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How To Watch the 2025 NFL Wild Card Round Live

The 2024–2025 NFL Playoffs begin this weekend with a thrilling lineup of wild card games on popular NFL channels.

The road to Super Bowl LIX kicks off this Saturday, January 11, with the start of the 2025 NFL Wild Card Round. Over three action-packed days, you can watch six thrilling matchups on the same major NFL channels you’ve relied on throughout the regular season.

The Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs secured the top seeds in their respective conferences, so they’ll sit out during Wild Card Weekend. But which teams will join them in the Divisional Round? Many analysts predict smooth sailing for powerhouse clubs like the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, and Minnesota Vikings. But remember, this is the NFL Playoffs, and anything can happen.

Ready to catch all the wild card drama? One game will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video, so keep reading for a closer look at the round’s channel details, game predictions, and TV service recommendations.

What channel shows NFL wild card games?

You can watch this season’s six NFL wild card games on the following channels:

Games airing on CBS, ESPN/ABC, and NBC will stream on Paramount+, ESPN+, and Peacock, respectively. Spanish-language coverage will also air on channels like ESPN Deportes, Fox Deportes, and UNIVERSO.

Pro tip: Amazon’s exclusive Steelers–Ravens showdown isn’t entirely off-limits for local fans without a Prime Video subscription. The game will still air on WPXI 11 (NBC) in Pittsburgh and WMAR-TV 2 (ABC) in Baltimore.

As a fun twist, Nickelodeon and ESPN2 will offer special alternate broadcasts during Super Wild Card Weekend.

Nickelodeon will present a slime-centric version of the Chargers–Texans clash, complete with cartoon cameos and buckets of digital green ooze. CBS Sports’ Nate Burleson will lead the broadcast alongside correspondent Dylan Schefter and Bikini Bottom’s Sandy Cheeks.

On Monday night, ESPN2 will air another ManningCast installment for the Vikings–Rams game with Peyton and Eli Manning on the call. The broadcast will also stream on ESPN+.

2025 NFL Wild Card Weekend schedule

Wild Card Weekend will take place from Saturday, January 11, to Monday, January 13, featuring an exciting lineup of six games. The action will kick off in Houston and end in Los Angeles, with a format unchanged from recent seasons. The big difference this year? One game will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

Check out the complete NFL wild card schedule in the table below.

TV listings for every NFL wild card game

Game Day Time (ET) Channels
Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans Saturday, Jan. 11 4:30 p.m. CBS, Nickelodeon, Paramount+
Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens Saturday, Jan. 11 8:00 p.m. Amazon Prime Video
Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills Sunday, Jan. 12 1:00 p.m. CBS, Paramount+
Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Jan. 12 4:30 p.m. FOX, Fox Deportes
Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Jan. 12 8:00 p.m. NBC, UNIVERSO, Peacock
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams Monday, Jan. 13 8:00 p.m. ESPN, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes

Data effective as of post date.

NFL wild card playoff predictions

NFL teams grind through the entire season with one goal: to reach the Super Bowl and claim the Vince Lombardi Trophy. But in the high-stakes Wild Card Round, even the strongest contenders can see their championship dreams shattered. That’s the beauty and heartbreak of playoff football.

Which NFL teams have what it takes to survive the Wild Card Round? Here’s our quick preview of the six wild card matchups.

AFC: #5 Los Angeles Chargers at #4 Houston Texans

Fresh off a second consecutive AFC South title, the Houston Texans (10–7) will face a tough challenge hosting the Los Angeles Chargers (11–6). The Texans’ defense, led by edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., will look to disrupt Justin Herbert and his offense. But the Chargers’ potent attack and solid defense should prove too much for Houston. We predict Herbert will get his first playoff dub, advancing the Chargers to the Divisional Round.

Score prediction: Chargers 23, Texans 17

AFC: #6 Pittsburgh Steelers at #3 Baltimore Ravens

With the Pittsburgh Steelers (10–7) struggling through a four-game losing streak, they’ll face an uphill battle against the Baltimore Ravens (12–5), who are riding high with a four-game win streak. The Ravens have dominated both sides of the ball, including key victories over top-tier opponents. The Steelers, despite their competitive wins earlier in the season, will need a complete turnaround to top their AFC North rivals.

Score prediction: Steelers 17, Ravens 31

AFC: #7 Denver Broncos at #2 Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills (13–4) are cruising into the playoffs after winning their fifth straight AFC East title. Led by MVP candidate Josh Allen, they’ve got an offense breaking records left and right. The Denver Broncos (10–7), making their first playoff appearance since 2015, will lean heavily on their tough defense to slow down Allen and his crew. But facing a Bills team that’s undefeated in Buffalo is a major challenge.

With a more experienced roster and the home-field advantage of Highmark Stadium, the Bills are ready to say, “Thank you. Next.”

Score prediction: Broncos 21, Bills 31

NFC: #7 Green Bay Packers at #2 Philadelphia Eagles

The Green Bay Packers (11–6) travel to face the Philadelphia Eagles (14–3) on Sunday night in a rematch of their Week 1 clash in Brazil, where the Eagles won 34–29.

Philadelphia enters the playoffs with the league’s top-ranked defense and an MVP-caliber season from Saquon Barkley. The Packers, meanwhile, stumbled into the postseason as the No. 7 seed following a Week 18 loss to the Chicago Bears. While Jordan Love has moments of brilliance, it’s hard to see Green Bay upsetting a dominant Eagles squad on their home turf.

Score prediction: Packers 20, Eagles 31

NFC: #6 Washington Commanders at #3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Washington Commanders (12–5) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10–7) also last faced off in Week 1, with Tampa Bay winning 37–20. But that was rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’ first NFL outing. Since then, he’s developed into a game-changing talent, and we see him leading the Commanders to a narrow victory over the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Score prediction: Commanders 30, Buccaneers 27

NFC: #5 Minnesota Vikings at #4 Los Angeles Rams

Typically, a No. 5 seed taking on a No. 4 seed should be a tightly contested battle. But the Minnesota Vikings (14–3) feel miles ahead of the Los Angeles Rams (10–7). That said, the Rams are the only team besides the Detroit Lions to hand the Vikings a loss this season. Could we see a repeat of that Week 7 result? The Rams will certainly hope so, but we expect a Vikings victory.

Score prediction: Vikings 27, Rams 20

Best TV plans for watching the NFL Wild Card Round

You don’t need an expensive TV plan to enjoy NFL playoff games. Besides the wild card clash on Amazon Prime Video, all playoff matchups air on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC. These channels are free with an over-the-air (OTA) antenna, and a great option like the Mohu Leaf 50 can provide reliable reception in most suburban areas. Just be sure to check your local coverage first using the FCC’s Reception Map Tool.

If an antenna doesn’t cut it, YouTube TV is our top pick for streaming the NFL Playoffs. It has every playoff channel except Prime Video and includes NFL Network for extra postseason coverage. You’ll also enjoy unlimited DVR storage and slick multiview capabilities.

Looking for a deeper dive into playoff TV plans? Click the button below for our full guide.

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How to watch the NFL Wild Card Round FAQ

How can I watch the NFL wild card games for free?

You can watch most NFL wild card games for free using an OTA antenna to access your local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC stations without a TV subscription. If you’re not within range of those channels, you can sign up for a free live TV streaming trial from services like DIRECTV STREAM or Fubo. Fortunately, Amazon Prime Video also offers a free trial to catch its exclusive wild card game.

How does the NFL Wild Card Round work?

The NFL Wild Card Round is the first stage of the playoffs. The division champion with the best regular-season record in each conference earns a first-round bye and skips to the Divisional Round. Meanwhile, the other six playoff teams from each conference compete in a single-elimination game for a spot in the next round.

Who are the NFL wild card teams?

The 2025 NFL Wild Card Round features the following 12 teams from the league’s two conferences.

AFC wild card teams

  • Buffalo Bills
  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Houston Texans
  • Los Angeles Chargers
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Denver Broncos
NFC wild card teams

  • Philadelphia Eagles
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • Minnesota Vikings
  • Washington Commanders
  • Green Bay Packers

Why you should trust us

Our sports experts researched the full NFL Wild Card Round schedule and confirmed the broadcast details for each game. We carefully checked each matchup’s TV channel and streaming availability, considering the most reliable viewing options across cable, satellite, and streaming. Using this information, we determined the best ways to watch all six games based on cost, accessibility, and additional features.

Check out our How We Rank page to learn more about our methods.

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