How does NFL playoff scheduling work?

[CheeseMonkeys]

Does it depend on what seed a team has or is it just randomly scheduled? I have to work Saturdays and I'd hate if I would have to call out from work.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Completely random. We've had the #1 seed a few times, some years we were on Saturday night, some Sunday afternoon. In 2004 as the 2 seed we had the most epic matchup for a divisional round game ever against the Colts and it didn't get the Saturday night slot. So I don't know how I'd go about trying to understand their scheduling.

 

[brdmaverick]

As already noted, it is random.

The slot that I love is the Saturday night game.

The one that I hate (oddly enough) is Sunday at one. I feel all playoff games should be subject to "prime time" (4 and 8:20).

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

It is not completely random.

The networks have it in the contract which networks get to choose their games.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Well for my sake, I hope the games are on Sunday.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

It is not completely random.

The networks have it in the contract which networks get to choose their games.

\

Yes, and they are much more likely to put a team with a large TV audience /fan base in prime time.

For example, if the Ravens were playing the Texans, the Patriots are playing the Jets (or Steelers), then our game is more more likely of the two to be in prime time. The network with the rights to the prime time slot is generally paying a loy more money for that, and so they get to choose based upon expected ratings.

 

[Mark Morse]

I am just guessing, but I would think the league would want the #1 seed (with home field advantage throughout the playoffs) to have the shortest amount of time to prepare for the championship game.

If the Pats win out, they will be the #1 seed. My guess is the Sunday game at either 4 or 8:30.

 

[Patsrock]

I am just guessing, but I would think the league would want the #1 seed (with home field advantage throughout the playoffs) to have the shortest amount of time to prepare for the championship game.

If the Pats win out, they will be the #1 seed. My guess is the Sunday game at either 4 or 8:30.

Sunday games are 1 and 430.


This year is CBS for the Saturday night prime time game in the divisional round. Which usually that has FOX with the 430 game on Sunday.

Here is what I would think based on current seeding would line up like

Wild Card round

Sat
4:30 Jets@Texans NBC
8:00 Falcons@Cowboys NBC

Sun
1pm Lions@Saints Fox
430 Steelers@Broncos CBS

Div Round
Sat
430 3/4/5@Niners Fox
800 4/5/6@NE CBS

Sun
100 3/4/5@Balt CBS
430 4/5/6 @GB Fox


Conf
300 AFC CBS
630 NFC Fox

 

[Mark Morse]

Sunday games are 1 and 430.



Div Round
Sat
430 3/4/5@Niners Fox
800 4/5/6@NE CBS

Sun
100 3/4/5@Balt CBS
430 4/5/6 @GB Fox

Thanks for the correction. Hoping this is not the case!

 

[everlong]

Last year the AFC had the Saturday night game for the wild card round and the NFC had it for the divisional round. That means it will be the opposite this year. This also gave the AFC the later game on Sunday when the Patriots played so that will be reversed.

So this year's divisional round will be.

Saturday:

NFC early
AFC late

Sunday:

AFC early
NFC late

 

[everlong]

Div Round
Sat
430 3/4/5@Niners Fox
800 4/5/6@NE CBS

Sun
100 3/4/5@Balt CBS
430 4/5/6 @GB Fox

I think this will be correct with one caveat. If Denver makes it to the divisional round and the 6 seed beats Houston setting up Denver @ Balt\Pitt that game will beat out the Pats for the Saturday night game. The network are choosing it on how big of an audience the game will pull in. NE is #1 and has been but right now it's all about Tebow. I think they would love a Denver @ NE rematch.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Last year the AFC had the Saturday night game for the wild card round and the NFC had it for the divisional round. That means it will be the opposite this year. This also gave the AFC the later game on Sunday when the Patriots played so that will be reversed.

So this year's divisional round will be.

Saturday:

NFC early
AFC late

Sunday:

AFC early
NFC late

It wasn't always reversed, unless they've changed the rule recently. From at least 2003 (us hosting Titans) until at least 2007 (us hosting Jacksonville) the Saturday night game in the divisional round were all AFC.

And when I said it was completely random, I didn't mean it like they just draw the games out of a hat. There obviously is a decision process as to who plays when and where but in terms of conference/seeding there is no pattern or correlation. Until the games are officially scheduled it's pure speculation.

 

[Patsrock]

It wasn't always reversed, unless they've changed the rule recently. From at least 2003 (us hosting Titans) until at least 2007 (us hosting Jacksonville) the Saturday night game in the divisional round were all AFC.

And when I said it was completely random, I didn't mean it like they just draw the games out of a hat. There obviously is a decision process as to who plays when and where but in terms of conference/seeding there is no pattern or correlation. Until the games are officially scheduled it's pure speculation.

2001-2002 Pats vs Oakland
2002-2003 Philly vs Atlanta
2003-2004 Pats vs Tennessee
2004-2005 Atl vs St Louis
2005-2006 Den vs Pats
2006-2007 NO vs Philly
2007-2008 Pats vs Jacksonville
2008-2009 Arizona vs Carolina
2009-2010 Indy vs Balt
2010-2011 GB vs Atlanta

Yep this are the Saturday night divisional games since 2001 season. They alternate between networks. So in odd years it is Fox, even years CBS.

 

[Patsrock]

I think this will be correct with one caveat. If Denver makes it to the divisional round and the 6 seed beats Houston setting up Denver @ Balt\Pitt that game will beat out the Pats for the Saturday night game. The network are choosing it on how big of an audience the game will pull in. NE is #1 and has been but right now it's all about Tebow. I think they would love a Denver @ NE rematch.

Very true. Hadn't thought about the Tebow effect.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

2001-2002 Pats vs Oakland
2002-2003 Philly vs Atlanta
2003-2004 Pats vs Tennessee
2004-2005 Atl vs St Louis
2005-2006 Den vs Pats
2006-2007 NO vs Philly
2007-2008 Pats vs Jacksonville
2008-2009 Arizona vs Carolina
2009-2010 Indy vs Balt
2010-2011 GB vs Atlanta

Yep this are the Saturday night divisional games since 2001 season. They alternate between networks. So in odd years it is Fox, even years CBS.

Hmm maybe I was just mistaken because I remembered it being night time during the 2006 Balt-Colts and 2004 Steelers-Jets, but I guess if a game starts at 4 it'll end at night. S yeah looks like you guys are right it will be an AFC game this year. Still unsure though which AFC game it'll be, I bet if the Steelers-Ravens are meeting that will be put on Sat night.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

When to the make the schedule? Like for the pats..will we know what time they play the first week of the playoff when they are on their bye?

need to know to take work off

 

[Patsrock]

When to the make the schedule? Like for the pats..will we know what time they play the first week of the playoff when they are on their bye?

need to know to take work off

Some time Wild Card weekend usually if they end up with a bye.

 

[jmt57]

Hmm maybe I was just mistaken because I remembered it being night time during the 2006 Balt-Colts and 2004 Steelers-Jets, but I guess if a game starts at 4 it'll end at night. S yeah looks like you guys are right it will be an AFC game this year. Still unsure though which AFC game it'll be, I bet if the Steelers-Ravens are meeting that will be put on Sat night.

I too could have sworn that there was one year in which they skipped the normal alternating back and forth between the networks during the last decade. I can't recall the teams involved (though I thought one of them was Jacksonville), the year, or the reason why it happened.

Regardless, they seem to be back to a very regular alternating format at this point.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

I am just guessing, but I would think the league would want the #1 seed (with home field advantage throughout the playoffs) to have the shortest amount of time to prepare for the championship game.

...

Why?


10 char

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Why is the Saturday night game the contest for ratings?

The 4:15 Sunday game against the Jets last year was a ratings monster.