NEWS

NFL Wild Card Thoughts

by: James Mello and Ryder Bryant

date: January 11, 2026

In this article, James and guest writer Ryder discuss their thoughts on the recent wild card games.

#5 Los Angeles Rams @ #4 Carolina Panthers

January 10, 2026- Rams 34 Panthers 31

This was an excellent close game to kickoff the 2026 playoffs. This game was back and forth the entire game, and the Rams were losing at the two-minute warning. Both quarterbacks, Matthew Stafford and Bryce Young played excellent. The Rams were expected to win this game agaist the young inexperienced 8-9 Panthers. The Panthers only made the playoffs when the Falcons beat the Saints in Week 18. There were 3 teams in their division with an 8-9 record (Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta). The Panthers put up a good fight to make a good game. The Rams will go to #2 Chicago and play the bears in the Divisional Round.

#7 Green Bay Packers @ #2 Chicago Bears

January 10, 2026- Packers 27 Bears 31

This was an excellent matchup in Chicago. At halftime Chicago was losing by 18, and it looked like the Bears were going to get upset by the last place Packers, but they turned it around and won, even though they were down at the two-minute warning. Both Jordan Love and Caleb Williams threw for 320+ yards. The Bears have had an impressive turnaround from last season when Caleb Williams was the most sacked quarterback in the leauge. The Bears will host the #5 Rams in the Divisional round.

#6 Buffalo Bills @ #3 Jacksonville Jaguars

January 11, 2026 - Bills 27 Jaguars 24

This was an amazing game between two quality opponents with very different stories of how they got there. The Bills have been a very gritty team, overcoming numerous injuries and deficits on the field. The Bills, led by Josh Allen and James Cook, snuck into the playoffs with the 6 seed. The Jaguars, led by first-year coach Liam Coen, had a crazy mid-season turnaround and exceeded expectations. An 8-game winning streak to finish the season and winning the division to make the playoffs. The Bills had a 50-yard Matt Prater field goal to make it 3-0 Bills in the first quarter. Brian Thomas Jr had a touchdown in which the Bills responded with a Josh Allen rushing touchdown in the 3rd quarter, both teams had field goals to make the score 13-10, Bills. Parker Washington kicked off the scoring in the 4th with a touchdown, in which Dalton Kincaid had a touchdown as well to make the score 20-17 Bills. The Jaguars had an excellent drive that ended up with a passing touchdown to Travis Etienne Jr for the Jaguars to take the lead. This game had an epic finish. Josh Allen ran it in to take the lead for the Bills. The Jags got the ball back with little time left, and Trevor Lawrence threw an interception to end the game. The Bills win 27-24 and face the Broncos in the divisional round in Denver.

#6 San Fransisco 49ers @ #3 Philadelphia Eagles

January 11, 2026- 49ers 23 Eagles 19

This was a good back and forth game between two good offenses and defenses, but Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia offense did not play well. They only passed for 168 yards, and only scored 19 points, which isn't enough to beat the 49ers. Saquon Barkley did his job, rushing for 106 yards. The 49ers loss capped of a disapointing season for the defending champions. San Fransisco is a good team and should be watched out for, even as the 6 seed. They will have a rematch at the #1 Seattle Seahawks. In week 18, they played the Seahawks at home, and if they had won, they would have ended up with the #1 seed, and a bye, but they lost in a low-scoring matchup and ended up with the #6 seed, behind another division opponent, the Los Angeles Rams. The 49ers haven't given up and can be dangerous. If they make it that far, the Super Bowl is in Levi Stadium, San Fransisco, and the last time that happened to a team (2021 Tampa Bay Buccanneers), they won.

#7 Los Angeles Chargers @ #2 New England Patriots

January 11, 2026- Chargers 3 Patriots 16

This was an extrodinary defensive matchup, with only 19 total points allowed. Both teams being known for their defense, struggled on offense, but it was intense and physical the whole time. There was 8 punts, but only 3 turnovers. The most interesting element of the game was the total of 11 sacks. The first and last touchdown by either team was scored by New England in the 4th quarter. The Patriots have had a great 14-3 regular season, despite the weakest schedule in modern NFL history. They were 1-2 against teams with a record over .500, and a 13-1 record against teams with a below .500 record. There are some doubters, but the Patriots and their fans believe that they are back, and Sunday's game hosting the #5 Texans will be a big test to prove that the Patriots are indeed back.

#5 Houston Texans @ #4 Pittsburgh Steelers

January 12, 2026 - Texans 30 Steelers 6

This was a defensive showdown for the 1st half of this game. The Steelers struck first with a 32-yard field goal by Chris Boswell to make the score 3-0, Steelers. The Texans scored the first touchdown in the game in the second quarter on a Christian Kirk touchdown. Chris Boswell hit another field goal before halftime to make the score 7-6, Texans. The defensive duel continued in the 3rd quarter, where there was no scoring by either team. The 4th quarter is where the Texans really got into a nice flow. They started with a 51-yard field goal from Ka'imi Fairbairn. Sheldon Rankins strip-sacked Aaron Rodgers to force a fumble and returned it 33 yards for a scoop-and-score. The Texans got the ball back and had an excellent drive to put the game away. The drive was 11 plays and 87 yards and ended with a Woody Marks 13-yard touchdown rush. Calen Bullock then sealed the game for good with a 50 yard pick 6. While the Texans' defense and running game were good, their quarterback, CJ Stroud, was not good, having 5 fumbles(2 lost) and an interception. The Texans face the New England Patriots on January 18th at 3:00 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

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