’ve reached the postseason. Here’s what you should know going into the weekend.

The Cleveland Browns are riding high

A close 24-22 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the last game of the regular season clinched a wild-card spot for the Browns, the team’s first playoff appearance since 2002.

It’s no small feat. Cleveland’s playoff drought was the longest in the NFL. With a 11-5 record, the season marks the first time since 2007 that the team has finished with more than 10 wins. Just three years ago, in 2017, the Browns went 0-16.

The No. 6 seed in the AFC, the Browns will play the Steelers, who are the No. 3 seed in the AFC and were 12-4 in the regular season.

The Bills win their first playoff game since 1995

The Buffalo Bills ended a long playoff drought on Saturday, January 9.

Last season, the Bills clinched a wild-card spot, only to lose. It’s a story with which the Bills are familiar, having not won a playoff game since 1995. The team won the AFC East with a 13-3 record and are the No. 2 seed in the conference.

This weekend, the Bills overcame the No. 7 seed Indianapolis Colts, hanging on to win 27-24 by knocking down a last-second Hail Mary pass by Colts quarterback Philip Rivers. Will the Bills manage to extend its playoff winning streak? Only time will tell.

Wild card weekend starts Saturday

Because of Covid-19, the NFL has increased the number of teams in the playoffs from the usual 12 to 14.

This weekend — January 9-10 — kicks off the playoffs with the wild card round. Three games will be played each day. Here’s the schedule with the home team listed first.

Saturday, January 9

• Buffalo Bills (13-3) vs. Indianapolis Colts (11-5), 1:05 p.m. ET on CBS. Bills won 27-24
• Seattle Seahawks (12-4) vs. Los Angeles Rams (10-6), 4:40 p.m. ET on Fox
• Washington Football Team (7-9) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11-5), 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC

Sunday, January 10

• Tennessee Titans (11-5) vs. Baltimore Ravens (11-5), 1:05 p.m. ET on ESPN
• New Orleans Saints (12-4) vs. Chicago Bears (8-8), 4:40 p.m. ET on CBS
• Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) vs. Cleveland Browns (11-5), 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC

Dates to remember

After the wild card round, the divisional round begins the following weekend on January 16.

On January 24, the conference championships will take place — determining which of the remaining teams will head to the Super Bowl LV and battle for the title and those coveted rings.

The 55th Super Bowl will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoffs position in the AFC. They are the No. 3 seed.