The stage is officially set for the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs in the 2025-26 season, and for the first time in a really long time, the playoffs will not include the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, or Joe Burrow.
We're living in some wild times these days.
As crazy as it's going to be to have a postseason without some of the biggest superstars at the quarterback position, it sets the stage for other young stars to write their own stories. Wild Card weekend is always a loaded weekend of football, so let's not waste any time looking into the old cyrstal ball. Which teams are getting wins this weekend?
NFL picks and score predictions for every Wild Card round matchup
(5) Los Angeles Rams @ (4) Carolina Panthers
Saturday, January 10, 4:30 PM ET
This is one of the most hilarious matchups of Wild Card weekend, and it's the first matchup on the docket. Let's start off by talking about how we got to this game even being a possibility in the first place.
The Panthers got beat by the Buccaneers on Saturday night, which ended up not mattering at all, even though that game was being touted as a "for the division" type of game. Because the Rams lost in a stunner on Monday night last week to the Falcons, it ended up breathing new life into the Panthers' playoff hopes.
Even with a loss to the Bucs on Saturday, the Panthers rejoiced as the Falcons beat the Saints in Week 18 to send Carolina into the postseason as a division champion. Their prize is the opportunity to host the Los Angeles Rams, who might be the best Wild Card team to come out of either conference.
The Rams are just an absolutely absurd 10.5-point favorite on the road in this one, and what's funny about this particular matchup is that the Panthers have already beaten the Rams in Carolina this year. But can lightning strike twice in the same spot for this team?
I don't know that anyone is really banking on that happening. As fun as it would be to see the Panthers pull off an upset, the Rams are winning this one barring a total collapse offensively.
Prediction: Rams win 31-20
(7) Green Bay Packers @ (2) Chicago Bears
Saturday, January 10, 8 PM ET
Many people will argue that sequels are never as good as the original, but can I interest you in a trilogy? There have been some great trilogies in history, including the original Star Wars trilogy, Lord of the Rings, The Mighty Ducks...You know, stuff that's typically considered in the same realm.
All kidding aside, this rubber match between the Bears and Packers carries a ton of intrigue. Two division rivals going at it in the postseason after two games which already had some significant playoff-like atmospheres.
In the first matchup, the Packers were able to beat the Bears at Lambeau Field on a walk-off interception by Keisean Nixon. The Bears went on a little run right after that, winning the NFC North and putting an exclamation point on it with a come-from-behind win against the banged-up Packers just two weeks after they lost to them in Green Bay.
Now, both of these teams feel like they're limping into the playoffs a little bit. The Packers, especially. Green Bay won't have Micah Parsons, and Jordan Love was getting one more week of rest before he likely comes back into the mix for the postseason.
The Bears got beat in Chicago against the Lions, even though the Seahawks had solidified that #1 overall seed. It was still a disappointing end to the regular season for the Bears to have the Lions walk off with a field goal in Chicago, and that's not the taste you want lingering in your mouth as you get set to host another division rival.
Interestingly enough, the Packers are 1.5-point favorites on the road for this one. And if the Bears' offense struggles again in this one, I could see the pendulum swinging back in Green Bay's favor with Jordan Love's return to the lineup.
Prediction: Packers win 23-19
(6) Buffalo Bills @ (3) Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, January 11, 1:00 PM ET
If you're looking for the best bang for your buck on Wild Card weekend, it's got to be this game right here. The Jacksonville Jaguars just won the AFC South in the first year of the James Gladstone/Liam Coen era, and they currently look like they might be the most impressive all-around team in the NFL.
The Jags took care of business in Week 18 against the Tennessee Titans, their offense is rolling, they've been one of the hottest teams in the NFL for two months, and what's their reward for all of that? Well, they get to be the team to host the one quarterback no one in the NFL would want to face in the Wild Card round. Josh Allen is coming to Duval County.
While the Jaguars can counter with a Josh Allen of their own (Josh Hines-Allen, to be specific), this has to be considered the marquee matchup of the weekend overall. You have the reigning NFL MVP going on the road in what will end up being considered arguably the most pivotal postseason of his NFL career so far.
Allen's Buffalo Bills finished just behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East this year, but with no Mahomes, Herbert, or Burrow in the playoffs, the expectation for Allen is going to be to win it all. Otherwise, the narrative is going to be all about how he couldn't take advantage of seemingly a golden opportunity.
But the Jaguars don't care about that. They're going from being one of the worst teams in the NFL last year to one of the best all-around teams this year, and a dynamic operation, at that. The Jaguars are looking like a well-oiled machine at exactly the right time. Can that Buffalo defense actually slow them down?
The one factor in favor of the Bills right now, beyond Josh Allen, is the fact that they might have the most dangerous running game in the NFL. As much as I respect the Jaguars, I can't pick against the Bills in the opening round of the postseason. They're 1.5-point favorites and I just feel like Josh Allen will "will" them to victory.
Prediction: Bills win 31-27
(5) San Francisco 49ers @ (4) Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, January 11, 4:30 PM ET
Here is the matchup on Wild Card weekend where the unstoppable force meets the immovable object.
In one corner, you have the Philadelphia Eagles, whose offense has been one of the worst in the NFL this season when it comes to three-and-outs. In fact, considering the payroll of their players and their history of production, nobody should be considered worse than them.
In the other corner, you have the San Francisco 49ers, who have the fewest sacks of any team in the NFL. Which one is going to give in this matchup?
The Eagles are the reigning Super Bowl champions, but they don't look ready to defend their title. More than just an inconsistent offense, the Eagles have looked incompetent on that side of the ball for the majority of the year, struggling not only with three-and-outs, but turnovers as well.
The 49ers have dealt with injuries all year, but they have endured. They've been one of the most resilient teams in the NFL, and Robert Saleh is such a valuable piece for them to have at this time of year. In fact, this is a chess match of all chess matches. Kyle Shanahan and his offense going up against the vaunted Vic Fangio scheme, and the Nick Sirianni offense going up against the Saleh defense.
It's a must-see matchup in every possible way. I think this one will come down to which team can hit the explosives and flip the field. The Eagles' Super Bowl pedigree matters, but against the 49ers, it really doesn't. This is a 49ers team that has been there before as well.
So far, I've picked all road teams. I'm not sure I like that, although this is like a test where you've got like four "As" circled in a row, and you start to question yourself. I'm not going to not fill in another "A" just because I don't want a fifth one. The Eagles are 3.5-point favorites at home and I think they can win a defensive slugfest.
Prediction: Eagles win 20-17
(7) Los Angeles Chargers @ (2) New England Patriots
Sunday, January 11, 8:00 PM ET
The Los Angeles Chargers have been seemingly looking past the New England Patriots for a while at this point. The Chargers decided early in the week that they were not going to play starters against the Broncos, basically conceding the 7th seed barring the unexpected happening in the Mile High City on Sunday.
After the game, a Chargers player headed to the locker room said, "See you in two weeks," once again confirming that this team is overlooking the task in front of them. The Patriots are a great team, one of the best in the NFL, but the Chargers seem to be treating them like a foregone conclusion.
It has been a war of attrition for the Chargers this season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. This team has been without Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, and star quarterback Justin Herbert has played through a sugery on his non-throwing hand. It's been another year of resilience for the Chargers, who wanted to reach the playoffs as healthy as possible.
Even if it meant a road trip to New England.
The Patriots are early 3.5-point favorites against the Chargers, and I really don't hate this matchup at all for either team. The Chargers have the type of defense to make life difficult on Drake Maye, but Maye has the type of talent to shred any defense.
The Patriots have been criticized for playing one of the "softest" schedules in the NFL, but that doesn't really matter right now. Every team is battle tested in different ways. It'll be interesting to see how much having the starters rest in Week 18 actually helps Los Angeles.
I do believe the Chargers can go on the road and pull off an upset, but I'm not predicting it this week. I think the Patriots find a way.
Prediction: Patriots win 24-23
(5) Houston Texans @ (4) Pittsburgh Steelers
Monday, January 12, 8:00 PM ET
Wild Card weekend concludes with a game that has the potential to bring some serious old-school Big Ten vibes. Some real 2016 Iowa-Wisconsin type stuff. The Houston Texans boast the best defense in the NFL, while the Pittsburgh Steelers have been a mixed bag among mixed bags this season.
The Texans are not exactly firing on all cylinders in every phase of the game heading into the postseason, but I also don't think it's fair to say that this team is really missing any key ingredients. They have the potential to be the most dangerous Wild Card team in the AFC, and the Steelers are fixing to find out.
With Houston's stellar pass rush and defense, the one asset you absolutely have to have is a battle-tested quarterback, which the Steelers have. The investments this team made in Aaron Rodgers and a number of other old players have paid off. The Steelers are AFC North champs after one of the wildest games you will ever see on Sunday Night Football.
Pittsburgh was able to outlast the Baltimore Ravens, Aaron Rodgers led them to a division title, and Mike Tomlin dodged some really uncomfortable questions -- for the time being -- about his future with the team.
The opening line for this game has the Texans as 2.5-point favorites. I would say that's fair based on the way their defense has played all year. Even playing in Pittsburgh, it's going to take a massive effort from this Steelers team to take the Texans out.
Just like a number of other games on the docket for this weekend, I could see this one being a low-scoring barn-burner, but in favor of Houston.
Prediction: Texans win 23-20