The NFL playoffs for 2025 are set to kick off on Saturday, with a unique twist in the first game. The Houston Texans will be taking on the Los Angeles Chargers in a wild-card matchup, a longstanding tradition for the Texans. What makes this game even more special is that it will be broadcast on Nickelodeon, a network known for its children and adolescent programming. Since 2021, Nickelodeon has been airing an NFL game every year, with the goal of introducing football to a younger audience while incorporating fun elements from its shows.
The Nickelodeon broadcast will feature iconic traditions such as slime on the field, appearances by popular characters like SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star, and commentary from familiar figures. In 2025, the Texans vs. Chargers game will be the highlight of Nickelodeon’s NFL coverage, providing an alternative viewing experience for fans. The game is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 11 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, with kickoff at 4:30 p.m. ET.
To watch the game, fans can tune in to Nickelodeon or stream it on Paramount+ or Fubo. The broadcast will be led by Nate Burleson, alongside animated versions of SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star. Additionally, there will be sideline reporters providing insights and commentary throughout the game. Don’t miss this exciting matchup and unique broadcast experience as the NFL playoffs get underway.
Rer, voiced by Diana Zermeño, has been a significant presence in Nickelodeon’s history of broadcasting NFL games. The recent wild-card matchup between the Texans and Chargers marked the network’s sixth NFL game airing since 2021. Notably, these games have been reserved for postseason broadcasts or special occasions like Christmas Day throughout Nickelodeon’s programming history. Moreover, Nickelodeon also had the privilege of broadcasting Super Bowl 58, an event that was televised by its affiliated network, CBS. Let’s take a closer look at the NFL games that Nickelodeon has broadcasted in the past:
– Jan. 10, 2021: New Orleans Saints 21, Chicago Bears 9
– Jan. 16, 2022: San Francisco 49ers 23, Dallas Cowboys 17
– Dec. 25, 2022: Los Angeles Rams 51, Denver Broncos 14
– Dec. 25, 2023: Las Vegas Raiders 20, Kansas City Chiefs 14
– Feb. 11, 2024: Kansas City Chiefs 25, San Francisco 49ers 22 (OT)
– Jan. 11, 2025: Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Chargers
As the NFL playoffs approach, there is growing anticipation and speculation over which playoff team poses the most significant threat to become Super Bowl champions. The NFL playoffs are scheduled to commence on Jan. 11 with the Super Wild Card Weekend and culminate with Super Bowl 59 on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.
Here is the schedule for the upcoming Wild Card Weekend, all times are Eastern:
Saturday, Jan. 11
– Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans, 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS
– Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens, 8 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video
Sunday, Jan. 12
– Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
– Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox
– Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8 p.m. ET, NBC
Monday, Jan. 13
– Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
Following the Wild Card Weekend, the Divisional Round will take place on Saturday, Jan. 18 and Sunday, Jan. 19, with multiple AFC and NFC divisional games scheduled each day. The NFL Conference Championship Round is set for Sunday, Jan. 26, featuring the NFC championship game at 3 p.m. followed by the AFC championship game at 6:30 p.m.
Lastly, Super Bowl 59 is slated for Feb. 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. The grand event will be broadcasted on FOX.
