The playoffs are hitting that fever pitch where every snap feels like a heart attack waiting to happen. Honestly, if you didn't have your eyes glued to the screen this past week, you missed some of the most chaotic, lead-swinging football in recent memory. We just wrapped up a Wild Card weekend that saw a record-shattering 12 fourth-quarter lead changes across the league. It was basically a collective exercise in high-stress endurance for every fan base involved.
Wild Card Weekend: The Games That Changed Everything
Let’s talk about the Chicago Bears for a second. They are becoming the stuff of nightmares for opponents. They went into the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers trailing 21–6 and looked absolutely cooked. Then, Caleb Williams decided he wasn't done yet. Chicago put up 25 points in the final frame. The wild part? The Bears won 31–27, marking their seventh win of the season where they trailed in the final two minutes. If you’re keeping score at home, they actually won that game without ever running an offensive play while leading. Caleb Williams found DJ Moore for a 25-yard touchdown with 1:43 left, and that was that.
Over in Charlotte, the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers played a game that felt more like a tennis match. Back and forth. No one could stop anyone. Matthew Stafford eventually found Colby Parkinson for a 19-yard score to seal a 34–31 victory. It was a brutal way for Bryce Young and the Panthers to go out after a season that honestly exceeded a lot of expectations.
AFC Shutdowns and Close Calls
While the NFC was busy with high-scoring drama, the AFC turned into a defensive clinic—well, mostly.
- Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24: This one came down to the wire. Josh Allen punched it in from the 1-yard line with just 64 seconds left on the clock. It was the fourth lead change of the final quarter.
- Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6: Total domination. Houston’s defense is scary right now. They scored twice on defense alone—a scoop-and-score followed by a pick-six. They turned a tight 10–6 game into a blowout in less than twelve minutes.
- New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3: Drake Maye didn't have to do much because the Pats' defense essentially put the Chargers in a straightjacket. This win sets up a bizarre historical quirk: the upcoming Texans-Patriots game features two teams that didn't allow a single touchdown in the previous round.
This Weeks NFL Scores: Looking at the Divisional Round
As of right now, we are staring down a Saturday and Sunday slate that looks incredible on paper. The "second season" is officially in full swing.
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Saturday, January 17
Today, the Buffalo Bills are taking on the Denver Broncos at Mile High. Kickoff is set for 4:35 p.m. ET on CBS. The Broncos have been resting up on their bye, and the oddsmakers have them as slim 1.5-point favorites. Later tonight, we get a massive NFC West rivalry: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks at 8:15 p.m. ET on Fox. Seattle is the No. 1 seed and they're rested, but the 49ers are coming off that gritty win over Philly.
Sunday, January 18
Tomorrow, the Houston Texans travel to Foxboro to face the New England Patriots at 3:05 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN). Expect a low-scoring, physical mess. Finally, the Los Angeles Rams visit the Chicago Bears at 6:40 p.m. ET on NBC. People are predicting this could be the highest-scoring game in playoff history, which is a big claim considering how good both offenses looked last week.
Why These Scores Matter for the Bracket
The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting narrow. If Denver wins today, they host the AFC Championship. If Buffalo pulls the upset, the winner of Texans-Patriots gets home-field advantage next week. It's all about the seeds now.
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Most people are sleeping on the Texans' defense. They’ve got Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. wreaking havoc, and that’s a tough draw for a young quarterback like Drake Maye, even if he's playing in the friendly confines of Gillette Stadium. On the NFC side, the Rams are the hottest team in the bracket. They aren't just winning; they're efficient. They are currently the only team ranked in the top five for both offensive and defensive DVOA.
Actionable Insights for the Divisional Round
If you're tracking these games or looking at the numbers for the rest of the weekend, keep these factors in mind:
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- Watch the "Comeback" Factor: The Bears are 3-158 in scenarios where other teams usually lose. If Chicago is trailing late, do not turn the TV off. Caleb Williams thrives in the chaos.
- Weather at Mile High: Buffalo is used to the cold, but the altitude in Denver during a late-afternoon January game is a different animal. James Cook’s rushing yardage will be the key metric to watch for a Bills upset.
- Defensive Scoring: Houston and New England are the only teams that haven't surrendered a touchdown yet this postseason. If you're looking at the over/under for their matchup (currently around 40.5), the "under" looks like a very safe neighborhood.
The bracket is moving fast. By Monday morning, we'll be down to just four teams.
Next Steps for NFL Fans:
- Check the final injury reports for the Rams-Bears game, specifically focusing on the Chicago secondary, as Stafford is likely to test them deep early.
- Monitor the live betting lines for the 49ers-Seahawks game if Seattle starts slow; they've had two weeks off and might need a quarter to find their rhythm.
- Verify your local broadcast listings for Sunday’s doubleheader, as the Texans-Patriots game will be cross-flexed between ABC and ESPN.