The Earvin Edit

Wild Card Weekend is here, and with it comes the chaos that makes the NFL playoffs so unpredictable.

Written by Earvin Adjei

Wild Card weekend has it all. Let’s break down each matchup and predict who moves on to the Divisional Round.

No. 5 Los Angeles Rams at No. 4 Carolina Panthers

Wild Card Weekend kicks off with the Rams traveling to Carolina to face the NFC South champion Panthers. These two teams met in Week 13, with Carolina edging out a 31–28 victory, but I expect a very different outcome this time around. That regular-season loss felt like a classic trap game for the Rams. They cannot replicate that game with their season on the line. Matthew Stafford has been the MVP frontrunner all year, and the Rams’ offense, which was already formidable with Puka Nacua, will see Davante Adams return. Meanwhile, Carolina and quarterback Bryce Young have been wildly inconsistent. One week, Young looks confident against strong competition; the next, he struggles against a lesser opponent. That inconsistency is why I’m taking Los Angeles. This will be Young’s first playoff game, and the lights may be too bright against a veteran Rams team led by an elite quarterback and head coach who knows what it takes to win the Super Bowl. 

Final Prediction: Rams win, 27–10

No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Chicago Bears

An NFC North battle that pits two iconic franchises against each other. When the season began, few expected the Bears to win the division, but here we are, with Green Bay traveling to Chicago in January. The Packers are without star pass rusher Micah Parsons, and their defense has looked significantly worse without him. In the 3 games since Parsons’ injury, Green Bay has gone 0-3 and allowed 170 yards per game on the ground. This will be a problem against a Bears offense that leans on its run game under head coach Ben Johnson. Chicago’s improved offensive line and strong rushing attack have helped quarterback Caleb Williams look far more poised in his second season. Green Bay’s offense is capable of scoring, but Jordan Love’s gunslinger mentality could become an issue against a Bears defense that excels at getting takeaways. With Chicago healthier and playing at home, they get the edge in what should be a tight divisional battle.

Final Prediction: Bears win, 26–21

No. 6 Buffalo Bills at No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars

In a playoff field that will not feature Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson, all eyes are on Josh Allen. The Bills clearly have the best player in this matchup, but is that enough? Jacksonville enters on an eight-game winning streak, and  Trevor Lawrence has been excellent during this stretch. During this streak, Lawrence has had a TD-to-INT ratio of 19-5 and is thriving in Liam Coen’s offense. Add in home-field advantage, and the Jaguars look like the safer pick. This game comes down to trust, and I trust Josh Allen more. Allen has shown his ability to put on his Superman cape and elevate the Bills. Lawrence has looked good, but we have seen him underperform in the playoffs before. Liam Coen is also navigating his first postseason as a head coach. In a close game, I’ll take the quarterback who can take over when everything breaks down.

Final Prediction: Bills win, 30–27

No. 6 San Francisco 49ers at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles

This matchup renews a short-lived but heated rivalry. These teams last met in the playoffs during the 2023 NFC Championship, a game where San Francisco was trounced 31-7 and dealt with multiple quarterback injuries. A year later, the 49ers returned the favor with a dominant 42-19 regular-season win in Philadelphia that sent the Eagles’ season spiraling. But that was then, this is now. This season, Philadelphia has an elite defense, but its offense has been downright awful at times. San Francisco has been the complete opposite. The 49ers’ defense has been without stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner and looked weak all season. Their offense on the other hand has looked amazing to end the season, averaging 31 points in their last seven games. It’s truly a game of an immovable object meets an unstoppable force. Eagles get the edge here. Not only are they playing in Philadelphia, which can be a hostile environment, but their defense is elite, and the 49ers’ run defense is horrid. This could be a game where the Eagles turn to Saquon Barkley and let him have a big game. Kyle Shanahan is also 1-3 against Vic Fangio-led defenses and averaging only 10.3 points in those matchups. If Philadelphia controls the game on the ground, San Francisco may struggle to keep pace.

Final Prediction: Eagles win, 23–17

No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers at No. 2 New England Patriots

In his first season as head coach, Mike Vrabel has transformed New England into a tough, disciplined team. Drake Maye has taken a massive leap in year two, becoming an MVP candidate and playing clean and poised football. Postseason football is all about protecting the football, and that’s something Maye is all about. The Chargers, meanwhile, enter the playoffs without the services of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt on the offensive line. Against a physical Patriots defense, those injuries loom large. Justin Herbert will eventually win his first playoff game, but this doesn’t feel like the spot.

Final Prediction: Patriots win, 23–13

No. 5 Houston Texans at No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers

Wild Card Weekend finishes with Houston traveling to Pittsburgh. The Steelers are riding high after an emotional Week 18 win that secured the division, but that momentum may fade quickly. Houston’s defense is the difference here. Their pass rush is dominant,  led by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.  It’s going to be a long night for 42-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers. While Pittsburgh regains DK Metcalf, a key offensive weapon, no one else on the Steelers offense scares you, and the matchup still favors Houston. Expect the Texans to burst Pittsburghs’ bubble.

Final Prediction: Texans win, 23–13