When are the 2023 NFL Playoffs? Dates, TV Schedule, Channel Details & updated NFC, AFC Playoff Brackets

As the NFL season progresses, fans and players have begun to focus more on the annual postseason games. However, for fans who are fortunate enough to see their favorite teams in the playoffs, the postseason games are just one more challenge to overcome before winning the Super Bowl. What is the schedule for this year, when do the playoffs start in 2023, and how are the NFC and AFC playoff brackets currently doing?

The NFL playoffs will feature 14 contenders for the third year in a row. The 2023 postseason will include seven sides from each conference, with the top seed within every conference being the only club to get a bye.

Additionally, the playoffs have been moved back one week for two straight years. The reason is that the NFL started using a 17-game calendar in 2021 and kept doing so in 2022. The Super Bowl will therefore take place on the second Sunday in February.

The first game of the wildcard phase is set to start on January 14, while the final match will be played two days later, on January 16.

The divisional round, which follows the wildcard round, is set to begin on January 21 and last until the following day. Then, on January 29, games for the conference championships are scheduled.

Where and how do you watch the playoffs?

Most of the same television networks, such as ESPN/ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX, that broadcast the top games in the league this season will be showing the postseason games. These are the standard networks, as you will know if you have previously followed the postseason games. However, there are now more options than ever to watch the games, thanks to the growing popularity of live streaming.

A less expensive option for streaming every NFL postseason match is NFL+. An NFL+ subscription grants you full access to every playoff game and NFL channel through the NFL smartphone application for as little as $4.99 per month. So, the only devices you can use to stream games are your mobile phones and tablets.

What are the NFL brackets looking like right now?

With all of their Week 16 games completed, the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tennessee Titans are still in the running for the AFC conference. However, the Raiders (6-9) have the best outside shot going into next week, thanks to the Miami Dolphins' Week 16 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Green Bay Packers are among the teams competing for playoff spots in the NFC, which is also a busy league.

The Jacksonville Jaguars continue to compete for the AFC South title. However, they must defeat the Tennessee Titans in Week 18 for it to happen.

If the Baltimore Ravens fails to win in their next outing, the Cincinnati Bengals might claim the AFC North with a win in their upcoming contest. However, if that does not materialize, Cincinnati and Baltimore will play for the division title in the final week of the regular season.

To secure the top spot in the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles must either win one game or hope the Vikings fail to win in the next two weeks.

The Bucs finish Week 16 with a one-game advantage over the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, and whoever wins the tricky NFC South will earn the No. 4 seed. Tampa Bay can claim the division with a victory over Carolina next week.