Honestly, if you missed last weekend, you missed a total circus. The Wild Card round just wrapped up, and the scoreboard looks like a casualty list for some of the league’s heaviest hitters. We’re officially moving into the Divisional Round, and the bracket has some seriously spicy rematches on deck. People keep asking what are the scores of the nfl games that just finished, and the short answer is: the underdogs are barking loud.
Six teams just fought their way through the opening gauntlet. Now, they have to deal with the heavyweights like the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, who were just sitting back at home watching the carnage.
The Wild Card Rundown: Who Survived?
The biggest shocker had to be the Houston Texans absolutely dismantling the Pittsburgh Steelers. We’re talking a 30-6 blowout where Houston’s defense basically lived in the Steelers' backfield. It wasn’t even competitive by the fourth quarter.
Then you’ve got the NFC side of things. The Chicago Bears managed to squeak past the Green Bay Packers 31-27. Caleb Williams showed some serious grit in that fourth quarter, though some are calling it "unsustainable luck." Whether it’s luck or magic, they moved on.
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Here’s the breakdown of the scores that defined the weekend:
The Los Angeles Rams outlasted the Carolina Panthers in a 34-31 shootout that came down to the wire. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills barely held off the Jacksonville Jaguars, winning 27-24. If you were looking for a defensive masterclass, the New England Patriots provided it by stifling the Los Angeles Chargers in a 16-3 slugfest. Finally, the San Francisco 49ers pulled off a 23-19 comeback against the Philadelphia Eagles, despite losing George Kittle to an injury.
Breaking Down the Divisional Matchups
So, now that the dust has settled, the question shifts from "who won?" to "who's next?" We have four massive games scheduled for January 17th and 18th.
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Saturday, January 17
The action starts with the Buffalo Bills heading into the high altitude of Denver to face the 14-3 Broncos. Kickoff is at 1:30 PM ET on CBS. Later that night, the San Francisco 49ers have to travel up to Seattle for a 5:00 PM ET kickoff. That’s a divisional rivalry game with the highest stakes imaginable. Seattle won their last meeting 13-3 to clinch the top seed, so the Niners are definitely hunting for some payback.
Sunday, January 18
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The Houston Texans will try to keep their momentum going against the New England Patriots at 12:00 PM ET. Most experts are eyeing the Patriots' defense, but Houston is playing like they have nothing to lose. The weekend wraps up with the Los Angeles Rams visiting Soldier Field to take on the Bears at 3:30 PM ET.
Why these scores matter for your bracket
The point spreads for these games are already shifting. For instance, the Seahawks are sitting as 7.5-point favorites over the 49ers. That’s a huge line for a playoff game between two teams that know each other this well.
If you're wondering what are the scores of the nfl likely to be this weekend, look at the defensive health. San Francisco’s defense is missing Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, yet they somehow held the Eagles to zero points in the second half last week. That kind of "next man up" mentality is what wins championships.
Actionable insights for the Divisional Round
If you’re following the scores to place a bet or just to talk shop at the water cooler, keep these three things in mind:
- Watch the Injury Reports: The 49ers are banged up. Losing George Kittle is a massive blow to their offensive scheme, especially against a Seattle team that loves to play physical.
- The "Luck" Factor: Many analysts believe the Chicago Bears have been living on borrowed time with their late-game heroics. Keep an eye on the Rams' pass rush; they might finally be the team to keep Caleb Williams contained.
- Home Field Humidity vs. Cold: We’re in mid-January. The games in Denver and Chicago are going to be brutal. Teams that rely on high-flying passing attacks often struggle when the temperature drops and the ball feels like a brick.
Check the live updates this Saturday as the Bills and Broncos kick things off. The road to Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium is getting very narrow, very fast.