What a way to start the NFL playoffs! Wild Card Weekend lived up to its name with four incredible comeback victories, late game heroics from superstar quarterbacks, and the defending Super Bowl champions getting knocked out in stunning fashion. If you blinked, you probably missed a lead change.
The 2025 NFL season already felt different without the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoff picture. For the first time since 2014, Patrick Mahomes and company are watching from home after injuries and close losses led to a disappointing 6-11 finish. That torn ACL Mahomes suffered in Week 15 against the Chargers ended one of the greatest dynasties in recent NFL history. But while the Chiefs sat at home, six exciting Wild Card games gave us plenty of new storylines to follow.
Saturday’s Double Header: Stafford’s Magic and Williams’ Miracle
The playoffs kicked off Saturday afternoon in Charlotte, where the Los Angeles Rams faced the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers were hosting their first playoff game in eight years, and the home crowd was electric. But the Rams, led by likely MVP Matthew Stafford, were heavy favorites with their NFL-best offense.
Carolina came out flat, falling behind 14-0 early after a failed fourth down attempt and a Bryce Young interception gave the Rams short fields. It looked like an easy Rams blowout was coming. But the Panthers kept fighting.
The fourth quarter was absolute chaos. Four touchdowns were scored with the lead changing after each one. After the Panthers blocked a punt and scored to take a 31-27 lead with under three minutes left, the Rams needed a miracle. Stafford delivered. He completed six of seven passes on a 71-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Colby Parkinson with just 38 seconds remaining. Final score: Rams 34, Panthers 31.
Stafford finished with 304 passing yards and three touchdowns. The Panthers, who entered as an 8-9 team that backed into the NFC South title, came within inches of pulling off one of the biggest playoff upsets ever.
Saturday night brought us an even crazier finish in Chicago. The Bears hosted the Green Bay Packers in a rivalry game that will be talked about for years. Packers quarterback Jordan Love looked unstoppable in the first half, throwing three touchdown passes to build a 21-3 halftime lead.
Most teams would fold after falling behind by 18 points. The Bears did the opposite. Chicago pulled off the largest postseason comeback in franchise history and the third-largest fourth quarter comeback in NFL playoff history. Trailing 21-6 entering the final quarter, the Bears outscored the Packers 25-6 down the stretch.
Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 361 yards total, including 184 in the fourth quarter alone. His 25-yard game winning touchdown pass to DJ Moore with 1:43 left sealed a 31-27 victory. Williams also converted a critical 27-yard pass to Rome Odunze on fourth and eight while trailing by 11 points with just over five minutes remaining. The No. 1 overall pick from the 2024 draft is quickly building a reputation as the NFL’s comeback kid. This was his seventh fourth quarter comeback of the season.
Sunday’s Triple Header: Bills Rally, 49ers Stun Eagles, Patriots Dominate
Sunday started with the Buffalo Bills hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars. Josh Allen had never won a playoff game on the road, but this game was at home in Orchard Park. Still, the Bills needed yet another fourth quarter rally to survive.
The game featured four lead changes in the final quarter alone. Allen led the game winning drive to escape with a 27-24 victory. The Bills advance to the Divisional Round for the sixth straight year, continuing their run as one of the AFC’s most consistent playoff teams.
The afternoon game brought us the biggest upset of Wild Card Weekend. The San Francisco 49ers traveled to Philadelphia to face the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. Early in the game, the 49ers lost star tight end George Kittle to a torn Achilles injury. It seemed like disaster had struck.
Instead, San Francisco responded with one of their gutsiest performances of the season. Down 16-13 in the fourth quarter, head coach Kyle Shanahan dialed up a trick play that will live forever in 49ers highlights. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings took a double reverse handoff and threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to running back Christian McCaffrey.
The Eagles kicked a field goal to retake the lead, but McCaffrey was not done. He caught another touchdown pass to give San Francisco a 23-19 lead they would not surrender. Philadelphia’s dream of becoming the first NFC team to repeat as Super Bowl champions in over 30 years is officially over. Wide receiver A.J. Brown was seen arguing with head coach Nick Sirianni on the sideline during the first half, adding more drama to a frustrating day for the Eagles offense.
The 49ers’ win means the NFC West has three teams in the Divisional Round: Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. That is only the second time in 25 years a division has accomplished that feat.
Sunday night’s game was the only blowout of the weekend. The New England Patriots dominated the Los Angeles Chargers 16-3 in quarterback Drake Maye’s playoff debut. Maye threw for 268 yards and rushed for 66 more as the Patriots defense completely shut down the Chargers offense.
The Mike Vrabel era in New England is off to a historic start. The Patriots went 14-3 in the regular season after back-to-back 4-13 campaigns. Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player with New England, has transformed the franchise in just one year. The Patriots are in the playoffs for the first time since 2021 and earned their first AFC East title since 2019.
Monday Night and the Divisional Round Picture
The final Wild Card game features the Houston Texans traveling to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on Monday Night Football. The winner will complete the Divisional Round bracket.
Here is what we know about next weekend’s matchups:
- No. 6 Buffalo Bills at No. 1 Denver Broncos (Saturday, January 17)
- Winner of Texans/Steelers at No. 2 New England Patriots (Sunday, January 18)
- No. 6 San Francisco 49ers at No. 1 Seattle Seahawks (Saturday, January 17)
- No. 5 Los Angeles Rams at No. 2 Chicago Bears (Sunday, January 18)
The Denver Broncos earned the AFC’s top seed with a 14-3 record and have the league’s best defense according to several metrics. They have been resting all week while waiting to see who survives Wild Card Weekend. The Seattle Seahawks hold the NFC’s top seed and home field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
What To Watch in the Divisional Round
The matchups set up some fascinating storylines. Can Josh Allen finally get the Bills over the hump against a stingy Broncos defense? Will the 49ers continue their incredible run despite losing Kittle, Nick Bosa, and Fred Warner to injuries throughout the season? Can Caleb Williams lead another miracle comeback against Matthew Stafford and the high-powered Rams offense?
The Conference Championship Games are scheduled for Sunday, January 25. Super Bowl LX will be played on Sunday, February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Without the Chiefs dynasty standing in the way, this might be the most wide open playoff field we have seen in years.
One thing is certain after Wild Card Weekend: expect the unexpected. These playoffs are just getting started.
