The NFL playoffs move along with a four-game divisional round kicking off Saturday.
The latest: Only eight teams remain, and there are some exciting matchups on tap. On Saturday, the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions meet in what’s expected to be an offensive showcase. On Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills battle it out in a star-studded showdown.
Check out the NFL playoff schedule for the divisional round and see the latest odds for all four games.
NFL playoff schedule
- Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Jan. 18, 4:30 p.m. ET)
- Washington Commanders vs. Detroit Lions (Jan. 18, 8 p.m. ET)
- Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Jan. 19, 3 p.m. ET)
- Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills (Jan. 19, 6:30 p.m. ET)
Go to full NFL playoff markets.
Saturday’s NFL playoff games
Texans vs. Chiefs
- Houston trounced the Los Angeles Chargers, 32-12, in the wild-card round and will now face the AFC-leading Chiefs. The Texans are 9-4 this season with Nico Collins active. The wideout had seven catches for 122 yards and a TD against L.A.
- The Texans finished 5-4 on the road, and each of its road wins came against below-.500 teams. In Week 16, Kansas City beat Houston, 27-19, at Arrowhead Stadium.
- Three teams failed to record 30 points in a game this season. The New England Patriots, the Las Vegas Raiders and … the Chiefs. However, the Pats and Raiders finished near the bottom in points per game while Kansas City finished 15th (22.9), which is higher than the Texans. The Chiefs’ No. 4 scoring defence is a key reason why they finished 15-2.
Commanders vs. Lions
- Washington kicked a game-winning field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to advance to the divisional round for the first time since 2005. Jayden Daniels was phenomenal in his rookie season, carrying the Commanders to a top-five scoring offence.
- The Lions are Super Bowl favourites for a reason, though. Detroit scored the most points per game (33.2) while allowing the seventh-fewest (20.1). The Lions have dealt with a slew of injuries, but they’re still among the most talented squads — especially on offence.
- Detroit went 15-2 in the regular season, but its depleted defence does raise some questions. The Lions allowed 30+ points in three of their final five games, including in a 48-42 loss against the Bills in Week 15.
- This game’s total is currently set at 55 points. That’s the third-highest total of the NFL season, per Bet IQ, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this game surpasses that mark.
NFL playoff schedule: Sunday’s doubleheader
Rams vs. Eagles
- The Eagles beat the Green Bay Packers, 22-10 in the wild-card round. That marks the team’s 14th win in 15 games since its Week 5 bye.
- Saquon Barkley continued his dominant season, rushing 25 times for 119 yards. It was the tailback’s 12th 100-yard rushing game of the season. The key to stopping Philly appears to be stopping Barkley, but that’s easier said than done.
- The Rams were slight underdogs against the Minnesota Vikings but got the 27-9 win without much resistance. L.A. has held four of its last opponents to under 10 points. The Seahawks scored 30 in Week 18 but the Rams rested most starters.
Ravens vs. Bills
- The Bills and Ravens both handled business in the wild-card round, beating the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers, respectively, by double-digit points. Now, it only makes sense that these powerhouse squads have the closest odds of any matchup.
- Buffalo is at home, which should be an advantage. The Bills are 9-0 at Highmark Stadium this season.
- The Ravens went 6-3 on the road and have stormed out of their Week 14 bye with five straight victories, all by a margin of 14+ points.
Spencer is a true sports junkie. A graduate of the Sports Journalism program at Centennial College, he first joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2023. He is now a contributing writer. He loves finding the edge to bet on in all sports but has a deep passion for the NBA and UFC. Previous stops include Sportsnet.