The Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks locked up the top spots in their divisions and will watch 12 other teams battle it out in Wild Card weekend.
This is how the Wild Card format works in the NFL: When is it and how many teams play?
The 2025 NFL regular season came to a close on Sunday, confirming the two teams who clinched the top seeds in the AFC and NFC: The Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks.
Here’s a closer look at the 12 teams opting for the six ‘Wild Card’ places in contention for the NFL Playoffs...
How does the NFL Wild Card work?
The National Football League is comprised of two conferences - AFC and NFC - each divided into four divisions. The eight teams that finish with the best win-loss record in each of the eight divisions are declared divisional champions and earn an automatic spot in the postseason.
A total of 14 teams will enter the playoffs, meaning that another six teams (three from each conference) enter as ‘Wild Card’ additions. Once the Divisional winners are excluded, the three teams with the best win-loss record across each conference will qualify as Wild Card teams.
More than one team from each division can qualify via the Wild Card route, but only three from each conference.
What are the NFL Wild Card fixtures?
In each conference seven teams will advance to the playoffs, with the No. 1 seed in each getting a bye to the Divisional round. The remaining six teams will face off in an single-game elimination clash. The No. 2 seed will take on the No. 7 seed; the No. 3 will play No. 6, and so on.
Wild Card teams will be seeded on the basis of their regular season win-loss record. Here’s a look at the Wild Card fixtures for the 2024 NFL season...
Wild Card weekend kickoff times
The Wild Card round opens Saturday, Jan. 10, with two NFC matchups.
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers | Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, 4:30 p.m. ET
- Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears | Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, 8 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 11 features three games
- Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, 1 p.m. ET
- San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles | Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, 4:30 p.m. ET
- Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots | Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, 8 p.m. ET
Monday night finale caps Wild Card round
Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, 8 p.m. ET
When is the Wild Card round?
The Wild Card round will run across the weekend of Jan. 10-12, with six games played across Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
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Beyond that first round of the playoffs, the remaining fixtures will be played across the following weekends. The Broncos and the Seahawks will enter the fray for the Divisional round across Jan. 17 - 18, the Conference championships will be contested on Sunday Jan. 25 and the Super Bowl will take place on Sunday, Feb. 8.
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