NFL Wild Card Sunday: Can the Eagles Defend Their Crown Against Purdy’s 49ers?

The road to Super Bowl LX has officially turned into a battlefield. After a Saturday that saw the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams punch their tickets to the Divisional Round, the NFL world is bracing for a Sunday tripleheader that could define the 2026 postseason.

Here is your "Pulse" check on the playoff bracket as of January 11, 2026.

1. Saturday Recaps: The Youth Movement is Real

Bears 31, Packers 27: In what fans are already calling the "Caleb Comeback," rookie QB Caleb Williams threw for 361 yards and a game-winning TD to DJ Moore. The Bears didn't just win; they officially ended the Packers' season in their own house.
Rams 34, Panthers 31: Matthew Stafford proved that experience matters. Despite a late surge by the Panthers, the Rams' veteran poise secured a narrow victory, setting up a potential clash with the Seahawks in the next round.

2. Today's Main Event: 49ers vs. Eagles (4:30 PM ET)

This is the game everyone circled on their calendars. The San Francisco 49ers travel to the "Linc" to face the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.

The Matchup: It’s Brock Purdy’s precision vs. Jalen Hurts’ dual-threat dominance. With the Eagles struggling with consistency late in the season and the 49ers coming off a tough loss to Seattle, this game is a coin flip.
The Pulse: Expect a defensive masterclass. Whoever wins the turnover battle at the line of scrimmage wins the game.

3. Tonight’s Primetime: Chargers at Patriots (8:00 PM ET)

The weekend closes with a clash of AFC titans at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots (14-3), the No. 2 seed, host Justin Herbert and the LA Chargers.

Draft Class Face-off: All eyes are on Patriots’ young QB Drake Maye as he makes his playoff debut against one of the league’s most elite arms in Herbert.

4. Early Result: Bills at Jaguars (1:00 PM ET)

As you read this, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are battling the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Bills are looking to prove they are more than just "regular season heroes," while Trevor Lawrence aims to lead the Jags back to the AFC elite.

The Playoff Bracket So Far:

Seed	NFC Team	Status	Seed	AFC Team	Status
1	Seahawks	Bye	1	Broncos	Bye
2	Bears	ADVANCED	2	Patriots	Playing Tonight
5	Rams	ADVANCED	3	Jaguars	In Progress