NFL Wild Card Round Recap: Close Contests and Playoff Momentum

The NFL Wild Card Weekend delivered an exciting start to the 2026 postseason with competitive games, strategic defensive performances, and clutch offensive plays that set the stage for the Divisional Round. Here’s a full recap of the action and what it means for the road to Super Bowl LX.

🏈 NFC Wild Card Results

Los Angeles Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31

The Rams advanced with a close road win against the Panthers, overcoming late-game pressure to secure their spot in the second round.

Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27

In a dramatic comeback at , the Bears erased a significant deficit to edge the Packers and move on to the Divisional Round.

San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19

The defending NFC champions were ousted as the 49ers sealed a hard-fought victory thanks to a late touchdown drive. San Francisco will travel next week for their divisional matchup.

Seattle, as the top NFC seed, had a bye this weekend and will host in the next round.

🏈 AFC Wild Card Results

Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24

In a tight game in Florida, the Bills scored late to clinch the victory and advance.

New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3

New England’s defense was the story of this matchup, holding the Chargers to a single field goal in a dominant performance.

Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6

The Texans’ defense controlled the game, leading to a decisive victory over the Steelers to punch their ticket to the next round.

The No. 1 AFC seed, the Denver Broncos, entered the postseason with a first-round bye.

🔜 Divisional Round Matchups

The results from the Wild Card Round set up an intriguing Divisional Round slate with games on January 17–18, 2026:

AFC

Buffalo Bills @ Denver Broncos (Top seed facing road winner)
Houston Texans @ New England Patriots

NFC

The winners of these matchups will move on to the Conference Championships on January 25, with the ultimate goal of reaching Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

📊 Analysis & What to Watch

The Bears’ comeback and the 49ers’ upset of the defending champs highlight how momentum and clutch execution played a key role in determining winners.
Strong defensive performances by the Patriots and Texans suggest that defense could be a defining factor in the Divisional Round and beyond.
With top seeds like the Broncos and Seahawks awaiting challengers, the upcoming matchups promise high stakes and strategic depth.

Conclusion

The Wild Card Round delivered the excitement expected of NFL playoff football — close games, impactful defensive showings, and playoff momentum swings. As the field narrows, the intensity and storylines only continue to grow on the road to the Super Bowl.