2012 NFL Playoff Schedule Set; Games Begin Jan. 7

Houston Texans receiving corps — The Houston Texans host the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 7 to get the 2012 NFL playoffs started. Reuters

The 2012 NFL Playoffs are poised to begin -- the field is set and games will start on Jan. 7 with Wild Card matchups culminating with the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 in Indianapolis.

Some teams like the Denver Broncos needed some help getting. Others, like the New York Giants, controlled their own destiny by winning in the last game of the regular season. But that's history now as the schedule is set for the NFL Playoffs 2012, culminating with Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on Feb. 5.

The 2012 NFL Playoff schedule begins next Saturday, Jan. 7, with AFC and NFC Wild Card games.

Four teams get byes in the first round, including the New England Patriots (13-3) and the Baltimore Ravens (12-4) in the AFC, and the Green Bay Packers (15-1) and San Francisco 49ers (13-3) in the NFC. The Patriots and the Packers are No. 1 seeds, so they control their own home-field destiny until the Super Bowl.

Below is the complete schedule, with game times, and broadcasting TV networks. In the divisional rounds, the top seed will play against the lowest remaining seed, while the No. 2 seeds (the Ravens in the AFC and the 49ers in the NFC) play the other remaining team.

2012 NFL Playoff Schedule (Wild Card Weekend)

AFC Playoffs

Saturday, Jan. 7

No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals (9-7) at No. 3 Houston Texans (10-6), 4:30 p.m. ET on NBC

Sunday, Jan. 8

No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) at No. 4 Denver Broncos (8-8), 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS

NFC Playoffs

Saturday, Jan. 7

No. 6 Detroit Lions at No. 3 New Orleans Saints (13-3), 8 p.m. ET on NBC

Sunday, Jan. 8

No. 5 Atlanta Falcons at No. 4 New York Giants (9-7), 1 p.m. ET on FOX.

AFC Divisional Round