On Sunday night, January 12, the NFL announced the schedule of locations, dates and times for the 2025 Divisional Round, which will take place on Saturday, January 18, and Sunday, January 19.
The 2025 Divisional Round will see eight teams vying to get into the “Final Four,” which of course is a March Madness term, but it works here, too.
NFL 2025 Divisional Round Game Schedule:
Saturday, January 18
AFC: (4) Houston Texans at (1) Kansas City Chiefs, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes)
NFC: (6) Washington Commanders at (1) Detroit Lions, 8 p.m. ET (FOX, FOX Deportes)
Sunday, January 19
NFC: (5) Minnesota Vikings/(4) Los Angeles Rams at (2) Philadelphia Eagles, 3 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, Universo)
AFC: (3) Baltimore Ravens at (2) Buffalo Bills, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
Detroit Lions HC Dan Campbell Ready for the Playoffs
The Detroit Lions famously got to the NFC Championship Game in 2023 and then fell to the San Francisco 49ers. It was definitely heartbreaking for Lions fans who have waited their whole lives to see the team finally make it to the Super Bowl to fall just short. But, this season is their second chance.
The Lions are the No. 1 seed in the NFC and have home games leading up to the playoffs. It’s actually the first time they’ve been the conference’s No. 1 seed in the history of the franchise.
As it turns out, the Lions will be taking on a surprising opponent in the game: the Washington Commanders. They haven’t played the team since 2022.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell says he has a lot of respect for the Commanders and their new coach, Dan Quinn. But, he’s ready to take them on.
“We’ve had attention for four years here,” Campbell told reporters on Monday, January 13, per the NFL. “I mean, there’s been more stuff that’s been made out, that’s been built one way, we’ve been so good, we’ve been so bad, we’re a laughingstock, now we’re great, and it’s just been this rollercoaster of up and downs, and it’s the next week of it, you know what I mean?”
He added, “And so this is nothing new that we’re in right now. This is nothing new for me, for the coaches, for the players. We’re in the middle of the circus, man, and it’s about time to perform. That’s the world we’re in.”
For this game, the Lions are expected to have running back David Montgomery back in the fold.
“He’s a huge part of us,” Campbell said of Montgomery. “And to me, he’s a bell cow. He’s a tone-setter. He’s a catalyst. There’s a place for him here, so there will be a place for him in this game. It’s going to be good to get him back.”
In a January 13 feature for Detroit Jock City, Lions analyst and expert Richard Louis stated, “Although he won’t be 100% healthy, getting Montgomery out there will give his team a boost. The Lions have built a brick wall upfront and love to establish the ground game. The Lions finished the season sixth in the NFL in rushing offense (146.4).”
He added, “They are facing a Commanders team that was 30th in run defense (137.5). Look for the Lions to lean heavily on the rushing attack and build play-action deep shots off of it.”