NFL Playoff Push: What’s Next

The end of the NFL regular season is just 18 weeks away, and the playoffs are right around the corner. Currently, 14 teams are fighting for their chance to reach the Super Bowl, with the final game in Santa Clara, California promising to shower the victor in confetti. Sadly for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens, Week 18 was disappointing; they each just missed the chance to win their division and secure a playoff berth.

This Wild Card Weekend looks quite packed, featuring two contests on Saturday, three on Sunday, and a final game on Monday.

In Week 18, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks secured the coveted No. 1 seeds and will enjoy a bye week while chaos unfolds on the field. Meanwhile, 12 other teams will vie for a playoff spot.

Ah, Wild Card Weekend—it’s always a mix of everything exciting: long-standing rivalries reignited, memorable rematches from the regular season, and, of course, the ever-important matchups from past NFC and AFC Championship Games.

The Los Angeles Rams will kick off the weekend looking to avenge their earlier loss to the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers had faced the Buccaneers shortly before, but lost, and their playoff fate lingered with the Atlanta Falcons. Ultimately, the Falcons edged out a win against the Saints, setting up a rematch with the Rams.

Later that evening, we can expect the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears to go head-to-head once again. They’ve had two exhilarating encounters this season, each team claiming victory at home. This marks their third playoff meeting, with prior games split between the two.

Sunday will see the Buffalo Bills traveling to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. Both teams are riding high—Buffalo on a four-game winning streak and Jacksonville having won their last eight games. Under head coach Liam Cohen, Jacksonville has done remarkably well this season, finishing with a 13-4 record, which is noteworthy for the franchise.

The Eagles are poised to meet the 49ers in another rematch, this time recalling last year’s NFC Championship Game where the Eagles triumphed. That game had its fair share of injuries on the 49ers’ side, certainly impacting their performance.

Further, the New England Patriots will square off against the Los Angeles Chargers, marking the fourth such playoff meeting since the 2000s. Surprisingly, the Patriots have come out on top in all previous playoff encounters.

On Monday night, the showdown will be between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans. This will be a unique matchup since the two teams have never faced off in the playoffs before. Interestingly, the Steelers hold a slight edge in their overall meetings against the Texans.

Game Schedule

Saturday, January 10th

No. 5 Los Angeles Rams vs. No. 4 Carolina Panthers, 4:30 p.m. ET

No. 7 Green Bay Packers vs. No. 2 Chicago Bears, 8:00 p.m. ET

Sunday, January 11th

No. 6 Buffalo Bills vs. No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:00 p.m. ET

No. 6 San Francisco 49ers vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m. ET

No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers vs. No. 2 New England Patriots, 8:00 p.m. ET

Monday, January 12th

No. 5 Houston Texans vs. No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:00 p.m. ET