It’s an NFL tradition unlike any other.
For the sixth time in seven years, the Patriots will be hosting a divisional-round playoff game on a Saturday. The only time they haven’t since 2011 happened in 2012, when the Texans visited New England in the late-afternoon Sunday game.
Most of the games (2011 vs. Broncos, 2013 vs. Colts, 2016 vs. Texans, 2017 vs. Titans) have landed in the Saturday night slot. Two of them (2014 vs. Ravens and 2015 vs. Chiefs) started late Saturday afternoon.
With the conference championship games always landing on a Sunday, the AFC team that wins on Saturday has a one-day advantage over the AFC team that wins on Sunday.