🏈 NFL Daily Report | Key American Football News (January 12, 2026)

The NFL Wild Card Round delivered thrilling playoff action yesterday, with major upsets, dominant performances, and storylines that will shape the road to Super Bowl LX.

🏆 Texans Make Franchise History

The Houston Texans continued their remarkable postseason run by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 30–6 in the AFC Wild Card game.

Houston’s defense was the star of the night, forcing multiple turnovers and scoring defensive touchdowns, including a 33-yard fumble return by Sheldon Rankins.

This victory marked the Texans’ first-ever road playoff win in franchise history and sent them into the divisional round with momentum.

🧠 Patriots Snap Playoff Drought

In New England, the Patriots secured their first playoff victory in seven years with a 16–3 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Second-year quarterback Drake Maye threw a touchdown to Hunter Henry, while the Patriots’ defense dominated, sacking Justin Herbert six times and stifling the Chargers’ offense.

Maye finished with 268 passing yards and showed poise in his first postseason start.

🏈 Other Wild Card Highlights

The San Francisco 49ers upset the Philadelphia Eagles 23–19, with Brock Purdy connecting with Christian McCaffrey for a late go-ahead touchdown.

Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills to a 27–24 comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, marking their first road playoff victory in over three decades.

The Chicago Bears erased an 18-point halftime deficit to beat the Green Bay Packers 31–27, securing their first playoff win in 15 years.

😢 Injuries and Player News

Wildcard weekend also brought tough news off the scoreboard: 49ers tight end George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles and is out for the season, dealing a significant blow to San Francisco’s offense moving forward.

📅 What’s Next in the Playoffs

With the Wild Card round complete, the NFL moves into the Divisional Round, setting marquee matchups that include the Texans taking on the New England Patriots, the Bills facing the Denver Broncos, the 49ers set to battle the Seattle Seahawks, and the Bears matched with the Los Angeles Rams.