The NFL’s opening round of the 2023-24 playoffs, known as Super Wild Card Weekend since 2020, kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 13. Although the top team from each conference gets a bye to the Divisional Round, the other 12 playoff teams will hit the gridiron in six thrilling games to decide on who will join the two conference winners in the next round.
Matchups will feature some big showdowns, and the energy is always high as teams try to be one of the final eight still contending for a place in this year’s Super Bowl. The games will feature:
- Cleveland Browns (AFC 5) vs. Houston Texans (AFC 4)
- Miami Dolphins (AFC 6) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (AFC 3)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC 7) vs. Buffalo Bills (AFC 2)
- Green Bay Packers (NFC 7) vs. Dallas Cowboys (NFC 2)
- Los Angeles Rams (NFC 6) vs. Detroit Lions (NFC 3)
- Philadelphia Eagles (NFC 5) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFC 4)
Where to watch NFL Wild Card Weekend
As was the case during the NFL regular season, coverage of Super Wild Card Weekend is shared among several of the big-name networks. ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, and ESPN will all broadcast games. NBC’s over-the-top (OTT) service, Peacock, will also stream one game exclusively, and the CBS game will also stream on Paramount Plus. Peacock requires its own subscription, but you’ll find the rest of the games on most live TV streaming services.
| DIRECTV STREAM | Fubo | Hulu + Live TV | Sling TV | YouTube TV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
| CBS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fox | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
| NBC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓* | ✓ |
| ESPN | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Watch on DIRECTV STREAM
DIRECTV STREAM is always one of our top choices for streaming live sports. Its top-tier plans get a bit pricey, but you’ll only need the basic Entertainment plan to watch NFL Wild Card weekend. That plan features all five channels airing games and costs $79.99 a month. You’ll get over 75 channels, and there’s even a five-day free trial of DIRECTV STREAM if you want to test it out during the big games.
That said, if you want a full slate of sports action, the Choice plan is the best value. At $108.99 a month, it’s a big price bump. However, you’ll get more than 15 major sports networks for national and international matchups, plus regional sports networks (RSNs) for your local market. Whichever option you choose, all plans include unlimited cloud DVR storage and simultaneous streams at home.
Watch on Fubo
If maxing out live sports coverage is your top priority, Fubo may be an even better choice. The basic Pro plan includes all channels showing Wild Card Weekend games, plus more than 30 sports-focused networks, including RSNs. You’ll also get 1,000 hours of cloud DVR and up to 10 simultaneous streams at home, so you don’t have to miss a moment of the action. The plan starts at $74.99 a month, but there’s a market-specific regional sports fee of up to $13.99 a month. Still, at around $90 a month, you get far more sports than you’ll find on any other streaming platform.
Fubo also offers plenty of upgrade options and add-ons if you want to expand your sports, news, and entertainment. The only real downside of this platform is its exclusion of some notable channels, such as TBS, TNT, TruTV, CNN, and BBC. Like DIRECTV STREAM, however, it offers a free trial of up to one week, so there’s no harm in giving it a try!
Watch on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is our top choice for cord-cutters who want to catch Wild Card Weekend without missing out on plenty of extra entertainment. It’s not hard to see why this is the best all-around streaming package: For $76.99 a month, it features more than 90 live TV channels — including all Wildcard Weekend networks and around a dozen sports-focused channels — plus full access to ESPN Plus, Disney Plus, and the complete on-demand Hulu library. For the best of live TV and on-demand streaming, Hulu + Live TV is tough to beat.
Hulu + Live TV also includes unlimited cloud DVR storage so you can record any of the big matchups you have to miss. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer RSNs in most markets, so that leaves a significant hole for some viewers. There’s no free trial, so you’ll need to pay for a month to test it out.
Watch on Sling TV
Streaming live sports can get pricey, even if it’s less expensive than cable. If budget is an issue, Sling TV offers a more wallet-friendly option for watching some of the Wildcard Weekend matchups. Plans start at $45.99 a month and feature pared-down channel lineups of some of the most popular networks. You’ll also get 50 hours of cloud DVR storage. Although there’s no free trial, you can often get half off for your first month with this live TV streaming service.
If you want to watch the NFL playoffs on Sling, you’ve got a few options. Sling Orange features ESPN, plus more sports on ESPN2, ESPN3, MotorTrend, TBS, and TNT, for $45.99 a month. If you can get local networks over the air, that may be all you need. In some markets, you can upgrade to Sling Orange & Blue for $60.99 a month to get local channels — plus all markets get NFL Network, Fox Sports 1 (FS1), and TruTV. Although there are plenty of add-ons to expand your sports coverage, Sling doesn’t offer CBS or RSNs in any plan.
Watch on YouTube TV
For streamers who want a more straightforward, cable-like option, YouTube TV is worth a look. Its base plan features more than 110 of the most popular sports, news, and entertainment channels, including all networks airing Wildcard Weekend games and plenty of extra pro and collegiate sports. YouTube TV offers free trials of up to two weeks, so Wildcard Weekend is a great time to try it out.
For $82.99 a month, YouTube TV offers one of the most well-rounded channel lineups of any streaming platform. It also features unlimited cloud DVR storage and a range of add-ons for more entertainment and sports. Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer RSNS, so fans who want to keep up with their local teams may want to explore other options.
Watch on Peacock
Peacock, NBC’s OTT streaming platform, holds exclusive rights to stream the AFC wildcard matchup between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs. The game streams at 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 13, live from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
To watch on Peacock, you’ll need to subscribe to the service directly. Plans start at $5.99 a month and grant access to live sports and the full Peacock on-demand library, which includes classic and current movies from NBC Universal. There’s currently no free trial available.
Wild Card Weekend schedule 2024
Wild Card Weekend hits the gridiron on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 4:30 pm. ET, when the Cleveland Browns visit the Houston Texans. The full slate of action is scheduled as follows:
- Saturday, Jan. 13 @ 4:30 p.m. Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans (NBC)
- Saturday, Jan. 13 @ 8:00 p.m. Miami Dolphins vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Peacock)
- Sunday, Jan. 14 @ 1:00 p.m. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Buffalo Bills (CBS)
- Sunday, Jan. 14 @ 4:30 p.m. Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys (Fox)
- Sunday, Jan. 14 @ 8:00 p.m. Los Angeles Rams vs. Detroit Lions (NBC)
- Monday, Jan. 15 @ 8:15 p.m. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ESPN/ABC)
All of the times are Eastern.
FAQ
What channels are the NFL wildcard games on?
The NFL’s wildcard games air across several networks and streaming services. ABC and ESPN will simulcast Monday’s game, while ABC, CBS/Paramount Plus, Fox, and Peacock will each air one game. NBC will carry two wildcard matchups.
What NFL Wild Card game is on Peacock?
Peacock will have exclusive streaming rights for Saturday night’s AFC matchup between the Miami Dolphins and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. The game kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET.
How can I watch the 2024 Super Bowl?
Super Bowl LVIII will air on CBS at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 11. You can also stream the same broadcast on Paramount Plus, and an alternate broadcast will be available on Nickelodeon.
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