NFL Playoffs 2025: Format, Schedule, and Super Bowl LIX Details

The NFL playoffs are set to kick off on January 11, 2025, with 14 teams vying for a chance to compete in Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. This marks the fifth year of the league’s expanded playoff format, which was introduced in 2020 and increased the postseason field from 12 to 14 teams.

Under the current format, only the No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC receive a first-round bye, a change from the previous system where the top two seeds in each conference earned byes. The No. 7 seeds, introduced with the expansion, have struggled in the wild-card round, posting a 1-7 record since 2021. The lone victory came during the 2024 playoffs, when a No. 7 seed advanced for the first time.

The playoffs will begin with wild-card weekend on January 11-13, followed by the divisional round on January 18-19 and the conference championships on January 26. Super Bowl LIX is scheduled for February 9, 2025, with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on FOX and Telemundo, with streaming options available on various platforms.

The Caesars Superdome, home of the New Orleans Saints, will host its eighth Super Bowl. The last time the stadium hosted the event was in 2013, when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers in a thrilling game. This year’s matchup remains uncertain, but the Kansas City Chiefs, who won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, are among the favorites.

Super Bowl LIX, also referred to as Super Bowl LIX in Roman numerals, will feature a halftime performance by Grammy Award-winning artist Lamar, who previously performed at Super Bowl 56 in 2022. Lamar expressed excitement about the opportunity, stating on social media, ‘Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why.’

Fans can also look forward to the annual tradition of rating Super Bowl ads, which will be available on USA TODAY‘s website. As the playoffs progress, the field will narrow until only two teams remain to compete for the Vince Lombardi trophy on football’s biggest stage.