-
Multiple Contributors
Jan 9, 2026, 06:00 AM ET
The wild-card spherical for the 2025 NFL playoffs has six extensive matchups, and now we maintain you ever covered with what it be well-known to know heading into the weekend.
The games originate Saturday, with Panthers QB Bryce Young making his first playoff appearance, going by arrangement of the Rams, and one other rendition of the Packers-Bears contention. Sunday brings a QB duel between the Funds’ Josh Allen and Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence, the 49ers visiting the Eagles, and the Chargers traveling spoiled-country to face Patriots QB Drake Maye. Monday caps the slate with a pesky Texans protection going by arrangement of Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers.
Our NFL Nation newshounds rob you within the locker room with the absolute top deliver they heard this week, and analytics creator Seth Walder provides a key stat to know for every matchup. NFL analyst Ben Solak furthermore provides us doughty predictions, while NFL analyst Matt Bowen identifies one matchup X deliver to stare. Making a guess analyst Pamela Maldonado picks an challenging guess for every sport, and workers creator Kevin Seifert tells us what to know in regards to the officiating crews. Plus, our Soccer Vitality Index (FPI) goes within the numbers with a sport projection, and 4 analysts — Eric Moody, Maldonado, Solak and Walder — give us remaining-ranking picks for every sport.
The total thing you also will be desirous to know is here in one location to permit you to fetch ready for a loaded weekend of NFL playoff football. Let’s fetch into the pudgy wild-card slate.
Jump to a matchup:
(5) Rams at (4) Panthers
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET | Fox | LAR -10.5 (46.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Rams: Los Angeles is asking forward to WR Davante Adams to come attend. He has no longer performed since disturbing a left hamstring injure in Week 15. The Rams maintain missed him most in the red zone, as nine of his league-main 14 receiving touchdowns maintain come in procedure-to-shuffle scenarios. Consistent with ESPN Analysis, the Panthers maintain allowed most effective 5 passing touchdowns in procedure-to-shuffle scenarios this season, which is tied for the fewest in the NFL. “[Adams is] such a great player,” QB Matthew Stafford acknowledged. “I just have to put it in the ballpark and let him go do his thing.” — Sarah Barshop
What we’re hearing on the Panthers: As extensive as this sport is for QB Bryce Young, it be bigger for the running sport that had 19 yards final week and most effective ninety nine the week before. Carolina wants the balance it had in its Week 13 win over the Rams, wherein the Panthers ran 40 times for 164 yards. That opened it up for Young, who had three TD passes — including two on fourth-and-rapid. — David Newton
Stat to know: The Rams corrupt 2d in bustle block win rate (74.1%), while the Panthers are thirty 2d in bustle end win rate (26.2%) and twenty sixth in EPA allowed per designed bustle. It all sets up for a sport the set the Rams will no longer want to rob as many risks attributable to they want to quiet maintain success on the ground with Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. But they’ll be without Kevin Dotson (ankle injure), who ranks twenty fourth out of 62 qualifying guards in bustle block win rate. — Walder
Daring prediction: Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan will shuffle off for 100-plus yards in his first profession postseason sport. McMillan had most effective one fetch for 43 yards in the first contest against the Rams because the Panthers ran the ball a ton. But on a trailing script in this sport, he’ll shine. — Solak
Matchup X deliver: Panthers WR Jalen Coker. He has a touchdown fetch in three of his past 5 games, including one in Carolina’s win over the Rams. If the Panthers are going to upset L.A., Coker will want to compose explosive plays as a boundary target for Young. — Bowen
One guess to reduction in mind: OVER 46.5. The over cashes if Carolina rankings early and forces a competitive sport. The Rams can ranking 30-plus, while any early Panthers success prevents L.A. coach Sean McVay from slowing the tempo. — Maldonado
Officiating nugget: The Rams were one in every of the NFL’s least penalized groups over the past six seasons, and in 2025 they dedicated the fewest in the league (5.5 per sport). Referee Clete Blakeman’s crew threw a median of 14.4 flags per sport. — Seifert
Maldonado’s make a selection: Rams 35, Panthers 27
Moody’s make a selection: Rams 30, Panthers 17
Solak’s make a selection: Rams 31, Panthers 20
Walder’s make a selection: Rams 37, Panthers 13
FPI prediction: LAR, 74.9% (by a median of 9.6 functions)
Matchup have to-reads: Stafford is the roughly QB you desire in the huddle … Panthers hint Newton will strike ‘Protect Pounding’ drum before wild card … Canales unfazed by Panthers being underdogs, functions to ‘Beast Quake’
(7) Packers at (2) Bears
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET | Top Video | GB -1.5 (forty five.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Packers: Green Bay has the relieve in playoff experience. The Packers are in for the third straight season, even when they’ve won exact one sport of their old two appearances. “You still go out there and get beat, regardless of if you got hella experience or not,” safety and defensive captain Xavier McKinney acknowledged. Coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged, “Ultimately, it’s about what you do on that day.” — Rob Demovsky
What we’re hearing on the Bears: Chicago needs to reduction away from one other leisurely offensive start after getting outscored 47-21, running 66 fewer plays, losing the time of possession battle by 10:43 and going 2-for-12 on third downs in the first halves of its past three games. It has been an severely accepted vogue against the Packers this season (The Bears trailed 14-3 and 6-0 at halftime in the groups’ recurring-season games). “The biggest thing with us playing complementary football is us getting out to that fast start, having urgency right from the first snap and being able to go out and execute the plan, execute the openers and be able to go put points on the board,” offensive coordinator Declan Doyle acknowledged. — Courtney Cronin
2:10
Stephen A. picks NFC wild-card winner between Bears and Packers
Stephen A. Smith breaks down why he’s confident the Bears will defeat the visiting Packers of their NFC wild-card matchup Saturday.
Stat to know: Both QBs may maybe presumably maybe maintain to quiet maintain normally they need. The Bears lead the league in pass block win rate (73.6%), and on plays without Micah Parsons on the self-discipline, the Packers maintain exact a 28.1% pass flee win rate. On the flip facet, the Bears furthermore maintain virtually zero pass flee (28.8% PRWR, thirty first) while the Packers corrupt sixth in pass block win rate (69%). — Walder
Daring prediction: The Bears will hit a trick play on the first power. They virtually had one against the Packers in Week 16 — a fourth-and-procedure declare snap to RB Kyle Monangai that went over his head. Johnson may maybe presumably maybe maintain one other wrinkle for his first postseason sport as coach, and Chicago needs to fetch out to a sooner start in this sport. — Solak
Matchup X deliver: Bears TE Colston Loveland. He has topped 90 receiving yards in each of his past two games. He has the alignment versatility to work a pair of ranges of the self-discipline in coach Ben Johnson’s offense. Glance Loveland to gaze accepted quantity from QB Caleb Williams versus the Packers’ zone-heavy protection. — Bowen
One guess to reduction in mind: Bears +1.5. Chicago runs efficiently, forces turnovers and closes better leisurely. Green Bay strikes the ball nonetheless stalls when it issues. Take the team constructed to continue to exist discomfort. — Maldonado
Officiating nugget: Referee Adrian Hill missed two games attributable to of a leg injure, nonetheless total, his crew threw the 2d-most flags amongst the 17 crews (17.9). The Bears led the NFL with nine flags for roughing the passer, four more than the next team, nonetheless Hill’s crew known as most effective three such penalties. — Seifert
Maldonado’s make a selection: Bears 27, Packers 24
Moody’s make a selection: Packers 24, Bears 21
Solak’s make a selection: Bears 27, Packers 23
Walder’s make a selection: Packers 34, Bears 31
FPI prediction: GB, 55.9% (by a median of 1.8 functions)
Matchup have to-reads: Will Packers’ Admire win a SB luxuriate in Favre, Rodgers in Twelve months 3? … A unusual layer in Packers-Bears contention: Foam cheese grater hats … ‘Fragile’ no more: How the Bears’ Williams, Johnson developed
(6) Funds at (3) Jaguars
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET | CBS | BUF -1.5 (forty five.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Funds: Coach Sean McDermott has never won a road playoff sport in his Funds tenure (0-5). In the four games with QB Josh Allen, the Funds’ protection has been the statistical distinction on the road versus at dwelling (33.5 functions per sport allowed on the road and 19.8 allowed at dwelling). The team is embracing this trouble. “Being able to just have that mentality of it’s you and your guys versus everybody else. We embrace that, and, I mean, we’re excited. We could play anywhere,” DE Greg Rousseau acknowledged. — Alaina Getzenberg
What we’re hearing on the Jaguars: The headlines would be in regards to the QBs, nonetheless this sport likely will be selected the ground: the Jaguars’ top-ranked bustle protection versus the league’s main rusher in James Cook III. The Jaguars did no longer allow a 100-yard rusher in the recurring season. “It’s a challenge at every level of the defense, and the running back obviously is elite,” defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile acknowledged. “Cook does a tremendous job of finding cracks. You look at some of the stuff on tape, there’s nowhere to go, and he pops through there.” — Mike DiRocco
Stat to know: The Jaguars maintain a 67.8% pass block win rate, which ranks ninth most effective nonetheless is by some distance the absolute top for a Jaguars team with QB Trevor Lawrence below heart. A component of that resolution? Cole Van Lanen, who took over at LT in Week 13 and has a 92% pass block win rate, which is twenty 2d most effective at the placement and an give a boost to over Walker Small. — Walder
Daring prediction: Funds WR Gabe Davis, who performed for the Jags in 2024, will ranking a touchdown in his revenge sport. The Funds use Davis as a transient-yardage and red zone menace attributable to of his 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame. If they’ll’t bustle the ball in and are desirous to tumble attend, Davis will be Allen’s most accepted target. — Solak
Matchup X deliver: Funds CB Taron Johnson. His ability to fetch to depth in Buffalo’s foundational zone coverages is key versus a Jaguars passing sport that formula deep in-breaking ideas. Right here, Johnson can end the intermediate dwelling windows, which will limit Lawrence’s explosive play ability. — Bowen
One guess to reduction in mind: UNDER 51.5. Buffalo permits the fewest opponent plays per sport and has a bustle-heavy offense. The Jaguars’ offense is atmosphere friendly nonetheless no longer snappy. — Maldonado
Officiating nugget: Referee Brad Allen’s crew threw the fewest flags per sport this season (12.9). That will presumably maybe even relieve the Jaguars, who were the NFL’s third-most penalized team (9.3 per sport). The Funds were tied for the sixth fewest at 6.8 per sport. — Seifert
Maldonado’s make a selection: Funds 27, Jaguars 20
Moody’s make a selection: Jaguars 31, Funds 27
Solak’s make a selection: Jaguars 23, Funds 21
Walder’s make a selection: Funds 34, Jaguars 30
FPI prediction: JAX, 51.5% (by a median of 0.4 functions)
Matchup have to-reads: Secret sauce to Funds beating the Jaguars? A extensive key is the O-line … How Jaguars QB Lawrence’s grill reward came to be … Jaguars clinch AFC South, flip sights toward playoffs
(6) 49ers at (3) Eagles
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET | Fox | PHI -4.5 (44.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the 49ers: In another universe, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio may maybe presumably maybe be working with coach Kyle Shanahan. Fangio frolicked with the 49ers all the arrangement in which by arrangement of the 2022 offseason, and Shanahan deliberate to rent him when all signs pointed to DeMeco Ryans leaving (he did, to Houston). But Fangio signed with Miami in 2023, then joined the Eagles in 2024. Now, Shanahan faces the duty of scoring against a Fangio-led protection that ranks fifth in functions allowed per sport (19.1). “[Fangio], schematically, he has always been the best to me,” Shanahan acknowledged. “… Has a very sound scheme that he doesn’t need to change up very much. It just naturally changes with how he does his coverages, how he does his fronts, the personnel groupings he does. He’s very good at getting a bead on what you’re trying to do and making you adjust.” — Slash Wagoner
What we’re hearing on the Eagles: Philadelphia was once equally respectful toward Shanahan. Fangio was once complimentary of Shanahan’s blueprint and his ability to call plays, and he renowned how “everything’s packaged well together” and is purposeful on offense for San Francisco. The 49ers use motion on 70% of their offensive plays, the third most in the NFL. “It’s an offense that challenges your eyes and your discipline,” LB Jaelan Phillips acknowledged. “If you let all of the moving pieces affect you, that’s when they take advantage of people.” — Tim McManus
0:46
What design the 49ers want to design vs. the Eagles?
Field Yates previews the 49ers’ playoff matchup vs. the Eagles.
Stat to know: Since Week 7 — the week after LB Fred Warner‘s ankle injure — the 49ers are allowing opponents a 47% success rate on designed runs (third perfect). Though the Eagles haven’t been with regards to as worthwhile on the ground this season as they were in 2024, San Francisco’s protection may maybe presumably maybe even monitor the different for RB Saquon Barkley to maintain a extensive sport. — Walder
Daring prediction: Niners DE Bryce Huff will fetch a key sack. Huff is the 49ers’ most effective shot at edge stress, and he has a transient first step that will presumably maybe trouble Eagles LT Jordan Mailata. Huff has been struggling mightily of leisurely, nonetheless ask an impassioned performance here. — Solak
Matchup X deliver: Eagles S Reed Blankenship. He’ll be asked to play a two-manner role in the secondary, limiting the heart-of-the-self-discipline targets in the 49ers’ route tree while furthermore filling the alleys to lower off RB Christian McCaffrey in the bustle sport. Blankenship had 53 solo tackles and one interception this season. — Bowen
One guess to reduction in mind: 49ers QB Brock Purdy UNDER 1.5 passing touchdowns. The Eagles allow a league-low passing touchdown rate. And Fangio defenses historically suppress red zone passing effectivity, supporting Purdy’s below. — Maldonado
Officiating nugget: The 49ers were the 2d-least-penalized team in the NFL (six per sport), nonetheless they’re tied for the most flags for pointless roughness (10). Total, referee Alan Eck’s crew threw the NFL’s 2d-fewest flags per sport this season (13). — Seifert
Maldonado’s make a selection: Eagles 24, 49ers 20
Moody’s make a selection: 49ers 20, Eagles 17
Solak’s make a selection: 49ers 24, Eagles 17
Walder’s make a selection: 49ers 30, Eagles 28
FPI prediction: PHI, 55.4% (by a median of 2.2 functions)
Matchup have to-reads: How the NFL’s most effective QB room got 49ers attend to playoffs … What drives the Eagles protection? Meatballs … Injured 49ers LB Bethune to omit playoffs
(7) Chargers at (2) Patriots
Sunday, 8 p.m. ET | NBC/Peacock | NE -3.5 (46.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Chargers: QB Justin Herbert has been taking half in by arrangement of a fractured left hand since Week 13, nonetheless he acknowledged this week that his hand feels the absolute top it has for the rationale that injure. Herbert and diverse key starters rested in Week 18, a decision he acknowledged proved well-known. “I’d say definitely not taking hits on it last week was probably pretty helpful,” he acknowledged. — Kris Rhim
What we’re hearing on the Patriots: QB Drake Maye renowned that the Chargers don’t allow many explosive plays by conserving all the pieces in front of them and that they are a top-5 protection in forcing three-and-outs. So a level of emphasis for the Patriots is to reduction drives and then capitalize on one-on-one matchups. “One-on-one, I like our guys. Ball placement, I like giving them a chance to go make a play. At the same time, be patient. Don’t be bored being efficient and executing underneath and letting things come to you,” Maye acknowledged of the manner against the Chargers. — Mike Reiss
Stat to know: The Patriots’ sensible of 8.7 air yards per strive ranks because the 2d most in the NFL. But that makes for a attention-grabbing matchup against the Chargers’ protection, which permits opponents exact 5.0 air yards per strive (third lowest). Los Angeles achieves that by being the most two-high-heavy (57%) protection and the league’s most zone-heavy protection (70%). — Walder
Daring prediction: Chargers RB Omarion Hampton will shine on 20-plus carries and 100-plus yards against a sorrowful Patriots bustle protection, severely if DT Khyiris Tonga (foot) can no longer shuffle. The Chargers want to bustle the ball to give protection to their offensive line and support watch over tempo, and Hampton has looked correct since getting back from his ankle injure. — Solak
Matchup X deliver: Patriots TE Hunter Henry. His ability to offer an clarification for and work the seams provides the Patriots an edge in the red zone. Henry has 5 red zone touchdown receptions this season, including two in his past three games. He needs to be a precedence target for Maye. — Bowen
One guess to reduction in mind: Patriots -3.5. New England is top 5 in level differential, functions per power on offense and defensive functions allowed per power. Since Week 10, the Chargers’ offense ranks bottom three in yards per play, success rate, explosive play rate and functions per power. That gap helps the margin. — Maldonado
Officiating nugget: Patriots CB Carlton Davis III was once flagged six times for defensive pass interference, 2d most in the recurring season. However the Chargers haven’t been extensive at drawing pass interference and maintain had most effective four known as against their opponents, 2d lowest. — Seifert
Accidents: Chargers | Patriots
Maldonado’s make a selection: Patriots 24, Chargers 17
Moody’s make a selection: Patriots 27, Chargers 24
Solak’s make a selection: Patriots 20, Chargers 14
Walder’s make a selection: Patriots 26, Chargers 23
FPI prediction: NE, 53.1% (by a median of 1.4 functions)
Matchup have to-reads: Why Mack stayed in L.A.; within his relationship with Tuipulotu … Barnwell weighs in on Maye’s MVP candidacy … Herbert taking snaps, says relaxation helped hand
(5) Texans at (4) Steelers
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN/ABC | HOU -3 (39.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Texans: Coach DeMeco Ryans has the utmost respect for Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin, saying he has “done it for a long time” and pointing out how Tomlin sends encouragement his manner. Nonetheless, basically based entirely on Monday’s news conference, Ryans will use the coverage being carefully slanted toward the Steelers as a rallying yowl. He showed slight annoyance at the selection of questions he bought about Pittsburgh by sarcastically saying, “Y’all excited about the Steelers.” In the 2024 playoffs, he musty the skilled-Chargers coverage as motivation for the team before its 32-12 win in the wild-card spherical. — DJ Bien-Aime
What we’re hearing on the Steelers: The offensive line will face its most intriguing trouble of the season in the pass-flee tandem of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter (29.5 sacks mixed). “Both of them just present major threats,” LT Dylan Cook acknowledged. “It’s more so their changeups. We all know they’re kind of power guys, but they both have really good spin moves. They both have really good motors, good hand usage.” The line has performed successfully since Cook joined the neighborhood a month previously, giving up most effective two sacks in each of the past three games. — Brooke Pryor
0:56
Tomlin to Eisen: We’re angry to maintain DK Metcalf attend
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin joins Filthy rich Eisen and talks about what DK Metcalf’s absence supposed for the team.
Stat to know: There is likely to be no sport more relevant for the Steelers’ extremely-hastily sensible time to throw of 2.62 seconds (fastest in the NFL) than this one. That’s attributable to of the brink rushers they are going by arrangement of: Anderson recorded 62 pass flee wins this season (2d most), and Hunter delivers masses of disruption as successfully. Pittsburgh would be uniquely suited to mitigate that menace attributable to of Aaron Rodgers‘ hastily start — even when standout DBs Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and Jalen Pitre will absolutely know that, too. — Walder
Daring prediction: The Steelers will fetch shut out in the first half of. There’s so worthy hype for the Texans’ pass flee, nonetheless it absolutely’s the secondary’s ability to compose turnovers and lower YAC that can result in hastily three-and-outs in this one. Houston can support long drives to manipulate the clock, too. — Solak
Matchup X deliver: Anderson. He can play a distinction-making role, environment an edge to limit the Steelers’ start air zone bustle sport, while furthermore creating chaos as a pass rusher to disrupt Rodgers’ rhythm. — Bowen
One guess to reduction in mind: Texans -3. The Texans allow the 2d-lowest functions per power and power the most self-discipline targets per power. Pittsburgh can ranking most effective with rapid fields, so the cleaner protection will quilt in this sport. — Maldonado
Officiating nugget: The discontinuance result of this sport may maybe presumably maybe even count upon whether the Steelers can support the Texans’ pass flee off Rodgers. But he has helped the Steelers support away from defective holding penalties by getting the ball out hastily. They were flagged most effective 14 times for it, tied for the 2d fewest this season. — Seifert
Maldonado’s make a selection: Texans 23, Steelers 20
Moody’s make a selection: Texans 21, Steelers 17
Solak’s make a selection: Texans 24, Steelers 13
Walder’s make a selection: Texans 19, Steelers 16
FPI prediction: HOU, 54.7% (by a median of 1.7 functions)
Matchup have to-reads: Steelers’ Metcalf ‘angry as hell’ to come attend for playoffs