When will Saints playoff games be played, and more postseason answers

Now that the New Orleans Saints have wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, Saints fans know they can sit back and wait for Week 17 and Wild Card weekend to play out before their favorite team begins its quest for a second Super Bowl title.

But when, and against whom, and on what channel?

The Saints’ first playoff game in the Divisional round will be either Jan. 12 or 13. The day and time will likely be announced next Sunday night or Monday. Saturday games are at 3:35 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.; Sunday games are at 12:05 p.m. and 3:40 p.m.

The NFL uses a floating bracket in that the top seed plays the lowest-seeded winner from Wild Card weekend, and the No. 2 seed plays the highest-seeded winner. Basically, the matchup of the Nos. 3 and 6 seeds decides the divisional matchup. If the No. 3 seed wins, it plays the No. 2 seed; if the No. 6 seed goes on the road and gets the win, it advances to play the top seed.

The possible Saints opponents in the divisional round are the Dallas Cowboys (who are locked into the No. 4 seed) or one of the two wild-card teams: the Seattle Seahawks and either the Minnesota Vikings or Philadelphia Eagles.

FOX will televise both NFC Divisional games this year. In the AFC bracket, CBS and NBC will each televise one game.

If the Saints win in the Divisional round, it will play host to the NFC Championship Game at 2:05 p.m. Jan. 20, also on FOX.

The playoffs begin Jan. 5-6 with four games on Wild Card weekend.