NFL Divisional Round 2026 • All times Eastern • Home teams in bold
Six games. Four decided by four points or fewer. Eleven go-ahead touchdowns in the fourth quarter alone—already the most in any single NFL playoff round ever. Wild Card Weekend 2026 wasn't just entertaining. It was a statement about where this league is headed.
The quarterbacks are different now
Caleb Williams stood at the Soldier Field podium Saturday night and said something that should terrify every NFC contender. After rallying from an 18-point deficit to beat the Packers 31-27—Chicago's first playoff win since 2010—the second-year quarterback delivered a seven-word verdict on Green Bay's pregame trash talk: "Yeah, they wanted us. They wanted it and they got it."
Williams finished with 361 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. His scramble-left throw across his body to Rome Odunze on fourth-and-8, with four defenders closing in, might be the throw of this postseason. But it was the locker room that told the real story.
Ben Johnson got emotional presenting a game ball. Williams got emotional giving it right back. Then Johnson gathered his team and said what every Bears fan has wanted to hear for three decades: "F*** the Packers. F***ing hate those guys." The team posted the video themselves.
In Jacksonville, Josh Allen led his first career game-winning drive in a playoff fourth quarter. His message entering that final huddle, trailing by four with under four minutes left? "I love you all. I got you. You got me." Then he engineered a nine-play, 66-yard touchdown drive that gave Buffalo its first road playoff win in 33 years.
The upsets that weren't really upsets
San Francisco went into Philadelphia as the six-seed and left as the team nobody wants to face. Down George Kittle to a torn Achilles in the first half, the 49ers still found a way. Jauan Jennings—a former high school quarterback—threw a 29-yard touchdown to Christian McCaffrey on a trick play that Kyle Shanahan called "Skyy Bang reverse pass." The wobbling ball floated through the wind. McCaffrey tracked it over his shoulder. Game-changer.
"JJ thinks he can make every play known to man," Shanahan said afterward. Jennings, wearing sunglasses at the podium, slammed his fists on the table when asked about facing Seattle next week and screamed: "CAN'T WAIT!"
The defending Super Bowl champions are done. Jalen Hurts threw for 168 yards. The Eagles managed 36 total yards in the third quarter on 16 plays. Kevin Patullo's play-calling looked lost. This is now three straight years Philadelphia has underperformed in January when expectations were highest.
The Rams survived, barely
Matthew Stafford bent a finger backward in the first quarter against Carolina. "It wasn't pleasant," he said. He stayed in anyway. With the Rams trailing 31-27 and 2:38 remaining, he found Colby Parkinson for a 19-yard touchdown that sealed a 34-31 win.
Before that drive, Stafford leaned over to Davante Adams and told him they were about to "snatch the Panthers' hearts."
Four lead changes in the final fifteen minutes. The Panthers, written off all year, proved their NFC South title was legitimate. But playoff experience matters. Stafford has plenty. "I've been in that spot a lot in my life," he said. "It brings a smile to my face because I like being there."
New England's defense is back
The Patriots held Justin Herbert to 159 passing yards, sacked him six times, and won 16-3 in their first playoff victory since Super Bowl LIII. Mike Vrabel's first postseason as head coach ended with defensive lineman Milton Williams headbutting him so hard it bloodied his lip.
"The big dogs come out in January," Vrabel said, dabbing at the blood. "I think Milt took that to heart."
Drake Maye wasn't spectacular—17-of-29, two turnovers—but he was good enough. This is what Vrabel built in Tennessee before getting fired. Physical, nasty, opportunistic. The Chargers have now lost in the Wild Card round two straight years, and Herbert's playoff record dropped to 0-3.
Pittsburgh's nightmare continues
Monday night's final game wasn't close. Houston's top-ranked defense demolished the Steelers 30-6, with two defensive touchdowns and four sacks of Aaron Rodgers. It was Pittsburgh's seventh straight playoff loss, tying Mike Tomlin with Marvin Lewis for the longest postseason losing streak by any NFL coach.
The 42-year-old Rodgers—who said in June this would "pretty sure" be his final season—watched his last pass intercepted by Calen Bullock and returned 50 yards for a touchdown. He couldn't make the tackle.
"I'm not going to make any emotional decisions," Rodgers said afterward. "Disappointed... it was such a fun year."
When asked about his future in Pittsburgh, he deflected. "I'm not gonna talk about that."
What comes next
The divisional round shapes up like this:
- AFC: Bills at Broncos (Saturday), Texans at Patriots (Sunday)
- NFC: 49ers at Seahawks (Saturday), Rams at Bears (Sunday)
Denver and Seattle finally enter the picture after first-round byes. The Broncos haven't played since Week 18. The Seahawks will face a 49ers team riding the kind of momentum that got them to last year's Super Bowl.
Chicago hosts a playoff game for the first time in 15 years. Williams against Stafford. Johnson against McVay. The rookie head coach who just screamed obscenities about the Packers against the guy who's made the Rams a perennial contender.
If Wild Card Weekend was any indication, January football is about to get even crazier.