The NFL postseason explodes into life this weekend with a slate of wildcard games packed with historic rivalries, quarterback duels, and ground-game battles. The spotlight shines brightly on a classic NFC North confrontation as the Chicago Bears, led by rookie Caleb Williams, host the Green Bay Packers, aiming for a first playoff victory over their arch-rivals in over eight decades.
Saturday Showdowns: Rams vs Panthers and the Historic Rivalry
The action begins on Saturday with the Los Angeles Rams travelling to face the Carolina Panthers. The Rams' hopes hinge on quarterback Matthew Stafford's ball security. In their five regular-season losses, Stafford committed seven turnovers, including two costly interceptions in a November defeat to these same Panthers.
Carolina, despite being heavy underdogs, will rely on the aggressive, fourth-down playcalling that stunned the Rams earlier. Their key to another upset may be replicating that daring approach. All eyes will be on Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, the NFL's leader in receptions (129) and yards per game (107.2), who earned Pro Football Focus's highest-ever grade for a wideout.
Bears and Packers: A Playoff History Lesson
The evening's marquee matchup sees the Green Bay Packers visit the Chicago Bears. The Bears are seeking their first postseason win against Green Bay since a 33-14 victory on 14 December 1941. The strategy for Chicago mirrors that historic win: establish the run. A strong performance from running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai could ease the playoff debut of quarterback Caleb Williams.
For the Packers, patience is key. They must methodically run the ball to frustrate Chicago's big-play defense, which led the NFL in interceptions (23) and total takeaways (33), before unleashing quarterback Jordan Love's deep threat. The leader of that turnover-hungry Bears secondary is safety Kevin Byard, who snagged seven interceptions this season.
Sunday's Coin Flips and Heavyweight Contests
Sunday opens with the Buffalo Bills facing the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bills' fate rests on protecting star quarterback Josh Allen. A thread of pressure and sacks runs through Buffalo's five defeats, including an eight-sack game against Houston. Allen's performance under duress will be decisive.
The Jaguars' path to victory involves stopping Bills running back James Cook, the 2025 rushing champion with 1,621 yards. Jacksonville boasts the NFL's top run defense, allowing just 86 yards per game. This clash between the league's best rusher and best run stoppers is a true toss-up.
Later, the San Francisco 49ers meet the Philadelphia Eagles in a NFC Championship game rematch. The 49ers must leverage their dual-threat attack, feeding running back Christian McCaffrey while exploiting Brock Purdy's league-leading success rate on deep passes. The Eagles will counter by utilising Jalen Hurts's legs, a tactic that proved devastating in their 31-7 win over San Francisco in the 2023 playoffs. The availability of 49ers left tackle Trent Williams, returning from a hamstring injury, is crucial.
Monday Night Finale and Chargers-Patriots Clash
The Sunday night game features the Los Angeles Chargers at the New England Patriots. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert must release the ball quickly behind an offensive line that allowed a league-high 129 hits. The Patriots, meanwhile, will lean on a powerful jumbo package run game, averaging 8.3 yards per carry from such formations in their last four games. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, the likely MVP, must maintain his impressive ball security against a Chargers defense with 19 interceptions.
The wildcard weekend concludes on Monday night with the Houston Texans visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Texans must improve their red-zone efficiency against a stout Steelers defense. Pittsburgh's plan is a fast start to energise their home crowd and put pressure on the Texans' formidable defense, anchored by defensive end Will Anderson Jr.
With narratives of historic droughts, MVP candidates, and defensive juggernauts, this wildcard weekend sets the stage for a thrilling march towards the Super Bowl.
