Divisional Round NFL Playoff Schedule: Bills vs Broncos, 49ers vs Seahawks

The NFL Playoffs are heating up as we move into the Divisional Round. Saturday’s doubleheader looks like it’s going to be electric.

Fans everywhere are getting ready to see their teams fight for a shot at the conference championships. The Buffalo Bills are set to face the Denver Broncos up in the thin air at Mile High.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks will welcome their division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, to Lumen Field for a prime-time clash. Sunday brings two more games, so yeah, football fans are in for a packed weekend.

Saturday’s Doubleheader: Bills vs. Broncos and 49ers vs. Seahawks

The action gets started Saturday afternoon with the Buffalo Bills heading to Denver to take on the Broncos. Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS, and you’ll hear Jim Nantz and Tony Romo on the call.

The Bills, riding high behind their star quarterback, want to keep their playoff run alive. The Broncos, with that tough defense and the energy of their home crowd, are hoping to slow them down.

Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: Key Matchups

There are a few big matchups to keep an eye on in this one:

• Josh Allen vs. Broncos Defense: Allen has to deal with a Denver defense that’s aggressive and loves to force turnovers.
• Stefon Diggs vs. Broncos Secondary: Diggs is a game-breaker, but the Broncos’ secondary will try to keep him quiet.
• Broncos’ Running Game vs. Bills’ Run Defense: If Denver can run the ball, they’ll keep the Bills’ offense on the sidelines—and that could be huge.

Prime-Time Showdown: 49ers vs. Seahawks

Saturday night wraps up with the Seahawks hosting the 49ers at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady will be in the booth, which is a bit of a treat for fans.

These teams know each other inside and out, and honestly, it feels like anything could happen with a conference championship trip at stake.

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: What to Watch For

Some storylines that might shape this one:

• Quarterback Duel: Both teams have quarterbacks who can make things happen—sometimes out of nothing. Should be fun to watch.
• Defensive Battle: Both defenses are physical and love to take the ball away. One big turnover could swing the whole thing.
• Coaching Strategies: The head coaches are always scheming, and you get the sense both have a few tricks up their sleeves for this one.

Sunday’s Matchups: Patriots vs. Texans and Rams vs. Bears

Sunday keeps the momentum going with two more games. First up, the New England Patriots welcome the Houston Texans to Gillette Stadium.

Later, the Los Angeles Rams travel to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears. Both games have their own drama, and honestly, it’s hard to pick which one’s more intriguing.

New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans

The Patriots have a reputation for coming up big in the playoffs, and they’ll try to use their home-field edge against a Texans squad that just won’t quit. A few things to watch:

• Patriots’ Defense: New England’s defense has to deal with a Texans offense that can strike fast, especially with their quarterback leading the way.
• Texans’ Passing Attack: If Houston can connect on some deep shots, that could really test the Patriots’ secondary.
• Coaching Experience: You can’t ignore the playoff experience on the Patriots’ sideline—it always seems to matter this time of year.

Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears

The Rams and Bears are set to clash in the final game of the Divisional Round. This one’s shaping up to be a gritty defensive battle—maybe even a little old-school.

• Rams’ Defensive Front: Can the Rams get to the Bears’ quarterback and shake up their rhythm? That’s going to matter, a lot.
• Bears’ Running Game: The Bears really need to get their ground game going if they want to chew up the clock and keep the Rams’ offense watching from the sidelines.
• Special Teams: Honestly, this could come down to field position or one wild special teams play. Eyes will be on every kick and return.

If you’re a football fan, it’s hard to imagine skipping this one. For the full schedule and more on these matchups, check out The Big Lead.