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The first round of the NFL’s 2020-21 playoffs is in the books, and it was an entertaining one even though the New England Patriots just did not participate after finishing the regular season with a 7-9 record and out of the postseason tournament. Under the new format agreed upon in the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed last March, six games took place on wild card weekend while the top seeds in each conference were on a bye.
The games went as follows:
AFC playoff picture
- #7 Indianapolis Colts (10-7) 24 : 27 #2 Buffalo Bills (14-3)
- #5 Baltimore Ravens (12-5) 20 : 13 #4 Tennessee Titans (11-6)
- #6 Cleveland Browns (12-5) 48 : 37 #3 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-5)
The AFC side of this year’s playoffs with two road victories. While the second-seeded Bills fought off the visiting Colts on Saturday, neither the Titans nor the Steelers were able to beat their opponents: Tennessee struggled to establish a consistent offensive rhythm versus a strong Ravens run defense, while Pittsburgh was out of sync after resting its starters last week — falling behind 28-0 in the first quarter.
As a result, the divisional round in the Patriots’ conference therefore looks as follows:
- #5 Ravens at #2 Bills: Saturday, January 16, 8:15pm ET (NBC, Universo)
- #6 Browns at #1 Chiefs: Sunday, January 17, 3:05pm ET (CBS, CBS All Access, ESPN Deportes)
NFC playoff picture
- #6 Los Angeles Rams (11-6) 30 : 20 #3 Seattle Seahawks (12-5)
- #5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-5) 31 : 23 #4 Washington Football Team (7-10)
- #7 Chicago Bears (8-9) 9 : 21 #2 New Orleans Saints (13-4)
Tom Brady started his playoff career in Tampa Bay with a victory, leading the Buccaneers to a 31-23 road victory in Washington. It was one of two road wins in the NFC as the Rams were also able to go on the road and secure a victory, winning 30-20 in Seattle. Only New Orleans registered a home victory when it slowed down a lackluster Bears team on Sunday — a win that now set up showdown between Drew Brees’ Saints and Brady’s Buccaneers.
The divisional round in the NFC is therefore now scheduled as follows:
- #6 Rams at #1 Packers: Saturday, January 16, 4:35pm ET (FOX, FOX Deportes)
- #5 Buccaneers at #2 Saints: Sunday, January 17, 6:40pm ET (FOX, FOX Deportes)