The NFL playoffs are here: here’s everything you need to know

by Brayden Laslo

Sports Editor

The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.

Brayden Laslo (11), Max Hockman (11) and Andrew Custer (11) get ready for a key game between the Browns and Bengals. (Photo by Kristi Laslo).

The six matchups for the wild-card round of the 2021 NFL playoffs. The Green Bay Packers (NFC) and Tennessee Titans (AFC) are the teams that get byes (automatically in the second round). Among the interesting matchups for the first round: Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking on the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Dallas Cowboys reigning a classic rivalry with the San Francisco 49ers. Finally, The New England Patriots face their AFC East rival Buffalo Bills for the third time this season. Here is what we know about the AFC and NFC bracket. Including seeding, TV times and the schedule of games from wild-card weekend up through Super Bowl LVI. It will take place on Sunday, Feb. 13, from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Wild-card weekend: Jan. 15, 16 and 17

NFC

(7) Philadelphia Eagles at (2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET on Fox

(6) San Francisco 49ers at (3) Dallas Cowboys

Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS

(5) Arizona Cardinals at (4) Los Angeles Rams

Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC/ESPN+

Bye: (1) Green Bay Packers

AFC

(7) Pittsburgh Steelers at (2) Kansas City Chiefs

Sunday, 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC

(6) New England Patriots at (3) Buffalo Bills

Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET on CBS

(5) Las Vegas Raiders at (4) Cincinnati Bengals

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Bye: (1) Tennessee Titans

This is always a great time of year and with the Super Bowl looming it’s time to make some predictions. The Jag Times Staff went out and asked people to give us their Super Bowl prediction out of the fourteen playoff teams.

Max Hockman (11) says: “I think the Packers and Bengals will make the Super Bowl, with the Packers winning by a touchdown” not a bad prediction, considering both teams are on a hot streak. Noah Kirk (11) gives his prediction “The Chiefs and the Cowboys will make the Super Bowl and the Cowboys will win.” makes a really great prediction: both teams are led by experienced quarterbacks and tough defenses. Only time will tell who will reign victorious in the NFL and it’s gonna be an exciting month.

Stay tuned to local channels to catch games and stay updated with the latest NFL news.