As the NFL playoffs kick off, fans are eager to catch every moment of the Wild Card Weekend action. With a whopping six games spread across three days, there is a ton of exciting football ahead of us. However, a staple in the NFL world is, of course, RedZone. The famous show with Scott Hanson has been around since 2009 and has given fans an unprecedented look at all the biggest moments during games.
With the playoffs starting, is RedZone still an option?
Is NFL RedZone Available During Wild Card Weekend?
NFL RedZone, known for its comprehensive coverage of Sunday afternoon games, does not broadcast during the playoffs. Its programming concludes at the end of the regular season and resumes the following year.
RedZone’s Commercial Controversy
Fans of NFL RedZone are used to hearing host Hanson start each Sunday slate by hyping up “seven hours of commercial-free football!”
Well, in Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season, RedZone shocked fans and aired multiple commercials for the first time, usually in a split-screen with the game action. Fans were furious, but the NFL didn’t seem to care about the complaints, as Hanson made it clear that the Week 16 edition of “NFL RedZone” would also feature ads.
Hanson tweaked his intro in Week 16, making sure not to use the words “commercial-free.”
“From this point forward, it’s seven hours of RedZone football,” Hanson said, prompting a ton of angry messages from viewers, with some even saying they would cancel their subscription.
NFC Playoff Seeds and Standings
1. Detroit Lions (15-2)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
4. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
5. Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
6. Washington Commanders (12-5)
7. Green Bay Packers (11-6)
AFC Playoff Seeds and Standings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1)
2. Buffalo Bills (13-4)
3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
4. Houston Texans (10-7)
5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
7. Denver Broncos (10-7)
NFL Playoff Dates and Wild Card Weekend Schedule
Here are the dates for the NFL playoffs and how you can watch each game:
- Wild Card Round: Jan. 11-13
- Divisional Round: Jan. 18-19
- Conference Championships: Jan. 26
- Super Bowl LIX: Feb. 9
Saturday, Jan. 11
4:30 p.m. ET — Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans (CBS, Paramount+)
8 p.m. ET — Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens (Amazon Prime)
Sunday, Jan. 12
1 p.m. ET — Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills (CBS, Paramount+)
4:30 p.m. ET — Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles (FOX)
8:15 p.m. ET — Washington Commanders vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NBC, Peacock)
Monday, Jan. 13
8:15 p.m. ET — Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams (ESPN/ABC)
NFL Playoff Format and Bracket
Teams are seeded No. 1 through 7 in each conference, with the division winners receiving seeds Nos. 1 through 4, with the three Wild Card teams receiving seeds Nos. 5 through 7.
The division winners are seeded according to record, with the best record receiving the top seed, and the same is true of Wild Card teams.
The league uses the same playoff tiebreaking procedures to break ties for seeds.
The NFL’s playoff bracket is divided between the AFC and NFC. There are four rounds: Wild Card Weekend, the Divisional Round, Conference Championship Weekend, and the Super Bowl.
The No. 1 seed receives a first-round bye. In this format, the No. 7 seed, if they win on Wild Card Weekend, automatically goes to the top seed on the road. The same is said if the No. 6 seed wins and the No. 7 seed is eliminated.
In the Super Bowl, the winning teams from each conference face off to battle for the Lombardi Trophy.