Patriots playoff scenarios: Sunday night’s Raiders-Chargers game will determine New England’s opponent
The Patriots’ playoff opponent will come down to the winner of Sunday night’s Chargers-Raiders game.
If the Raiders win, the Patriots will drop the AFC’s sixth seed and travel to Buffalo to face the No. 3 Bills, who beat the Jets on Sunday.
If the Chargers win, the Patriots will be the No. 5 seed and travel to Cincinnati to face the No. 4 Bengals, who lost to the Browns on Sunday without starting quarterback Joe Burrow.
If the Chargers and Raiders tie, the Patriots will remain the fifth seed and play the Bengals. The Chargers are a 3.5-point favorite.
Here’s a rundown of the NFL playoff schedule as we know it right now, plus key dates for the rest of the postseason.
AFC playoff picture
Clinched playoff berth: Titans, Chiefs, Bengals, Bills, Patriots
Still in the hunt: Chargers, Raiders, Steelers
AFC wild-card weekend
No. 1 seed: Titans (bye)
No. 2 Chiefs vs. No. 7: Date and time TBD
No. 3 Bills vs. No. 6: Date and time TBD
No. 4 Bengals vs. No. 5: Date and time TBD
Game times: Saturday at 4:35 p.m. or 8:15 p.m.; Sunday at 1:05 p.m., 4:40 p.m., or 8:15 p.m.; and Monday at 8:15 p.m.
NFC playoffs
NFC wild-card weekend
No. 1 seed: Packers(bye)
No. 7 Eagles at No. 2 Buccaneers: Date and time TBD
No. 6 49ers at No. 3 Cowboys: Date and time TBD
No. 5 Cardinals at No. 4 Rams: Date and time TBD
Game times: Saturday at 4:35 p.m. or 8:15 p.m.; Sunday at 1:05 p.m., 4:40 p.m., or 8:15 p.m.; and Monday at 8:15 p.m.
2022 NFL playoffs schedule
Divisional rounds
AFC Divisional Round: Saturday, Jan. 22, and Sunday, Jan. 23, date and network TBD
NFC Divisional Round: Saturday, Jan. 22, and Sunday, Jan. 23, date and network TBD
Conference championships
AFC Championship Game: Sunday, Jan. 30 (3:05 p.m., CBS)
NFC Championship Game: Sunday, Jan. 30 (6:40 p.m., Fox)
Super Bowl LVI
Sunday, Feb. 13 (6:30 p.m., NBC)
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com