Man, what a day. If you’re looking for scores in the NFL today, you probably already know the bracket is looking a lot different than it did forty-eight hours ago. We’ve had a mix of legacy-building performances and some absolute heartbreaks that are going to haunt fanbases for the next six months. Honestly, the Divisional Round always feels like the real "moving day" of the postseason, and Sunday delivered.
The biggest takeaway from the early window? The New England Patriots are back in the AFC Championship for the first time since 2018. They took care of business against the Houston Texans with a 28-16 win at a loud, freezing Gillette Stadium. It wasn't exactly a masterclass in clean football—Drake Maye fumbled twice and threw a pick—but their defense was a nightmare for C.J. Stroud.
The Patriots Smother Houston at Home
New England’s defense basically decided they weren't letting the Texans breathe. They forced five turnovers. Five! Carlton Davis was everywhere, snagging two interceptions himself. It’s kinda wild to see a rookie quarterback like Maye struggle with ball security and still come out with a 12-point win, but that's what happens when your defense turns the opposing QB into a turnover machine.
Houston actually kept it close for a bit. Ka’imi Fairbairn hit a 51-yarder late in the third to make it 21-16, and for a second there, it felt like the Texans might pull off a comeback. But the Pats’ secondary slammed the door. Stroud finished with four interceptions, which is just brutal for a guy who’s been so careful with the ball all year.
The final score of 28-16 sends the Patriots to Denver next week. That’s going to be a massive matchup against the Broncos.
Chaos at Soldier Field: Rams vs. Bears
As of right now, the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears are locked in a classic cold-weather slugfest at Soldier Field. It’s 20 degrees out there, and you can see the breath of every lineman on every snap.
The Rams got out to an early 7-0 lead thanks to a Kyren Williams four-yard touchdown run. It was one of those long, methodical drives that just saps the energy out of a stadium—14 plays, 85 yards, and over six minutes off the clock.
Chicago didn't blink, though. Caleb Williams showed that "it" factor everyone talks about, leading a 12-play drive of his own. He found DJ Moore on a 4th-and-3 for a touchdown to tie it up at 7-7. The game has been a back-and-forth defensive battle since then, with the Rams coming up with two massive 4th-down stops.
Looking Back at Saturday’s Madness
We can't talk about scores in the NFL today without mentioning what went down yesterday. The Denver Broncos outlasted the Buffalo Bills in a 33-30 overtime thriller.
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Poor Josh Allen. The guy is now 0-7 in overtime games.
The ending was controversial, to say the least. There’s a lot of talk about the Ja'Quan McMillian interception in OT. It looked like Brandin Cooks might have had it, but McMillian wrestled it away. The refs ruled it a pick, and Denver marched down for the winning field goal.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks absolutely dismantled the San Francisco 49ers, 41-6. Nobody saw that blowout coming. Seattle looks like the team to beat in the NFC right now, and they’ll host the winner of this Rams-Bears game next Sunday at Lumen Field.
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Quick Recap of the Weekend Scores
To keep it simple, here is how the scoreboard looks across the Divisional Round:
- New England Patriots 28, Houston Texans 16 (Final)
- Denver Broncos 33, Buffalo Bills 30 (Final/OT)
- Seattle Seahawks 41, San Francisco 49ers 6 (Final)
- Los Angeles Rams 7, Chicago Bears 7 (Currently In Progress)
What This Means for Next Week
The AFC Championship is set: New England Patriots at Denver Broncos.
The Broncos are going to be a bit shorthanded, though. News broke earlier that Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle in the win over Buffalo. That means Jarrett Stidham is likely the guy tasked with getting Denver to the Super Bowl. That changes the math significantly for bettors and fans alike.
In the NFC, the Seahawks are waiting. If the Bears win, they head to Seattle. If the Rams pull it out, we get an all-NFC West battle for a trip to Super Bowl LX.
If you're following the scores in the NFL today, the most important thing to watch is the health of the remaining quarterbacks. We’ve seen a lot of hits this weekend, and in the playoffs, depth is usually what decides who gets to lift the trophy in February.
Actionable Insights for the Conference Championships
- Watch the Injury Report in Denver: With Bo Nix out, the line for the AFC Championship is going to shift toward New England. Check the early week practice reports to see how Stidham is taking the first-team reps.
- Monitor the Seattle Weather: The Seahawks looked unstoppable in the rain/wind on Saturday. If the forecast for next Sunday looks messy, it heavily favors their ground game and aggressive defense.
- Value the Defense: This weekend proved that turnovers are the only stat that truly matters in January. The Patriots won because of a +3 turnover margin, and the Broncos won because they cashed in on Josh Allen's mistakes.
Keep an eye on the live updates for the Rams and Bears game as it heads into the fourth quarter. Soldier Field is notorious for late-game wind shifts that can ruin a kicker's day, so expect a tight finish.