Pats to Play in Wild-Card Game, 49ers Get NFC’s No. 1 Seed

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots will be playing in the postseason a week earlier than usual this year. The defending Super Bowl champs open the playoffs during wild-card weekend for the first time since 2009 after they lost 27-24 to Miami and Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-21 to earn a first-round bye.

Kansas City's victory also locked Houston into the No. 4 seed, and the Texans will host the Buffalo Bills next weekend.

In the NFC, San Francisco earned home-field advantage and a first-round bye with a 26-21 victory at Seattle.