NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
Super Bowl champion head coach Tony Dungy challenged the NFL’s schedule for its playoff games in the divisional round.
NFL fans were anxiously awaiting the outcome of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game against the Houston Texans on Monday night, with the winner hitting the road to face the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Two divisional round games will be played on Saturday and two more on Sunday. The two conference championship games will be played the following Sunday.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts reacts after giving up a first quarter touchdown to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI on February 4, 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Dungy wrote on social media that the schedule was unfair.
“The NFL playoff schedule isn’t fair. It might produce good ratings, but it’s not fair,” he wrote on
“In the AFC, the Bills will have to travel to Denver in a short week. Why? Because there is an AFC Wild Card game Monday night. The Texans will play in Pittsburgh. The winner will automatically have a short week and travel to New England. Why?”
Dungy stressed that Monday night games would not take place in Week 18 because of the problems it could create for a potential playoff team.
Josh Hines-Allen of the Jacksonville Jaguars sacks Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills during the third quarter of the AFC Wild Card playoff game at EverBank Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
BEARS’ BEN JOHNSON POURS GASOLINE ON PACKERS RIVALRY: ‘I DON’T LIKE THIS TEAM’
However, the Wild Card Round matchups took place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
“Several years ago, the league did away with Monday night games in Week 18 of the regular season because it created a disadvantage if one of those teams made the playoffs. Now we’re creating that disadvantage,” Dungy added.
“The Wild Card round should consist of 3 games on Saturday and 3 games on Sunday. Then try to schedule the divisional games so that the teams get equal rest. Don’t force San Francisco, Buffalo and Houston or Pittsburgh to play the most important game of their season in a short week just for the TV ratings. It’s not fair!”
Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass during the second quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
Player safety is sure to come up in the offseason, as the NFL could push for another regular-season game and push back the Super Bowl.
