Honestly, if you missed the action this past week, you missed some of the most chaotic football we’ve seen in years. We’re sitting right in the middle of January 2026, and the dust is finally settling on a Wild Card weekend that basically set the record books on fire. People keep searching for the latest national football league football scores, but the numbers on the screen don't even begin to describe the sheer insanity that went down on the turf.
Take the Chicago Bears, for example.
They were down by 18 points against the Green Bay Packers. 18 points! In the playoffs, that’s usually a death sentence. But Caleb Williams decided he wasn't done yet, throwing a 25-yard dime to DJ Moore with less than two minutes left to cap off a 31-27 comeback. It was their first playoff win in fifteen years. The atmosphere at Soldier Field was less like a football game and more like a collective religious experience.
Breaking Down the Wild Card National Football League Football Scores
If you’re looking for a quick recap of how we got to the Divisional Round, here is the raw data from the weekend that just wrapped up. No fluff, just the scores that ended seasons.
📖 Related: Heisman Trophy Nominees 2024: The Year the System Almost Broke
- Los Angeles Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31: A total shootout that came down to the wire.
- Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27: The aforementioned miracle in the Midway.
- Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24: Josh Allen did Josh Allen things, and Jacksonville just couldn't keep pace in the final drive.
- San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19: The 49ers played "bully ball" and sent the defending champs packing early.
- New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3: A defensive masterclass that made Justin Herbert look human.
- Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6: Total domination from start to finish.
The 49ers victory was particularly bittersweet. Brock Purdy finally got his revenge in Philadelphia, throwing for 262 yards and two scores. But it cost them. Seeing George Kittle carted off with an Achilles injury sucked the air out of the stadium. You’ve gotta wonder if San Francisco has enough left in the tank to survive without their emotional leader on the field.
Why the Texans' Blowout Matters
While everyone is talking about the close games, the Texans smashing the Steelers 30-6 is the result that actually tells us the most about the current state of the league. It was the first road playoff win in their franchise history. Think about that for a second. They didn't just win; they suffocated Pittsburgh, holding them to 175 total yards.
Houston’s defense is playing at a level that should make every other coordinator in the AFC lose sleep. They didn't allow a single touchdown. Not one. If you’re tracking national football league football scores to find a "dark horse" for the Super Bowl, the Texans are basically screaming for your attention right now.
👉 See also: When Was the MLS Founded? The Chaotic Truth About American Soccer's Rebirth
What's Next: The Divisional Round Matchups
The bracket is set for January 17th and 18th. If the Wild Card round was the appetizer, this is the main course. We have the heavy hitters coming off their bye weeks—the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks—waiting to see if the survivors of last week have anything left.
Saturday, January 17th
First up, we have the Buffalo Bills heading into the thin air of Empower Field at Mile High to take on the top-seeded Denver Broncos. Denver has been a juggernaut at home, and the oddsmakers have them as a slim 1-point favorite. Then, later that night, it’s a classic NFC West rivalry: the 49ers at the Seahawks. Seattle took the last meeting 13-3 to clinch the No. 1 seed, so the Niners are walking into a hornets' nest.
Sunday, January 18th
Sunday starts with the Texans traveling to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots. This is a fascinating matchup because it’s the league's hottest defense against a New England team that just smothered the Chargers. To wrap it all up, the Los Angeles Rams visit the Chicago Bears. Experts are actually predicting this could be the highest-scoring playoff game in history, with some bold projections putting the total score in the 90s.
✨ Don't miss: Navy Notre Dame Football: Why This Rivalry Still Hits Different
How to Track Live Scores Without the Lag
Look, we've all been there. You're trying to check the national football league football scores on a slow app while your neighbor is already screaming because their stream is thirty seconds ahead. If you want the fastest updates, the official NFL app is usually the safest bet, but "The Score" and "PFF" are often quicker with the actual drive-by-drive data.
One thing people often get wrong is relying solely on social media for score updates. 2026 has seen a massive rise in "spoiler" accounts that post fake final scores to mess with bettors. Stick to the verified sources.
Actionable Steps for the Divisional Round
If you're planning on following the games this weekend, here's how to stay ahead of the curve:
- Monitor the Injury Reports: Specifically, keep an eye on George Kittle (SF) and Sam Darnold (SEA). Darnold was added to the report late Thursday with an oblique issue, which could change the entire dynamic of that Saturday night game.
- Watch the Betting Lines: The Bills vs. Broncos line has been flickering between -1 and pick-em. When a line is that tight, it usually means the "sharps" are split, signaling a game that will likely be decided by a single turnover.
- Sync Your Audio: If you're watching on a delay, use an app like "TunedIn" to find the local radio broadcast. It’s often faster than the 4K video streams and provides much better tactical analysis than the national TV crews.
- Check the Weather: Denver in mid-January is no joke. Forecasts are calling for light snow and wind gusts up to 20 mph, which usually favors the team with the better ground game—in this case, the Broncos.
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting narrow. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just someone checking the national football league football scores for your office pool, this weekend is shaping up to be legendary.