NFL WILD CARD PLAYOFF SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced Sunday the schedule of sites, dates and times for the National Football League Wild Card games of January 8-9 (all times Central):

NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND

Saturday, January 8

NFC: 3:30 PM CT

St. Louis (8-8) at Seattle (9-7) (ABC-TV)

AFC: 7:00 PM CT

New York Jets (10-6) at San Diego (12-4) (ABC-TV)

Sunday, January 9

AFC: 12:00 PM CT

Denver (10-6) at Indianapolis (12-4) (CBS-TV)

**NFC: 3:30 PM CT

Minnesota (8-8) at Green Bay (10-6) (FOX-TV)**

The NFL Divisional Playoffs will be played on Saturday and Sunday, January 15-16; AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, January 23; and Super Bowl XXXIX at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday, February 6.

The annual AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, featuring the NFL All-Stars, will be played in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday, February 13.

**

The Packers and Vikings have met 87 times -- but never in the postseason. That will change Sunday, when the bitter NFC North rivals face off at Lambeau Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (CT).

Green Bay owns a 44-42-1 series record after sweeping the Vikings this year, including a come-from-behind 34-31 triumph in Week 16 with the division title on the line.

The Packers storm into the playoffs with momentum after beating the rival Vikings and Bears in back-to-back weeks, while Minnesota limps in with four losses in the last five games.

**

Once teams are ranked for the playoffs, positions do not change:

National Football Conference

1. Philadelphia (East Division champion)

2. Atlanta (South Division champion)

3. Green Bay (North Division champion)

4. Seattle (West Division champion)

5. St. Louis

6. Minnesota

American Football Conference

1. Pittsburgh (North Division champion)

2. New England (East Division champion)

3. Indianapolis (South Division champion)

4. San Diego (West Division champion)

5. New York Jets

6. Denver