The 2018 NFL playoffs cap one of the most volatile seasons in league history. In the NFC, only one holdover from last January found a way to return to the postseason -- the defending conference champion Falcons. Atlanta is the lowest seed in a field that includes turnaround stories sparked by young quarterbacks (Rams, Eagles), resurgent defenses (Saints, Vikings), and a former NFL MVP (Panthers).
NFL playoffs 2018: Bracket and schedule update after Bills vs. Jaguars
How the playoffs look after Wild Card Weekend.
Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
The AFC featured standbys like the Patriots, Steelers, and Chiefs, but also featured three teams ending lengthy playoff droughts. No team in the league had tortured its fan with a longer span of regular season failure than the Bills, whose last postseason appearance came in Jan. 2000. The Titans and Jaguars hadn’t played a win-or-go-home game since the 2008 and 2007 seasons, respectively.
On Saturday, the Tennessee Titans moved on with a road upset of the Kansas City Chiefs, climbing out of a 21-3 hole to score 19 unanswered and win 22-21. It was followed by another road team winning with the Atlanta Falcons traveling across the country to beat the Los Angeles Rams, 26-13.
The Jacksonville Jaguars set the AFC field for the Divisional Round when they beat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, 10-3, in a defensive battle of field position.
In the second game, the New Orleans Saints held off the Carolina Panthers, 31-26, to move on to face the Minnesota Vikings.
Here’s how the bracket stands after Wild Card Weekend:
Wild Card Round
AFC byes: New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC byes: Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings
Saturday, Jan. 6
GAME 1: Tennessee Titans 22, Kansas City Chiefs 21
GAME 2: Atlanta Falcons 26, Los Angeles Rams 13
Sunday, Jan. 7
GAME 3: Jacksonville Jaguars 10, Buffalo Bills 3
GAME 4: New Orleans Saints 31, Carolina Panthers 26
Divisional Round
Saturday, Jan. 13
GAME 5: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:35 p.m., NBC
GAME 6: Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots, 8:15 p.m., CBS
Sunday, Jan. 14
GAME 7: Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1:05 p.m., CBS
GAME 8: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings, 4:40 p.m., FOX
Championship Round
Sunday, Jan. 21
AFC Championship: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 3:05 p.m., CBS
NFC Championship: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 6:40 p.m., FOX
Super Bowl 52
Sunday, Feb. 4
AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion, 6:30 p.m., NBC
All times are Eastern.
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