- The Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos have clinched the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences.
- Wild-card weekend features six matchups, including a Monday night game between the Texans and Steelers.
The NFL playoffs are officially here. The roadmap to Santa Clara is set.
In the NFC, all things go through Seattle with the Seahawks as the No. 1 seed in the conference. The Seahawks earned the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2014. While in the AFC, the Denver Broncos clinched the top seed in the conference for the first time since 2015 season.
The Seahawks and Broncos have much-deserved byes during the wild-card round.
Wild-card weekend kicks off in North Carolina with the Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers. Saturday night features an NFC North matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.
Sunday begins with the Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars. Then the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles play host to the San Francisco 49ers. The main event Sunday night will be the Los Angeles Chargers vs. the New England Patriots.
Wild card weekend ends when the Houston Texans pay a visit to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers for a ‘Monday Night Football’ tilt.
USA TODAY Sports provides the early predictions for the wild-card round:
NFL wild card predictions, picks
Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers
Date: Saturday, Jan. 10
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
TV: FOX
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Rams (-10)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Rams 27, Panthers 20
Carolina beat the Rams at home in Week 13 in what was probably the worst game of Matthew Stafford’s MVP-caliber season. The Rams committed three turnovers in the loss in which hardly anything went their way. I predict the Rams take better care of the football and send the Panthers packing this time. Los Angeles is the more talented team. However, the Panthers have a lot of bulletin-board material because they are a big home underdog.
Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears
Date: Saturday, Jan. 10
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago
TV: N/A
Streaming: Prime Video
Spread: Bears (-1)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Packers 27, Bears 24
These two NFC North rivals split the season series, each winning on their home turf. The season-ending injury to Micah Parsons lowers Green Bay’s ceiling. But Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs and the Packers have a lot of firepower on offense. This will mark Chicago’s first playoff game since 2020. It’ll also be the biggest game of Caleb Williams’ young career. Will Williams rise to the moment? I think Williams plays well but the Bears falter against Green Bay.
Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Date: Sunday, Jan. 11
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, FL
TV: CBS
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Bills (-1.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Jaguars 26, Bills 22
The Jaguars enter the postseason on an eight-game winning streak, the second longest active winning streak in the NFL. Coach of the year candidate Liam Coen has Trevor Lawrence playing the best football of his career. The Bills are too dependent on Josh Allen. I think Buffalo’s reliance on Allen comes back to bite the Bills.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Date: Sunday, Jan. 11
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
TV: FOX
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Eagles (-3.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Eagles 25, 49ers 20
The 49ers have been ravaged by injuries all season. Fred Warner and Nick Bosa suffered season-ending injuries. Brandon Aiyuk didn’t even play this year. It’s a testament to Kyle Shanahan that the 49ers are even in the playoffs. This version of the 49ers can’t beat the Eagles, even if Philly doesn’t play its best brand of football. The defending Super Bowl champs are the most dangerous team in the playoffs.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. New England Patriots
Date: Sunday, Jan. 11
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock
Spread: Patriots (-3.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Chargers 23, Patriots 22
Justin Herbert’s never won a playoff game. Drake Maye’s never played in a playoff game. The Chargers have the NFL’s worst pass block win rate and rank second to last in run block win rate. However, the Patriots don’t have a formidable pass rush. Herbert and the Chargers pull off the biggest upset of wild-card weekend.
Houston Texans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Date: Monday, Jan. 12
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
TV: ESPN
Streaming: FUBO
Spread: Texans (-3.5)
Tyler Dragon, USA TODAY: Texans 24, Steelers 19
Tyler Loop’s 44-yard shanked field goal saved Pittsburgh’s season. The Steelers will welcome back DK Metcalf, who they’ve sorely missed. However, the Texans have the NFL’s top defense. Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter have combined for 27 sacks. Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter each matchup well against Metcalf. The Texans should win as long as C.J. Stroud manages the game and takes care of the football.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
