When do the 2022 NFL playoffs start: Times, TV channels, games today, schedule, dates for Championship games

By Emily IannaconiJan 30, 2022, 2:33 PM EST

January is here and the NFL Playoffs are well underway. With the postseason continuing today, here is everything you need to know about the 2022 NFL Playoffs.

At the start of the 2021-22 season, the NFL expanded the regular-season schedule from 16 games to 17. The addition of the 17th game therefore pushes the start of the playoffs back one week in January and Super Bowl LVI will take place on the second Sunday of February.

Last year, the NFL expanded the playoffs to include six total Wild Card games. Three of those games were played on Saturday and the remaining three took place on Sunday. The format is slightly different this year. Two of the Wild Card games will be played on Saturday, three will be played on Sunday and there will be one Monday evening game.

When do the 2022 NFL playoffs start?

The first 2022 NFL Playoff game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 15 when the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Las Vegas Raiders on NBC and Peacock. Check out the full Wild Card weekend and NFL Playoffs schedule below:

NFL Super Wild Card Weekend

Saturday, January 15

4:30 p.m ET: (5) Las Vegas Raiders at (4) Cincinnati Bengals
- TV channel: NBC, Peacock
8:15 p.m. ET: (6) New England Patriots at (3) Buffalo Bills
- TV channel: CBS

Sunday, January 16

1:00 p.m. ET: (7) Philadelphia Eagles at (2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- TV channel: FOX
4:30 p.m. ET: (6) San Francisco 49ers at (3) Dallas Cowboys
- TV channel: CBS, Nickelodeon, Amazon Prime Video
8:15 p.m. ET: (7) Pittsburgh Steelers at (2) Kansas City Chiefs
- TV channel: NBC, Peacock

Monday, January 17

8:00 p.m. ET: (5) Arizona Cardinals at (4) Los Angeles Rams
- TV channel: ESPN, ABC, ESPN2

NFL Divisional Round

Saturday, January 22

4:30 p.m ET: (4) Cincinnati Bengals at (1) Tennessee Titans
- TV channel: CBS
8:15 p.m. ET: (6) San Francisco 49ers at (1) Green Bay Packers
- TV channel: FOX

Sunday, January 23

3:00 p.m. ET: (4) Los Angeles Rams at (2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- TV channel: NBC, Peacock
6:30 p.m. ET: (3) Buffalo Bills at (2) Kansas City Chiefs
- TV channel: CBS

NFL Conference Championships

Sunday, January 30

AFC Championship game: (4) Cincinnati Bengals at (2) Kansas City Chiefs
- Time: 3:05 p.m. ET
- TV channel: CBS
NFC Championship game: (6) San Francisco 49ers at (4) Los Angeles Rams
- Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
- TV channel: FOX

Super Bowl LVI

Sunday February 13 at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

How many teams make the NFL playoffs?

Fourteen teams will make the playoffs this season. In 2020, the NFL increased the number of playoff teams from 12 to 14 which is what led to the Super Wild Card Weekend which features three games instead of two.

How to watch the NFL Playoffs on TV and live streaming

The playoff games will be broadcast on a combination of the following networks: NBC and Peacock Premium, ESPN, ABC, and CBS. Super Bowl LVI will be televised on NBC and available to stream live on Peacock.

How to watch the 2022 Super Bowl

Super Bowl 56 will be televised by NBC and will be available for live stream on Peacock or with the NBC Sports App. NBC was originally scheduled to broadcast the 2021 game and CBS had the 2022 Super Bowl, but the two networks decided to swap years in order for NBC to have both the Super Bowl and Winter Olympics in 2022.

What are the NFL’s tiebreaker rules?

Below are the NFL’s tiebreaking procedures for the playoffs.

To break a tie in division standings:

Between two teams

Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in common games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss

Between three of more teams

Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games among the clubs).
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in common games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss

To break a tie in wild-card standings:

Between two teams

Head-to-head, if applicable.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in conference games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss.

Between three or more teams

Apply division tie breaker to eliminate all but the highest ranked club in each division prior to proceeding to step 2. The original seeding within a division upon application of the division tie breaker remains the same for all subsequent applications of the procedure that are necessary to identify the two wild-card participants.
Head-to-head sweep. (Applicable only if one club has defeated each of the others or if one club has lost to each of the others.)
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four.
Strength of victory.
Strength of schedule.
Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
Best net points in conference games.
Best net points in all games.
Best net touchdowns in all games.
Coin toss

2022 NFL Playoff picture

AFC Standings

*zyx- Tennessee Titans (12-5)

yx- Kansas City Chiefs (12-5)

yx- Buffalo Bills (11-6)

yx- Cincinnati Bengals (10-7)

x- Las Vegas Raiders (10-7)

x- New England Patriots (10-7)

x- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1)

NFC Standings

*zyx- Green Bay Packers (13-3)

yx- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4)

yx- Dallas Cowboys (12-5)

yx- Los Angeles Rams (12-5)

x- Arizona Cardinals (11-5)

x- San Francisco 49ers (10-7)

x- Philadelphia Eagles (9-8)

Key:

x- Clinched Playoff Berth

y- Clinched Division Title

z- Clinched First-Round Bye

*- Clinched Home-Field Advantage

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Chris Simms’ 2023 NFL Draft WR Rankings: Zay Flowers, Jaxon Smith-Njigba top list

By NBC Sports StaffMar 28, 2023, 4:10 PM EDT

The 2023 NFL Draft is just around the corner, and across all positions, fans are eagerly tracking the names to know to see what prospects can bolster their team in the upcoming season. A top-quality pass-catcher is on the wish list for more than a few franchises, and ahead of the draft on April 27th, Chris Simms broke down his picks for the top five wide receivers in this year’s draft class, starting with Boston College’s Zay Flowers, who’s been rumored to be of interest for both the Saints and the Patriots. Stay tuned to the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast for the next month as Simms breaks down his rankings for every position group, and read on for the rest of his wide receiver rankings.

Chris Simms’ 2023 NFL Draft Wide Receiver Rankings

Tier One

1. Zay Flowers, Boston College

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State

Tier Two

3. Quentin Johnston, TCU

4. Michael Wilson, Stanford

Tier Three

5. Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee

Simms Breaks Down 2023 Draft WR Rankings

The following are highlights from Simms’ WR draft rankings. For Simms’ in-depth analysis, read below for a breakdown on each prospect and be sure to subscribe to Chris Simms Unbuttoned for an unfiltered look at the NFL, featuring player access, unabashed opinion, X&O film breakdown, and stories from a life in and around football.

No. 1 Zay Flowers (Boston College)

What Simms Said: “The position versatility – he can play inside or outside. Some of the best releases in the draft are from Zay Flowers. He is pedal to the metal every play, every cut, everything he does. The build, the style of running…I think he looks like Antonio Brown. He is an unbelievable route runner, along with the explosive athlete. You’re really getting a three-in-one here with speed burner on the outside, speed burner on the inside, and slot receiver inside. I wrote Jaylen Waddle, that’s a guy he reminds me of…(He) plays bigger than his measurables say. To me, he’s a top-20 pick.”

No. 2 Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Ohio State

What Simms Said: “The speed is not blazing…but what’s off the charts good is the guy’s quickness and route running. His ability to come off the ball and be going 70% and almost jump in the air at the six-yard mark…it’s like Allen Iverson with an unbelievable crossover dribble. He’s got this unbelievable ability to change direction and then accelerate in a hurry. His ability after the catch…the first guy never tackles him…He reminds me of Jarvis Landry, to a greater version. This guy is about as high level of a route runner as you’re going to see in college.”

No. 3 Quentin Johnson, TCU

What Simms Said: “Tee Higgins-ish with more explosive ability than Higgins had coming out. He can catch the six-yard shallow cross and run 80 yards for a touchdown. His ability to jump – it’s a 40.5 inch vertical – plus he’s 6’3” and his arms look like they’re ridiculously long. He’s Drake London-ish from last year, except he doesn’t have the route running but has more of the straight speed…He’s one of the most physically impressive wide receivers in recent memory. You don’t see a lot of the route variety…but he shows the ability to change direction with the ball in his hands. He has better feet, quickness, and suddenness than most people with his size.”

No. 4 Michael Wilson, Stanford

What Simms Said: “This is where we’re going to go a little unconventional…But if you watch the film, you go, ‘There’s no doubt this is one of the best three or four receivers in this draft.’ There’s nothing he doesn’t do that’s top-notch…He ran a 4.58 at the Combine in the 40, (but) he plays way faster than that…The physical specimen is real, let alone the refined things you like to see in a receiver are real too. He can be another guy who could be inside or outside because he’s got the pure size and strength and speed to beat you outside but has the route running and it looks like the smarts to be that slot guy that catches your eye as well.”

No. 5 Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee

What Simms Said: “If you like speed, then you like Jaylin Hyatt…This is a track start, straight-liner, DeSean Jackson-, Will Fuller-ish type of receiver. So, there’s going to be things about him that you love, there’s going to be some things about him that I’m not crazy about. He’s not a great route runner…I truly question whether he can do it, unlike the other guys where I try to piece things together. You can watch a bunch of catches and he never makes anybody miss, that’s not his game…If there’s a seam straight away, watch out…If he gets a free release or gets off the line of scrimmage the right way and you have a safety that doesn’t get back instantly, see ya. It’s going to be a 60-yard post for a touchdown. That’s where he’s special.”

For more preview content of the 2023 NFL Draft, stay tuned to Chris Simms Unbuttoned, ProFootballTalk and NBC Sports EDGE for all the latest updates, player analysis and mock drafts.

Chris Simms’ 2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings: The top QBs, WRs, RBs, and more ahead of draft weekend

By Mary OmatigaMar 27, 2023, 2:56 PM EDT

The 2023 NFL Draft takes place on Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29 in Kansas City, Missouri. Click here for the full first-round draft order to find out when your team is picking.

Ahead of this year’s draft, Chris Simms has already started analyzing the top prospects by position on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast. So far, Simms has revealed his highly anticipated list of the top 5 quarterback prospects and wide receivers. See below to find out who made the top 5 names for each position and be sure to check back for updates!

Be sure to subscribe to Chris Simms Unbuttoned for more on the 2023 NFL Draft as well as an unfiltered look at the NFL, featuring player access, unabashed opinion, X&O film breakdown, and stories from a life in and around football.

Chris Simms’ 2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:

Chris Simms’ 2023 NFL Draft QB Rankings:

C.J. Stroud, Ohio State
Bryce Young, Alabama
Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Anthony Richardson, Florida
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA and Will Levis, Kentucky

Chris Simms’ 2023 NFL Draft WR Rankings:

Zay Flowers, Boston College
Jaxon Smith-Njibga, Ohio State
Quentin Jonston, TCU
Michael Wilson, Stanford
Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee

How can I watch the 2023 NFL Draft live?

ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network will air all seven rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft.

What time does the NFL Draft start?

The first round of the 2023 NFL Draft will get underway on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. Rounds two and three will commence Friday at 7 p.m. ET, with Saturday’s final rounds at 12 p.m.

Follow along with ProFootballTalk for the latest news, storylines, and updates surrounding the 2023 NFL Season and be sure to subscribe to NFLonNBC on YouTube!