The regular season just died a spectacular death, and if you aren't staring at the NFC standings with wild card seeds in utter disbelief, you probably weren't watching. Honestly, this is one of those years where the "experts" look like they were throwing darts at a map while blindfolded. We’ve got a sub-.500 division winner hosting a 12-win powerhouse, a rookie quarterback leading a historic fourth-quarter comeback, and the defending conference champions sitting at home after a brutal Sunday afternoon in Philly.
It’s messy. It’s loud. It’s exactly what the NFL wants.
As of right now, January 16, 2026, the dust has finally settled on the Wild Card round, and the NFC bracket for the Divisional playoffs is set. But to understand where we’re going, you have to look at how weird the final NFC standings with wild card spots actually shook out.
The NFC Standings With Wild Card Teams That Actually Made It
The Seattle Seahawks (14-3) aren't just sitting at the top; they're looming over the rest of the conference like a final boss in a video game. By clinching the No. 1 seed, they earned that coveted week of rest, watching from their couches while everyone else battered each other into submission.
Behind them, the Chicago Bears (11-6) managed to snag the No. 2 seed. They didn't do it comfortably, though. They actually lost their regular-season finale to the Lions, but thanks to the Eagles tripping over their own feet against the Commanders, Chicago kept their spot.
Here is how the final seeding looked before the Wild Card madness started:
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- Seattle Seahawks (14-3) – NFC West Champions (Bye)
- Chicago Bears (11-6) – NFC North Champions
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) – NFC East Champions
- Carolina Panthers (8-9) – NFC South Champions
- Los Angeles Rams (12-5) – Wild Card
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5) – Wild Card
- Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) – Wild Card
Wait. Look at that No. 4 and No. 5 matchup. That’s the "NFC South Tax" in action. The Panthers won their division with a losing record, which meant the 12-win Rams had to travel to Charlotte. If you think that’s "fair," you probably also enjoy lukewarm coffee and traffic jams.
Wild Card Weekend: The 25-Point Miracle
If you missed the Bears vs. Packers game on January 10, I’m sorry. You missed history. Chicago was down by 15 points entering the fourth quarter. Most fans were already heading for the exits at Soldier Field. Then Caleb Williams decided to turn into a superhero.
Williams threw for 184 yards in the fourth quarter alone—more than his entire output in the first three quarters combined. He capped off a 25-6 scoring run in the final frame with a 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore with only 1:43 left on the clock. Final score: Bears 31, Packers 27. It was the third-largest fourth-quarter comeback in NFL playoff history.
What the NFC Standings With Wild Card Results Mean for the Divisional Round
The Wild Card round was a meat grinder. Three of the four games were decided by four points or fewer. The only team that really got handled was Philadelphia. The 49ers went into Lincoln Financial Field and reminded everyone why they were the most dangerous No. 6 seed in years, bouncing the Eagles with a 23-19 win.
Meanwhile, the Rams narrowly avoided an embarrassing upset against the Panthers. Despite being the much better team on paper, LA barely escaped with a 34-31 victory. That win was actually historic; it made the Rams the first team in NFL history to face every single team in their conference in the postseason at least twice.
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The Divisional Matchups Are Set
Now that the Wild Card dust has cleared, the NFC standings with wild card winners have reshuffled the bracket for this weekend’s games.
Saturday, January 17:
The San Francisco 49ers travel to Lumen Field to face the Seattle Seahawks (8:00 p.m. ET on FOX). This is the game everyone wanted. Division rivals. High stakes. Seattle has won seven straight, but the Niners just dismantled the Eagles.
Sunday, January 18:
The Los Angeles Rams head to Chicago to face the Bears (6:30 p.m. ET on NBC). The narrative here is all about the Bears' defense trying to stop the Puka Nacua and Davante Adams connection. Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has already gone on record saying it’s going to take an "exceptional effort" to slow them down.
Why the No. 7 Seed Matters More Than Ever
Let’s talk about the Packers for a second. Even though they lost to Chicago, the fact that they were even there as a 9-7-1 team shows how much the playoff expansion has changed the league. Some purists hate it. They think 14 teams is too many.
But honestly?
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Having a No. 7 seed keeps the middle of the NFC standings with wild card races alive until the final whistle of Week 18. The Packers rested their starters in a meaningless Week 18 loss to the Vikings because their seed was already locked. In the old system, they might have been eliminated weeks ago. Instead, we got a classic rivalry game in the first round that came down to the final two minutes.
Actionable Insights for the Divisional Round
If you're looking at the remaining field and wondering where to put your energy (or your bets), keep these reality-checks in mind:
- The "Home Field" Myth: Home teams didn't dominate Wild Card weekend. The 49ers won on the road, and the Rams almost lost on the road. Don't assume Seattle is safe just because they're at home.
- Health vs. Momentum: Seattle is fresh, but the 49ers are "hot." In the last five years, teams coming off a bye have struggled early in the first quarter of the Divisional round. Watch for a slow start from the Seahawks.
- The Caleb Williams Factor: If Chicago can protect the ball for the first three quarters, they are lethal. But they can’t afford to fall behind by 15 points against a Rams team that actually knows how to close out games.
The path to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is narrowing. The Seahawks are the favorites, but the NFC standings with wild card survivors—the Rams and the 49ers—are arguably playing better football right now than anyone else in the league.
Track the live injury reports for the Rams' secondary before Sunday's kickoff. If they are missing key pieces in the backfield, Caleb Williams might find another miracle in the freezing Chicago air.
Check your local listings for the FOX and NBC broadcasts this weekend. This is where the season actually begins.