NFL Divisional Round: What to Watch With Sling TV

The Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs is stacked with fascinating matchups. Here's what to watch with Sling.

Now that the NFL Super Wild Card weekend has wrapped up, it’s safe to say that what it lacked in competitiveness, it made up for in surprises. How ‘bout them Cowboys getting blown out at home to first-year starter Jordan Love? What about Baker Mayfield and the Bucs shooting the once high-flying Eagles out of the sky? And after playing the role of Joe Cool in the regular season, Joe Flacco had an awkward performance that included back-to-back pick-sixes, as the Browns got flattened on both sides of the ball by a Texans team that’s on a roll.

The Wild Card games set up a Divisional Round that's as fascinating as any in recent memory. Here’s a look at all four Divisional Round games, plus how to watch with Sling TV. Use the link at the bottom of this page to subscribe to Sling Orange + Blue.

NFL Divisional Round on Sling

Saturday, Jan. 20

https://www.youtube.com/embed/TM-Fi7ANLZY?si=nPQhbHdgLU8oM0Rd

(4) Houston Texans at (1) Baltimore Ravens

4:30pm ET on ESPN/ ABC

How to Watch with Sling TV: ESPN is available with a subscription to Sling Orange or Orange + Blue.

Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud didn’t just have one of the best playoff debuts of all-time; he had one of the greatest playoff games ever, period. He threw for a rookie record-tying three touchdowns (all in the first half) and finished with a 157.2 passer rating, the fourth highest ever in a playoff game. Even with Rams rookie Puka Nacua setting a new mark for receptions, Stroud should win Offensive Rookie of the Year in a landslide, and his playoff performance against one of the league’s best defenses suggests he won’t be a Mac Jones-like flash-in-the-pan.

Assuming he’s not in the Super Bowl, he’ll pick up that award at the NFL Honors on Feb. 8, where his Baltimore counterpart Lamar Jackson is likely to win Most Valuable Player. In an unpredictable season, Jackson and the Ravens were steady as a board, and they absolutely mauled other top teams like the San Francisco 49ers (33-19), Miami Dolphins (56-19), and the Detroit Lions (38-6). Unlike recent years where Lamar has shouldered more than his share, the Ravens have depth and balance on both sides of the ball. Jackson’s 1-3 playoff record is a touch concerning, but they should take care of business against Houston. If they can’t, C.J. Stroud might be even more impressive than he already appears.

(7) Green Bay Packers at (1) San Francisco 49ers

8:15 p.m. ET on FOX

How to Watch with Sling TV: FOX is available with a subscription to Sling Blue or Orange + Blue in select markets, including Milwaukee and San Francisco.

Speaking of impressive playoff debuts, Jordan Love finished Green Bay’s stunning upset over the Cowboys with the exact same passer rating as Stroud, meaning we saw two of the five best playoff performances ever in Super Wild Card weekend. Except that Love did it on the road in a stadium where the Cowboys hadn’t lost in almost two years. In the Packers’ first season without Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay fans have to love what they're seeing from Love.

49ers fans know the feeling well. Last season, Brock Purdy rose from the deepest depths of the 2022 draft to assert himself as the new starting quarterback, but there were questions about how he would perform after he was injured in the NFC Championship game against the Eagles. After leading the league in QBR and helping guide San Francisco to the top seed in the NFC, his sophomore season went as well as one could hope. The 49ers are much deeper and more experienced than the Packers, but like the Texans, Green Bay is playing with house money, while the Niners and Ravens are playing for all the glory. We wouldn’t be surprised if both these games are closer than expected.

Sunday, Jan. 21

https://www.youtube.com/embed/WlO8b8c9_fc?si=ORQ7ql75SBa8XQwV

(4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at (3) Detroit Lions

3pm ET on NBC

How to Watch with Sling TV: NBC is available with a subscription to Sling Blue or Orange + Blue in select markets, including Tampa.

The Detroit Lions are officially the feel-good story of the season. After 90 seasons and zero Super Bowl appearances, Detroit looks like a legitimate contender, and their electrifying home win over the Los Angeles Rams left their long-suffering fans in tears. Thanks to the Cowboys loss, the Lions get to run it back this Sunday at Ford Field, where they’ll face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It may surprise you to learn that outside of the Chiefs, no team has won more playoff games in the 2020s than the Bucs. Following Tom Brady’s retirement, Baker Mayfield had the biggest possible shoes to fill, and he performed admirably, particularly in the Wild Card round against a physical Eagles team. Detroit is the clear favorite in this one, especially since it’s at home, but regardless of the outcome, both of these teams have given their fans a lot to smile about this season.

(3) Kansas City Chiefs at (2) Buffalo Bills

6:30pm ET on CBS

How to Watch with Sling TV: CBS is not available with Sling TV. Subscribe to Paramount+ to stream the game.

The NFL struck gold with this playoff three-match between the Bills and Chiefs. Although KC handled the Bills 38-24 in 2021, their rematch a year later was arguably the game of the decade, as Patrick Mahomes rallied the Chiefs for an overtime victory that led to a playoff rule change (both teams will now get a chance on offense, even if one team scores a TD on the first possession). If their playoff history weren’t enough, the Bills kickstarted their comeback earlier this year when, at 6-6 and looking very shaky, they beat the Chiefs 20-17 at Arrowhead in a controversial finish. That win is why the Bills will host this weekend’s game, which will be Mahomes first playoff game on the road. It’s impossible to overhype this game, but if Travis Kelce’s girlfriend Taylor Swift is in attendance, the CBS crew will undoubtedly try.

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