NFL Playoff Schedule 2022: Bracket Dates, Picture and Wild-Card Predictions
The 2021-22 NFL playoff picture is finally clear. Heading into Sunday Night Football, two AFC wild-card spots were all that remained unsettled. Interestingly, there was a scenario in which both the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders could have gotten in.
Due to the Jacksonville Jaguars' upset of the Indianapolis Colts earlier in the day, the Pittsburgh Steelers were able to remain alive. The winner of the Raiders-Chargers tilt would join Pittsburgh—with a caveat.
Had the Chargers and Raiders tied, both would have gotten in while the Steelers went home for the offseason. That came close to happening, as Las Vegas kicked the game-winning field goal at the very end of overtime. This left the Raiders and Steelers in, and the Chargers out.
Here, you'll find a look at the final playoff field, the known postseason schedule and predictions for next week's Super Wild Card Weekend.
Bye: No. 1 Tennessee Titans
No. 7 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs
It's never particularly smart to count out the Steelers. The fact that Pittsburgh is in the postseason is proof positive. However, this is far from the friendliest matchup the Steelers could have hoped for. The last time Pittsburgh played in Kansas City, it lost 36-10.
The rematch could finish in similar fashion. The Steelers' 22nd-ranked scoring defense can hold off the likes of Ryan Tannehill, an injured Baker Mayfield or Tyler Huntley. It isn't going to contain Patrick Mahomes.
Yes, the Steelers won three of their last four games and beat the No. 1 seed in the conference along the way. They've also struggled with slow starts and have lost four of their last five on the road.
I'd feel much better about calling for a close game if this one was at Heinz Field. It isn't, and I'd expect Pittsburgh to get off to another slow start. Ben Roethlisberger may lead more of a rally than in the initial 2021 meeting, but I wouldn't expect this one to be particularly close.
Prediction: Chiefs 33, Steelers 22
No. 6 New England Patriots at No. 3 Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills took care of business on Sunday, knocking off the New York Jets and claiming the AFC East. Buffalo has had some curious losses this season—notably to the Jaguars. With the league's third-ranked scoring offense and second-ranked scoring defense, however, Buffalo will be a tough team to handle.
The New England Patriots, though, have plenty of experience against Josh Allen and the Bills. The Patriots ran over Buffalo—to the tune of 222 rushing yards—during a Week 13 road victory. Buffalo got revenge in the rematch, though, picking off rookie quarterback Mac Jones twice and rolling to a 33-21 win.
The play of Jones could be the deciding factor in Round 3. If he turns the ball over repeatedly—as he did in Sunday's loss to the Miami Dolphins—the Bills can hold serve at home.
However, beating a Bill Belichick team twice in one season is difficult. The Patriots have enough weapons in the backfield to take advantage of a Bills defense that floundered down the stretch prior to Sunday.
Prediction: Patriots 20, Bills 17
No. 5 Las Vegas Raiders at No. 4 Cincinnati Bengals
The Raiders' reward for winning on Sunday night is a rematch with a Cincinnati Bengals team that beat Las Vegas 32-13 back in Week 11. That game was played in Las Vegas, this one will be played in Cincinnati.
In addition to a long road trip, the Raiders are going to face Joe Burrow and the white-hot Bengals offense. Cincinnati has the firepower to match points against any team in the playoff field, let alone one ranked 24th in points allowed.
The one wild-card in this wild-card matchup is the status of Bengals running back Joe Mixon. The Bengals' star ball-carrier missed Sunday's finale after a positive COVID-19 test. If he isn't back by the opening round, Las Vegas could catch a break.
Mixon gashed the Raiders for 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the first meeting. The Raiders have scrapped and clawed, winning four in a row to reach the postseason. They'll make a thriller out of the rematch, but Cincinnati simply has too many weapons.
Prediction: Bengals 28, Raiders 24
Bye: No. 1 Green Bay Packers
No. 7 Philadelphia Eagles at No. 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers crept into the No. 2 position with a win over the Carolina Panthers and a loss by the Los Angeles Rams. They'll now host at least two playoff games—assuming they can get past the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles may be the last seed in the NFC, but they present a tough matchup. Philadelphia has figured out how to utilize Jalen Hurts as a dual-threat quarterback, and it pairs the league's first-ranked rushing attack with the 12th overall defense. For most teams, the Eagles could be a nightmare of an opening-round draw.
The Buccaneers, however, feature the league's No. 3 rushing defense. If the Eagles are going to pull the upset, Hurts will have to out-duel Tom Brady on the road.
Expect a closer contest than the Week 6 Thursday night matchup between these two. A late surge allowed the Eagles to pull within six, but the first three quarters were dominated by Tampa. Expect Brady to lead a late surge in this one to send the Bucs to the divisional round.
Prediction: Buccaneers 27, Eagles 25
No. 6 San Francisco 49ers at No. 3 Dallas Cowboys
The San Francisco 49ers won four of their last five to sneak into the postseason as the No. 6 seed. San Francisco rallied from 17-points down against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, showing that they are postseason ready.
"Guys came together, guys made huge plays on third down, defense stepped up," quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "...It was a good night."
Waiting for the 49ers will be a Dallas Cowboys team that has struggled to match a potent offense with a turnover-heavy defense for much of the season. Dallas' offense rolled against mostly Eagles backups in Week 18 but stumbled against the Arizona Cardinals the previous week.
If Garoppolo and Co. can avoid turnovers, they can absolutely walk out of Dallas with a win. The Cowboys are 1-3 in games where the defense doesn't force a turnover. It's just hard to trust a banged-up Garoppolo (thumb) playing flawlessly against a defense with 34 takeaways.
Prediction: Cowboys 33, 49ers 30 (OT)
No. 5 Arizona Cardinals at No. 4 Los Angeles Rams
The Cardinals and the Rams limp into the postseason following divisional losses. However, Arizona did more stumbling down the stretch. The Cardinals lost four of their last five, including a Week 14 loss to Los Angeles.
With star wideout DeAndre Hopkins still recovering from MCL surgery, the Cardinals could struggle to match points with Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and the Rams. NFL Media's Ian Rapoport initially reported that Hopkins would be looking at a late-January return.
L.A. may or may not be a legitimate title contender, but the Rams were on a five-game winning streak before Sunday's loss to San Francisco. This is a game that could go either way, but I'll go with the squad that has been less mistake-prone as of late.
If the 49ers were visiting L.A. here or the Rams were on the road, I'd be hard-pressed to take Los Angeles. Kliff Kingsbury hasn't had the success against Sean McVay that Kyle Shanahan has, though. Expect the home team to slip into Round 2.
Prediction: Rams 26, Cardinals 24
Wild Card Round
Saturday, January 15
4:30 p.m. ET: Las Vegas Raiders at Cincinnati Bengals on NBC
8:15 p.m. ET: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills on CBS
Sunday, January 16
1:05 p.m. ET: Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Fox
4:40 p.m. ET: San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys on CBS, Nickelodeon
8:15 p.m. ET: Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs on NBC
Monday, January 17
8:15 p.m. ET: Arizona Cardinals at Los Angeles Rams on ESPN
Divisional Round
Saturday, January 22
4:35 p.m. ET: TBD
8:15 p.m. ET: TBD
Sunday, January 23
3:05 p.m. ET: TBD
6:40 p.m. ET: TBD
Championship Weekend
Sunday, January 30
3:05 p.m. ET: AFC on CBS
6:40 p.m. ET: NFC on Fox
Super Bowl LVI
Sunday, February 13
6:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.
Green Bay Packers 19-5
Kansas City Chiefs 9-2
Buffalo Bills 15-2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 8-1
Tennessee Titans 17-2
Los Angeles Rams 10-1
Dallas Cowboys 12-1
Cincinnati Bengals 18-1
New England Patriots 20-1
Arizona Cardinals 25-1
San Francisco 49ers 25-1
Las Vegas Raiders 50-1
Philadelphia Eagles 60-1
Pittsburgh Steelers 80-1
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
