NFL Playoff Schedule: Cardinals-Panthers Kicks Off Wild Card Weekend

It’s official: The Carolina Panthers will host an NFL playoff game despite having a losing record.

With Week 17 in the books, the NFL released its playoff schedule Sunday night. The 7-8-1 Panthers will kick things off, hosting the 11-5 Arizona Cardinals at 4:35 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 3. The other NFC Wild Card Game will feature the Detroit Lions traveling to Dallas to face the Cowboys on Sunday, Jan. 4.

In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens will visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in an all-AFC North showdown Saturday, and the Cincinnati Bengals will make the short trip to Indianapolis on Sunday for a matchup with the Colts.

The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos have first-round byes as the top two teams in the AFC, while the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers have Wild Card Weekend off as the NFC’s top squads.

Check out the full playoff schedule with times and TV information below.

WILD-CARD ROUND
Saturday, Jan. 3
NFC: Arizona at Carolina, 4:35 p.m. (ESPN)
AFC: Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 8:15 p.m. (NBC)

Sunday, Jan. 4
AFC: Cincinnati at Indianapolis, 1:05 p.m. (CBS)
NFC: Detroit at Dallas, 4:40 p.m. (FOX)

DIVISIONAL ROUND
Saturday, Jan. 10
AFC: Baltimore/Cincinnati/Indianapolis at New England, 4:35 p.m. (NBC)
NFC: Detroit/Arizona/Carolina at Seattle, 8:15 p.m. (FOX)

Sunday, Jan. 11
NFC: Dallas/Carolina/Arizona at Green Bay, 1:05 p.m. (FOX)
AFC: Cincinnati/Pittsburgh/Indianapolis at Denver, 4:40 p.m. (CBS)

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sunday, Jan. 18
NFC: 3:05 p.m. (FOX)
AFC: 6:40 p.m. (CBS)

SUPER BOWL XLIX
Sunday, Feb. 1, at 6:30 p.m. in Glendale, Ariz.

Thumbnail photo via Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports Images