The energy around this weekend NFL games is, frankly, a little unhinged. If you were looking for predictable football, you probably should have tuned out after Saturday. We’ve seen a top seed lose their franchise quarterback to a broken ankle, a blowout that felt like a mercy rule should’ve been involved, and we still have two massive games left on the slate for Sunday.
It's the Divisional Round. This is usually when the "pretenders" get weeded out. But right now, it feels like the injury report is doing more weeding than the actual play on the field.
The Saturday Aftermath: Bittersweet Mile High Magic
Denver is celebrating, but it’s a quiet kind of party. The Broncos took down the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in an overtime thriller that had everything—missed opportunities, Josh Allen throwing four turnovers, and a Bo Nix masterclass on deep balls. Nix went 3-of-4 on passes over 20 yards. He looked like the real deal.
Then the news hit.
Sean Payton confirmed after the game that Nix suffered a broken ankle. He’s done. Just like that, the AFC’s top seed has to fly into the Conference Championship with Jarrett Stidham under center. It’s brutal. Buffalo fans are likely wondering how they lost a game where the opposing QB went down, but when you turn the ball over four times, you don't win in January. Simple as that.
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Meanwhile, in Seattle, there was no drama. Only a beating. The Seahawks dismantled an injury-riddled 49ers squad 41-6. Sam Darnold didn’t have to do much—just 124 yards and a score—but he played clean. Seattle looks like a juggernaut, though they’re sweating injuries to Zach Charbonnet and Charles Cross.
Sunday’s Slate: What To Watch For Right Now
If you’re settling in for the rest of this weekend NFL games, the dynamic has shifted. We aren't just looking at who wins; we’re looking at who survives.
Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET, ABC/ESPN)
This is the "new era" bowl. You've got Drake Maye versus C.J. Stroud (or the Texans' surging defense, really). Houston is coming off a complete demolition of the Steelers. Their defense is playing lights-out, specifically their ability to force turnovers against elite QBs. They did it to Allen and Mahomes in the regular season; now they want Maye.
The Patriots are 3-point favorites, mostly because they’re at home and Drake Maye looked composed in his playoff debut against the Chargers. But don't sleep on DeMeco Ryans' group. Houston has never made it past the divisional round. Ever. There’s a "why not us" vibe in that locker room that is dangerous for a young Patriots team still finding its postseason identity post-Brady.
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Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET, NBC/Peacock)
Soldier Field is going to be deafening. This is the first home divisional game for Chicago in 15 years. Caleb Williams is fresh off a fourth-quarter comeback against Green Bay where he looked every bit like the generational talent he was hyped to be.
But he’s facing Matthew Stafford.
The Rams are essentially the "old man in the park" team right now. They aren't the fastest, and their defense is ranked middle-of-the-pack (17th), but Stafford knows how to manipulate a pocket. The Rams are actually 3.5-point favorites on the road. Vegas clearly trusts Sean McVay’s experience over the Chicago hype train.
Keep an eye on the Bears' injury report. Rome Odunze is active but dealing with a foot issue. The Bears have won six straight games when he’s on the field. If he’s even 80%, he changes how the Rams have to defend the deep third.
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Realities of the 2026 Playoff Bracket
The winner of Texans-Patriots gets a date with a Nix-less Broncos team in Denver. Suddenly, the path to the Super Bowl for Houston or New England looks a lot wider. On the NFC side, the winner of Rams-Bears has to go to Seattle.
Lumen Field is a nightmare for visiting teams, especially with the way Mike Macdonald has that defense fly around. Whether it's Caleb Williams' mobility or Stafford's veteran savvy, they’ll need every bit of it to score more than the six points San Francisco managed.
Actionable Takeaways for the Sunday Games
If you're betting or just trying to sound smart at the watch party, keep these factors in mind for the remaining games:
- Watch the Soldier Field Sod: It’s January in Chicago. The field is going to be heavy. This usually favors a power run game. If the Rams can’t get Kyren Williams going, Stafford might find himself in a lot of 3rd-and-longs against a loud crowd.
- The Texans' Pressure Rate: Houston wins when they get home with four rushers. If they have to blitz Drake Maye, he’s shown he can burn teams with his legs.
- Targeting the Bears' Secondary: Chicago is missing Nick McCloud, and while C.J. Gardner-Johnson is back, that unit can be exploited by a vet like Stafford who loves to look off safeties.
The Divisional Round usually provides the best football of the year. Saturday gave us an OT classic and a blowout. Sunday is shaping up to be a battle of the youngsters versus the established guard. Grab your coffee (or something stronger), because the AFC and NFC Championship matchups are being carved out in real-time.
Next Steps for Fans:
Monitor the active/inactive lists for the Bears vs. Rams game approximately 90 minutes before kickoff (around 5:00 PM ET) to confirm Rome Odunze’s status. For the Texans vs. Patriots game, check the weather reports for Foxborough; any significant wind will severely limit Houston's downfield passing attack and favor the Patriots' more conservative offensive scheme.