The NFL Playoffs roll into the Divisional Round this week with eight teams remaining and two live double headers set to air on ESPN across Sunday and Monday AEDT.
With the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles already eliminated, the 2025 season is guaranteed to deliver a new winner, as the race to Super Bowl LX continues to tighten.
Following a Wildcard round filled with close finishes, attention now turns to which teams can take the next step toward the league’s biggest stage.
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Divisional Round matchups:
The action begins Sunday morning AEDT with the AFC’s top seed Denver Broncos hosting the Buffalo Bills. Denver enters off a first round bye after finishing the regular season atop the Conference, while Buffalo advanced with a narrow Wildcard win to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive. The matchup also places focus on quarterbacks Bo Nix and Josh Allen as both sides look to control the game early.
Later on Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers in the latest chapter of their NFC West rivalry. Seattle secured the NFC number one seed after defeating San Francisco in the final week of the regular season, earning home field advantage. The 49ers arrive after eliminating Philadelphia, setting up a third meeting between the two sides this season.
Monday’s double header opens with the New England Patriots facing the Houston Texans. New England progressed with a defence led performance in the Wildcard round, while Houston enters as one of the competition’s most in form teams after extending their winning streak with a convincing victory over Pittsburgh.
The Divisional Round concludes with the Chicago Bears hosting the Los Angeles Rams. Chicago produced a dramatic comeback win last week to advance, while the Rams survived a late thriller on the road and now travel to Soldier Field with a place in the Conference Championship Games on the line.
Broadcast details:
NFL Playoffs Divisional Round
Sunday January 18
8.30am AEDT
Denver Broncos vs Buffalo Bills
ESPN
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12pm AEDT
Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers
ESPN
Monday January 19
7am AEDT
New England Patriots vs Houston Texans
ESPN
10.30am AEDT
Chicago Bears vs Los Angeles Rams
ESPN
Every game of the NFL Playoffs, including the AFC and NFC Championship Games and Super Bowl LX, will air live on ESPN, available via Disney+, Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky TV in New Zealand.
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