NFL Playoffs Schedule: Packers-Vikings Rematch, RG3 vs. Russell Wilson Highlight Wild Card Weekend

NFL Playoffs Schedule
Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) and Duane Brown (76) celebrate after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 43-37 in overtime of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)
Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) and Duane Brown (76) celebrate after beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 43-37 in overtime of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Patric Schneider)

The NFL playoffs are finally set and the schedule has been released.

The No. 3 Houston Texans will host the No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals in the first game of the Wild Card round, kicking off the postseason for the second straight year. That game will be played on Saturday, Jan 5. at 4:30 p.m. ET. In a Week 17 rematch, the No. 3 Green Bay Packers will take on the No. 6 Minnesota Vikings later that night at 8 p.m. ET, but this time it's at Lambeau Field. Both games are on NBC.

Sunday begins with No. 4 Baltimore hosting Chuck Pagano and the No. 5 Indianapolis Colts at 1 p.m. ET on CBS. Pagano, who was diagnosed with leukemia early in the season, finally returned to the sideline for the last game of the season after his cancer went in remission following three rounds of chemotherapy. The 11-5 Colts will head into M&T Bank Stadium the hotter team, winning five of their last six while the Ravens have lost four of their last five.

In a battle of rookie quarterbacks, the No. 4 Washington Redskins will host the No. 5 Seattle Seahawks later that Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX. Both teams ended their seasons on long winning-streaks, with the Redskins winning seven straight to win the division while the Seahawks won five straight. Anyone doubting the team from the NFC West need only take a look at the margins of victory in those matchups.

As for the Divisional Round, No. 1 Denver will host the lowest remaining AFC seed (Bengals, Colts or Ravens) on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 4:30 p.m. ET. At 8 p.m., No. 2 San Francisco will host the highest remaining NFC seed (Packers, Seahawks or Redskins). On Sunday, Jan. 13, No. 1 Atlanta will host the lowest remaining NFC seed (Redskins, Seahawks or Vikings) at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. No. 2 New England will take on the highest remaining AFC seed (Ravens, Colts or Texans) at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Before You Go

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