What to know about NFL wild-card weekend: dates, times, how to watch, odds

The NFL's wild-card weekend -- the opening week of the NFL playoffs -- features two games on Saturday and two games on Sunday.

The road to Super Bowl LIV 2020 begins Saturday, when the Houston Texans host the Buffalo Bills.

Saturday, Jan. 4:

Watch the No. 5 Buffalo Bills at the No. 4 Houston Texans at 4:35 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN.

According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the Texans have a 69.3% chance to win this game, but quarterback Deshaun Watson must show up as he has in big games all season. Watson has thrown 26 touchdown passes this season (tied for eighth in the league) and has a Total QBR of 68.9 (seventh), but in his first playoff appearance last season, he struggled in a loss to the Colts.

In addition to Watson and his arsenal of wide receivers, Houston has defensive end J.J. Watt backfrom injury. Having this playmaker will be a big deal for the Texans' defense, which has struggled at times in the team's 10-6 season.

The Bills also were 10-6 this season. QuarterbackJosh Allenfinished with 3,089 yards passing and 20 touchdowns and added 510 yards and nine touchdowns rushing.

The last time the Bills won a playoff game was in 1995. They have lost five straight playoff games since then. But as ESPN's Aaron Schatz writes, there is a chance that the Bills can pull off an upset on the road.

Watch the No. 6 Tennessee Titans at the No. 3 New England Patriots at 8:15 p.m. ET on CBS.

According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the Patriots -- the defending Super Bowl champions -- have a 73% chance to win this game. It is rare to see the Tom Brady-led Patriots playing on wild-card weekend, but they have won their past nine home playoff games.

The Patriots' offense has struggled this season, and Brady's 54.0 Total QBR puts him 16th in the league. (Is this Brady's last career home game for the Patriots? See whatESPN's Mike Reiss has to say). Ryan Tannehill and his ninth-ranked QBR (62.5) have helped the Titans win seven of their past 10 games.

But the Patriots' defense has been stout this season, and the Titans' defense has not. That could make all the difference in this game.

Sunday, Jan. 5:

Watch the No. 6 Minnesota Vikings at the No. 3 New Orleans Saints at 1:05 p.m. ET on Fox.

According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the Saints have a 63.2% chance to win this game, which makes sense considering they have quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Michael Thomas.

In addition, the Saints dominate at home. Of their two home losses this season, one was a fluke blowout to theAtlanta Falcons, and the other was a shootout against the San Francisco 49ers.

After last season's heartbreaking and controversial playoff exit, it's "Saints vs. everybody," defensive end Cameron Jordan told ESPN's Mike Triplett ahead of Sunday's game.

The Vikings looked like Super Bowl contenders in the middle of the season -- they had a stretch in which they were 6-1 -- but they closed with back-to-back losses. Kirk Cousins likely can't outduel Brees in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, so for an upset, the Vikings will have to rely on their strong pass defense. To add to their upset chances, running backDalvin Cook said he is "gonna be back at full strength" come game time.

Watch the No. 5 Seattle Seahawks at the No. 4 Philadelphia Eagles at 4:40 p.m. ET on NBC.

According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the Eagles have a 60.3% chance to win this game. Philadelphia's biggest challenge comes with its injury report, which could be the longest in the NFL.

Both teams had unconventional ways to get to wild-card weekend. The Eagles had to win four games in a row to end the season, though none of the teams they beat made the postseason. The Seahawks went 1-3 in that time and dropped from the top of the NFC.

While the Eagles and quarterback Carson Wentz -- who will be playing in his first career playoff gameon Sunday -- ended the season strong, despite seeming to lose a player to injury on every other play, the Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson struggled at times after starting the season blazing hot.

The Seahawks went 7-1 on the road. Can that success continue when it matters most? They sure hope so, per ESPN's Brady Henderson.