NFL Wild Card Weekend Preview: Full Schedule, Matchups, Byes & Draft Outlook

The NFL postseason officially kicks off this week, and Wild Card Weekend is loaded with storylines, rematches, and franchises desperate to extend their season.

NFL Wild Card Weekend Schedule

Saturday, January 10

• Rams at Panthers – 1:30 p.m. PT

• Packers at Bears – 5:00 p.m. PT

Sunday, January 11

• Bills at Jaguars – 10:00 a.m. PT

• 49ers at Eagles – 1:30 p.m. PT

• Chargers at Patriots – 5:00 p.m. PT

Monday, January 12

• Texans at Steelers – 5:15 p.m. PT

AFC Wild Card Matchups

(2) New England Patriots vs. (7) Los Angeles Chargers

New England opens the playoffs at home, where their disciplined defense and playoff ready offense give them an edge, but the Chargers arrive dangerous with nothing to lose and a roster built to steal a road game if they start fast.

(3) Jacksonville Jaguars vs. (6) Buffalo Bills

Jacksonville hosts Buffalo in a matchup that many are looking forward to, as the Jaguars’ balanced attack faces a Bills team capable of flipping momentum with explosive plays on both sides of the ball.

(4) Pittsburgh Steelers vs. (5) Houston Texans

This one feels like classic playoff football, with Pittsburgh’s physical style and home crowd meeting a Texans team that thrives on pressure moments and defensive disruption.

AFC Bye:(1) Denver Broncos

Denver earns the week off after securing the top seed, giving them time to heal up and scout a crowded AFC field before the divisional round.

NFC Wild Card Matchups

(2) Chicago Bears vs. (7) Green Bay Packers

A rivalry renewed on the playoff stage, as Chicago hosts Green Bay in a matchup dripping with history, intensity, and season long familiarity.

(3) Philadelphia Eagles vs. (6) San Francisco 49ers

Philadelphia’s home field advantage meets San Francisco’s physical, playoff tested roster in a game that could swing on trench play and late game execution.

(4) Carolina Panthers vs. (5) Los Angeles Rams

Carolina welcomes the Rams in a tight seeding battle where momentum, quarterback play, and defensive discipline could decide everything.

NFC Bye:(1) Seattle Seahawks

Seattle locks up the top seed and a first round bye, positioning themselves as the conference favorite with rest and home field advantage.

NFL Draft Watch: Top 10 Teams Positioned for April

While playoff teams chase a title, the league’s bottom tier is already staring toward the future. Here are the top 10 teams currently positioned for the NFL Draft, with franchise changing decisions ahead:

1. Las Vegas Raiders

2. New York Jets

3. Arizona Cardinals 

4. Tennessee Titans 

5. New York Giants  

6. Cleveland Browns

7. Washington Commanders

8. New Orleans Saints

9. Kansas City Chiefs

10. Cincinnati Bengals

As always, draft position brings opportunity, but only if front offices get the picks right.

Pregame Sports Bar Crawl: Las Vegas Edition

Experience the excitement of the game like never before with our Pregame Sports pub crawl in Las Vegas! Join fellow sports fans for exclusive drink specials at some of the city's best sports bars. It's the ultimate way to gear up for game night, whether you're repping your squad or just in it for the fun. Stay tuned for upcoming dates and exclusive deals!