Wild Card weekend just wrapped up, and honestly, if you didn't have a heart rate monitor on, you weren't watching closely enough. We just saw six games that basically reset the hierarchy of the entire NFL. While everyone was busy talking about the big-name favorites, the actual nfl football scores around the league told a completely different story.
The playoffs are a different beast. Records don't matter once the whistle blows. We saw teams with double-digit wins crumble under the pressure of a 60-minute window, and "underdogs" who looked like they were just happy to be there suddenly playing like world-beaters.
The Wild Card Results That Shook the Bracket
Let's look at the damage. The scoreboard wasn't kind to the home teams this time around.
The biggest shocker had to be the Houston Texans absolutely dismantling the Pittsburgh Steelers. A 30-6 scoreline in the playoffs is rare. It’s embarrassing. C.J. Stroud looked like a ten-year veteran out there, throwing for 250 yards while the Steelers' offense looked stuck in the mud. It wasn't just a win; it was a statement. Houston isn't "up and coming" anymore. They are here.
Over in the NFC, things got weird in Chicago. The Bears managed to hold off the Green Bay Packers 31-27. If you’re a Packers fan, that one is going to sting all offseason. Jordan Love had moments of brilliance, but Caleb Williams and the Bears' offense did just enough to keep the lead when it mattered.
Then you had the San Francisco 49ers ending the Philadelphia Eagles' season with a 23-19 win. The Eagles looked like a shell of themselves. Nick Sirianni and A.J. Brown had a visible blowout on the sidelines, and honestly, that seemed to be the theme of the night for Philly—frustration and missed opportunities.
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Breaking Down the Numbers: Score Summary
If you missed the action, here is the raw data of how the scoreboard looked across the league:
- Los Angeles Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31: A total shootout where Matthew Stafford showed he still has the "clutch" gene.
- Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27: The rivalry lived up to the hype, but Chicago's defense made the final stop.
- Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24: Josh Allen put the team on his back in the fourth quarter.
- San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19: A defensive slugfest that saw the defending champs go home early.
- New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3: Drake Maye won his playoff debut in a game that was basically a punting competition.
- Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6: Pure dominance from start to finish.
Why the Patriots' Score is Deceiving
Look at that 16-3 score for the Patriots. Most people see that and think "boring." But if you actually watched the game, New England's defense was terrifying. They held the Chargers to just a single field goal.
Drake Maye didn't have to be a superhero. He just had to be smart. He threw for 268 yards and managed the clock like a pro. This version of the Patriots reminds me of the early 2000s—suffocating defense and a young QB who doesn't turn the ball over.
On the flip side, the Chargers' offense was non-existent. It’s one thing to lose; it’s another to not even threaten the end zone for four quarters.
The Bills-Jaguars Nail-Biter
Buffalo escaped. That's the only way to put it. A 27-24 score against Jacksonville shouldn't have been that close, but the Bills' defense is currently a bit of a hospital ward. They are banged up.
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Josh Allen had 273 yards through the air, but the running game was inconsistent. They’re going to need more than that when they head to Denver to face the Broncos next. If the Bills play like they did against the Jags, the Broncos' defense—which has been one of the best in the league this season—is going to eat them alive.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Scores
People love to look at the final score and assume they know what happened. They don’t.
Take the Rams vs. Panthers game. The score says 34-31, which looks like two high-powered offenses. In reality, the Rams' special teams gave up a massive return that gifted Carolina 7 points. Without that, it’s a blowout.
Conversely, the 49ers vs. Eagles game was much closer than 23-19 feels. Philadelphia had the ball in the red zone with a chance to win, and a dropped pass by A.J. Brown is the only reason they aren't moving on. One play. One catch. That’s the difference between a "valiant effort" and a "disappointing season."
Looking Ahead: The Divisional Matchups
Now that we’ve digested the nfl football scores around the league, we have to look at what’s next. The "big boys" are coming off their byes, and they are well-rested.
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Saturday, January 17
Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (4:30 p.m. ET)
The Broncos are currently 1.5-point favorites. Denver is 14-3 and has been resting while Buffalo was fighting for their life against Jacksonville. Bo Nix has been surprisingly steady, but can he handle the playoff pressure?
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (8:00 p.m. ET)
A classic NFC West battle. Seattle is the #1 seed for a reason, and they are 7.5-point favorites. The 49ers just lost George Kittle to an injury, which is a massive blow to their offensive scheme.
Sunday, January 18
Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 p.m. ET)
The two "young guns" go at it. Stroud vs. Maye. The Patriots are 3-point favorites at home. This game is going to be won in the trenches. New England's front seven is the best Houston has seen all year.
Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 p.m. ET)
The Bears are home underdogs (+3.5) despite being the higher seed. Vegas clearly trusts Stafford more than Williams in a do-or-die scenario.
Actionable Insights for the Next Round
If you're following these results to get an edge on your bracket or just to sound smarter at the water cooler, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the Injury Reports: The 49ers losing Kittle and the Bills' defensive injuries are bigger factors than the actual scores from last week.
- Home Field is Real: Seattle and Denver are incredibly loud stadiums. In the playoffs, that noise causes false starts and communication errors that don't show up in the box score but absolutely decide games.
- The "Hot Team" Factor: Houston has won nine straight games. Momentum is a real thing in January. Sometimes a team just catches fire at the right time.
The divisional round is where the pretenders usually get weeded out. We saw some lucky escapes in the Wild Card round, but you can't "luck" your way past the #1 seeds. Keep an eye on those early lines, because the public is likely overreacting to the high scores from last weekend while ignoring the defensive masterclasses we saw in New England and San Francisco.
To get the most out of the upcoming weekend, verify the active status of key defensive starters for Buffalo and San Francisco. Those rosters are currently fluid, and a single "Out" designation on Friday afternoon could swing the betting lines by two points or more before kickoff.