The NFL postseason begins this weekend with a slate of six tantalising wildcard matchups, headlined by a historic renewal of one of American football's fiercest rivalries. The Chicago Bears, led by rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, host the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, seeking their first playoff victory over their division foe since a 33-14 win in December 1941.
Historic Rivalry Takes Centre Stage
The spotlight shines brightest on the NFC North showdown at Soldier Field. The Bears' sole postseason triumph against the Packers came over eight decades ago, a week after the attack on Pearl Harbor, powered by a dominant ground game. To break the curse, Chicago will look to its modern backfield duo of D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai to replicate that formula, easing the pressure on Williams in his playoff debut.
The key for Chicago's defence will be safety Kevin Byard. The veteran leader of a unit that led the NFL with 23 interceptions and 33 total takeaways, Byard's seven picks this season have been instrumental. Green Bay's path to victory involves patience: establishing the run to frustrate Chicago's big-play defence before unleashing quarterback Jordan Love's deep connection with receiver Christian Watson.
Quarterbacks Under the Microscope
Elsewhere, quarterback performance will be decisive. In Buffalo, all eyes are on Josh Allen. The Bills' five regular-season losses were directly linked to Allen facing relentless pressure, resulting in 16 sacks and multiple turnovers across those defeats. Protecting him from a savvy Jacksonville Jaguars defence is Buffalo's paramount task.
The Jaguars, however, boast the NFL's top run defence, allowing just 86 yards per game. Their mission is to stifle Bills running back James Cook, the 2025 rushing champion with 1,621 yards. This clash between the league's best rusher and best run-stopping unit is a classic postseason duel.
Star Power and Strategic Battles
The weekend features several other compelling narratives. The Los Angeles Rams travel to face the Carolina Panthers, hoping to avenge a regular-season upset. Rams receiver Puka Nacua, who led the league in receptions (129) and yards per game (107.2), will be central to their plans.
In a NFC Championship game rematch, the San Francisco 49ers visit the Philadelphia Eagles. The 49ers will lean heavily on the one-two punch of running back Christian McCaffrey and quarterback Brock Purdy's efficient deep passing. The Eagles counter with quarterback Jalen Hurts' designed runs, a tactic that proved devastating in their 31-7 conference title win over San Francisco in 2023.
The final Monday night game sees the Houston Texans, led by defensive menace Will Anderson Jr., visit the Pittsburgh Steelers. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud must improve his team's red-zone efficiency against a stout Steelers defence, while Pittsburgh will rely on a powerful, six-lineman running game to control the clock.
Full Wildcard Weekend Schedule & Predictions
Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers (Saturday, 9.30pm GMT)
Prediction: Rams over Panthers. Matthew Stafford must protect the ball against an aggressive Panthers defence, while Puka Nacua provides the game-breaking plays.
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1am GMT)
Prediction: Bears over Packers. Chicago's turnover-hungry defence and a balanced offensive attack secure a historic playoff win.
Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 6pm GMT)
Prediction: Jaguars over Bills. Jacksonville's elite run defence contains James Cook, forcing Josh Allen into costly mistakes under duress.
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 9.30pm GMT)
Prediction: Eagles over 49ers. Philadelphia's physicality and home-field advantage prove decisive in another playoff clash with their NFC rivals.
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots (Monday, 1am GMT)
Prediction: Patriots over Chargers. Likely MVP Drake Maye's ball security and New England's powerful jumbo-package running game overwhelm a banged-up Chargers offensive line.
Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers (Tuesday, 1.15am GMT)
Prediction: Texans over Steelers. Houston's formidable defence, anchored by Will Anderson Jr., contains Pittsburgh's offence and makes the critical late play.
