The playoffs begin with the wild-card weekend. On 4 January, the Kansas City Chiefs (second in the AFC West) will go to Indianapolis to play the Colts (winners of the AFC South) in the afternoon game, before the New Orleans Saints (second in the NFC South) go to Philadelphia to play the Eagles (winners of the NFC East) in the evening. On 5 January, the San Diego Chargers (third in the AFC West) are at the Cincinnati Bengals (winners of the AFC North) in the first afternoon game and the San Francisco 49ers (second in the NFC West) are at the Green Bay Packers (winners of the NFC North) in the second.

The 49ers and Packers will meet in a rematch of a 2012 divisional playoff game which the 49ers won 45-31 on their way to a defeat by the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII, in New Orleans.

The playoffs continue the following weekend, of 11-12 January, with the divisional playoffs. In the AFC, the winning teams from the wildcard weekend will face the Denver Broncos (winners of the AFC West) or the New England Patriots (winners of the AFC East), according to seeding. In the NFC, the Carolina Panthers (winners of the NFC South) and the Seattle Seahawks (winners of the NFC West) will host games.

The AFC and NFC championship games will be played on Sunday 19 January, before Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday 2 February.

2014 playoffs – all times EST

Wild-card weekend

4 January

Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts (4.35pm)

New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles (8.10pm)

5 January

San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals (1.05pm)

San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers (4.45pm)

Divisional playoffs

11 January

New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks (4.35pm)

Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots (8.15pm)

12 January

San Francisco 49ers at Carolina Panthers (1.05pm)

Sand Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos (4.40pm)

Championship games

19 January

AFC championship game (3pm)

NFC championship game (6.30pm)

Super Bowl XLVIII – MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

2 February (6.30pm)