The dust has finally settled on one of the most chaotic Wild Card rounds in recent memory, and if you’re asking what's the score of the nfl football games, you probably missed a couple of heart attacks disguised as goal-line stands. We just watched the defending champs get bounced, a rookie quarterback stage an 18-point comeback, and a legendary career potentially flicker out in the Pennsylvania cold.
Honestly, the bracket looks like a different world than it did a week ago.
The Houston Texans didn't just win; they dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6. It was brutal. Aaron Rodgers, under the lights at Acrisure Stadium, looked every bit his age as Houston’s defense racked up four sacks and two defensive touchdowns. If that was the end for Rodgers, it was a quiet exit for a Hall of Fame career. On the flip side, the Texans are riding a 10-game winning streak that has them looking like a legitimate AFC threat.
Real-Time Check: What's the score of the nfl football games?
The Wild Card round wrapped up with some scorelines that oddsmakers in Vegas are still scratching their heads over. Here is the wreckage from the last few days:
- Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6: A defensive clinic by Houston that ended the Steelers' season in embarrassing fashion.
- New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3: Defense was the name of the game in Foxborough, with New England’s pass rush completely neutralizing Justin Herbert.
- San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19: Brock Purdy got his revenge in Philly, tossing a late 4-yard TD to Christian McCaffrey to dethrone the defending Super Bowl champs.
- Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24: Josh Allen put the team on his back with a late 1-yard touchdown run to secure Buffalo’s first road playoff win since the 90s.
- Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27: Caleb Williams officially arrived. Down 21-3 at half, the rookie led a 25-point fourth-quarter explosion to stun the Pack.
- Los Angeles Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31: A back-and-forth slugfest where Matthew Stafford’s experience barely eked out a win against a gritty Panthers squad.
The Caleb Williams Phenomenon in Chicago
Let’s talk about that Bears game for a second because it was insane. Most people had written Chicago off by the second quarter. 21-3 is a death sentence for most rookie quarterbacks in their playoff debut. But Ben Johnson has this team playing with a weird kind of "true belief."
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Williams ended the night with 361 yards and two late touchdowns. His 25-yard dart to DJ Moore with 1:43 left was a "wow" moment that basically signaled a changing of the guard in the NFC North. Jordan Love tried a desperation heave as time expired, but Jaquan Brisker swatted it down, and Soldier Field nearly shook off its foundation. It’s the first time the Bears have tasted a playoff win since 2010.
Why the Eagles Collapsed
Philadelphia is going to be dissecting the 23-19 loss to the Niners for months. It wasn't just the score; it was the vibe. Jalen Hurts only managed 168 yards passing. The offense looked totally stuck in the mud, gaining a measly 36 yards in the entire third quarter.
Then you had the sideline drama. A.J. Brown and Nick Sirianni had to be separated by "Big Dom" DiSandro. When your star receiver is ripping off his helmet and screaming at the head coach during a playoff game, things usually aren't going well. San Francisco didn't even have George Kittle for half the game after an Achilles injury, and they still found a way to win with a trick-play touchdown from Jauan Jennings to McCaffrey.
Looking Ahead: The Divisional Round Schedule
Now that we know what's the score of the nfl football games from the opening round, the bracket is set for some heavyweight matchups. The top seeds are finally coming off their bye weeks, and the rest of the field is already bruised.
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Saturday, January 17
In the early window, the Buffalo Bills (13-5) head to the thin air of Colorado to face the top-seeded Denver Broncos (14-3) at 4:30 PM EST. Later that night, the San Francisco 49ers (13-5) travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks (14-3) at 8:00 PM EST.
Sunday, January 18
The AFC continues with the Houston Texans (13-5) visiting Foxborough for a showdown with the New England Patriots (15-3) at 3:00 PM EST. To close out the weekend, the Los Angeles Rams (13-5) go back into the cold to face the Chicago Bears (12-6) at 6:30 PM EST.
The Underdog Narrative
Every year we talk about momentum, but this year it feels different. Houston and Chicago are both playing like teams that don't know they're supposed to be "rebuilding" or "young." Houston's defense is legitimately scary right now. They held Pittsburgh to 175 total yards. That's not a fluke; that's a statement.
New England, however, is a different beast. Jerod Mayo has that defense playing at a level we haven't seen in years. Holding the Chargers to 3 points in a playoff game is nearly impossible in the modern NFL, yet they did it. If Houston wants to keep this run going, they’re going to have to figure out how to score on a team that refuses to give up the big play.
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Key Takeaways for Your Bracket
If you're tracking these games for a pool or just to stay informed, keep an eye on the injury reports this week. George Kittle’s Achilles injury is a massive blow for San Francisco. Even if they beat Seattle, playing without the league’s most versatile tight end is a tall order.
Also, watch the weather in Denver and Chicago. We’re looking at sub-zero temperatures for both the Bills-Broncos and Rams-Bears games. Matthew Stafford is a veteran who can handle the cold, but that Rams offense relies heavily on timing and speed. A frozen turf at Soldier Field might be the "12th man" the Bears need to reach the NFC Championship.
The road to Super Bowl LX is narrowing. We started with 14 teams, and now only eight remain. Based on the Wild Card chaos, expect the unexpected in the Divisional Round.
To stay ahead of the next set of games, make sure to monitor the active roster moves for the 49ers and Seahawks, as Sam Darnold's oblique tweak could shift the betting lines significantly before Saturday's kickoff.