The 2026 NFL Playoffs are upon us, and unfortunately, the New Orleans Saints are once again not among this year’s playoff field. Even without the Saints in the playoffs this year, there are quite a few players to root for, and teams to root against. We certainly have some interesting matchups this weekend, so let’s take a look at each game as well as which teams will be moving on to the Divisional Round next weekend.
Last week I went 7-9
I told you so: Vikings over Packers!
What do I know: Panthers over Bucs?
WILD CARD WEEKEND
NFC – #5 Los Angeles Rams (12-5) at #4 Carolina Panthers (8-9)
Saturday, January 10th – 3:30pm CST – FOX
This Wild Card game is a rematch of one of the most surprising upsets in the NFL this past season, a 31-28 Carolina win at home over a Rams team that was the NFC’s top seed at that point, the Sunday following Thanksgiving. The win was sealed with a 43-yard TD pass by Bryce Young, stunning a Rams team that was on a six-game winning streak at that point.
The Rams multiple weapons on offense, led by Matthew Stafford, will be the story coming into the game, but it is the defense that has much to prove here. This rematch will come down to the Rams defense coming through as the best unit on the field, forcing Bryce Young into a pair of crucial turnovers his team won’t be able to recover from. The 2025 NFC South champs will exit the playoffs as unceremoniously as they entered them. Los Angeles wins 30-20.
Pick:
Rams
***
NFC – #7 Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) at #2 Chicago Bears (11-6)
Saturday, January 10th – 7:00pm CST – Prime Video
This Wild Card game is a rematch of arguably the Game of the Year this past regular season, a 22-16 overtime thriller in Chicago on the Saturday before Christmas. It is that game that earned Chicago the NFC North title, their first since 2018. These teams did split the season series though, and Green Bay’s starting QB Jordan Love missed the huge OT loss due to injury. Love will be back for this one.
Although these teams are the class of their devision, neither has finished the season strong, as Chicago has lost their final two games, and Green Bay their last four. This may be a bit skewed in Green Bay’s case, as they were ravaged with injuries and rested everyone they could in a season finale that featured a practice squad player at starting QB. Both teams rosters are as healthy and rested as they can be coming into this one. It will be another close one, but Chicago is just better, at least on offense, and home field advantage will prove to be just that. Chicago wins 27-24.
Pick:
Bears
***
AFC – #6 Buffalo Bills (12-5) at #3 Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)
Sunday, January 11th – 12:00pm CST – CBS
Few players carry the weight of expectations coming into the playoffs like Buffalo’s star quarterback Josh Allen carries into these playoffs. The Bills will go as far as Allen can take them, as usual, but this time, most of his greatest obstacles are cleared from the board. Gone is Lamar Jackson, who Allen has beaten in the playoffs, but has battled him ferociously. Gone is Joe Burrow, who has beaten Allen decisively in the playoffs and has done what he has never done, beaten Kansas City and taken his team to the Super Bowl. Most importantly, gone is Patrick Mahomes, who is 4-0 against Allen in the playoffs, twice beating him in the divisional round and twice in the AFC Championship Game. With these rivals out of his path, the expectation is for Allen and his Bills to finally reach the promised land.
On the opposite side are the AFC South Champion Jacksonville Jaguars, led by first year head coach Liam Coen, who wildly surpassed expectations in Duval County this past season. Josh Allen may be the story of this game, and these playoffs as a whole, but the Jags are a fantastic story on their own. They shouldn’t be, and won’t be discounted in this matchup, which may prove to be the best game of Wild Card weekend. This game will be close all the way through, but Allen is considered to be one of the best quarterbacks in the game today for a reason. He will play up to the moment and carry the team on his shoulders in the biggest moments of this game. It will be enough, but barely, as Allen’s team just gets by in nail-biter on the road. The weight only continues to build from here. Buffalo wins 25-24
Pick:
Bills
***
NFC – #6 San Francisco 49ers (12-5) at #3 Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
Sunday, January 11th – 3:30pm CST – FOX
Despite battling a litany of injuries in crucial positions all season, San Francisco has surpassed many expectations, even playing for, but ultimately failing at, a chance for the #1 seed in the NFC just a week ago. Despite winning the NFC East for the second consecutive season, and the third time in four seasons, Philadelphia has not lived up to lofty expectations this season. The reigning Super Bowl Champions have scored five points-per-game less this season under Kevin Patullo’s offense than last season under Kellen Moore’s offense.
All of the attention will obviously land on Kyle Shanahan and the struggles of his offense against defensive genius Vic Fangio, and rightfully so, considering both of their career accomplishments, but it is the Kevin Patullo offense vs. the Robert Saleh defense that will tell the tale of this game. Despite the wealth of talent, it is Patullo’s offense that has underperformed the most of all four units that have been mentioned, and the failure to get in rhythm and stay there will cost Philly dearly. San Francisco wins 19-17.
Pick:
49ers
***
AFC – #7 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at #2 New England Patriots (14-3)
Sunday, January 11th – 7:00pm CST – NBC
New England has surpassed expectations spectacularly this season, under new Head Coach Mike Vrabel. The former Patriots championship linebacker, and sometimes pass-catcher, has taken a franchise reeling from the post-Brady & Belichick era and has immediately turned them into a fresh-faced title contender, with second-year quarterback Drake Maye under center. Maye has been so good, he has Pats fans putting away their #12 jerseys and buying #10 ones.
Under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers have certainly outperformed his predecessors, but they still underperform compared to their expectations and their potential, and that will happen again here. They seem to be built for some moments, just not the big moments. For all of the Bolts’ talents, the Pats are simply better, and they will prove it here once again. New England wins 28-20.
Pick:
Patriots
***
AFC – #5 Houston Texans (12-5) at #4 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
Monday, January 12th – 7:00pm CST – ESPN
Pittsburgh is the team with the pedigree, the Super Bowl history, the possible Hall of Fame head coach, and the certain Hall of Fame quarterback, but they are certainly not the favorite in this game, even at home it Pittsburgh. Frankly, the Steelers are almost lucky to be here. A missed field goal on the final play of the entire 2025 regular season sent them here and they are honestly playing with house money.
Houston may have come up just short of winning their third-consecutive AFC South title, but this is almost certainly the best team in the three seasons under head coach DeMeco Ryans and QB CJ Stroud. Led by the AFC’s top-ranked defense, the stingy and aggressive Texans will squeeze the home team into submission, making the big plays in the most crucial moments of this game. Houston wins 24-17.
Pick:
Texans
***
Let’s see what the Wild Card round has in store. Here’s to an entertaining playoff weekend. Leave us your picks, comments, and insight below!
