Here are the 2026 NFL Wild Card weekend updates & results for you. As of January 11, 2026 (late afternoon/evening PST), the NFL playoffs have kicked off with high drama in the Wild Card round. We’ve seen massive comebacks, clutch drives, and a few surprises in one of the most unpredictable postseason openings in recent memory. Here’s the full recap so far, including scores, key highlights, notable upsets, and how the bracket is shaping up.
2026 NFL Wild Card Weekend Updates
Here are the 2026 NFL Wild Card weekend updates & results for you. We’ll keep adding new information as we have it for you for all of the game action on Sunday and Monday.
Completed Games & Key Highlights
Saturday, January 10 – NFC Wild Card Doubleheader
- Los Angeles Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31
The Rams survived a close game in Charlotte, avoiding what could have been a major upset. Matthew Stafford engineered a clutch 71-yard game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter, capping it with a 19-yard TD pass to TE Colby Parkinson with under a minute left. Stafford finished with 304 yards and 3 TDs (including scores to Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, and Parkinson), despite some inefficiency. Bryce Young and the Panthers fought hard,Young showed poise with 264 yards and a TD, plus a rushing score,but couldn’t convert on their final possession.
Highlight: Stafford’s calm leadership under pressure, reminiscent of his MVP-caliber regular season.
Upset potential: The Panthers nearly pulled it off after beating the Rams earlier in the season. - Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27
One of the biggest stories of the weekend: Caleb Williams led the third-largest fourth-quarter comeback in NFL playoff history (and the largest in Bears postseason lore), outscoring the Packers 25-6 in the final frame after trailing by 15. Williams threw for 184 yards in the fourth alone (more than his first three quarters combined), sealing it with a 25-yard TD pass to DJ Moore with 1:43 left.
Highlight: Williams’ heroics continue to build his “comeback kid” reputation in just his second season.
Upset alert: The Bears (as the lower seed) stunned the Packers in a heated NFC North rivalry matchup.
Sunday, January 11 Games
- Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24
Josh Allen delivered his first career game-winning playoff drive in the fourth, bulldozing in for a 1-yard TD run with 1:04 left after four lead changes in the quarter. Allen added a 15-yard TD pass. Safety Cole Bishop sealed it with a game-ending INT on Trevor Lawrence.
Highlight: Allen’s poise in chaos, extending Buffalo’s divisional round streak to six years.
No major upset: Bills were slight underdogs on the road but prevailed. - San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19
Brock Purdy and the 49ers advanced despite injuries (including a torn Achilles for TE George Kittle). Purdy hit on big plays like a 29-yard trick-play TD to Christian McCaffrey and a 61-yard bomb. The Eagles got on the board early but couldn’t hold off the resilient Niners.
Highlight: Purdy’s accuracy and the 49ers’ grit against a tough Philly defense.
Mild upset: 49ers as road team toppled the Eagles. - New England Patriots 16, Los Angeles Chargers 3 (NBC/Peacock)
- Dominant defense (6 sacks on Herbert, 207 yds allowed); Drake Maye: 268 pass + 66 rush yds, TD to Hunter Henry. Highlight: Patriots’ first playoff win since 2018; Vrabel’s fingerprints on new-look Pats. No upset.
- Houston Texans 30, Pittsburgh Steelers 6 (Monday night, ESPN/ABC)
- (dominant; Stroud/Defense rolls)
Bracket Advancement & Updated Picture
Divisional Round (Jan. 17-18, 2026):
All matchups now confirmed after Texans’ 30-6 rout of Steelers (final Wild Card game). Broncos and Seahawks had byes.
- Saturday, Jan. 17
- No. 6 Buffalo Bills at No. 1 Denver Broncos – 4:30 PM ET on CBS (streaming on Paramount+)
- No. 6 San Francisco 49ers at No. 1 Seattle Seahawks – 8:00 PM ET on FOX (streaming on FOX Sports app)
- Sunday, Jan. 18
- No. 5 Houston Texans at No. 2 New England Patriots – 3:00 PM ET on ESPN/ABC (streaming on ESPN app)
- No. 5 Los Angeles Rams at No. 2 Chicago Bears – 6:30 PM ET on NBC (streaming on Peacock)
Conference Championships (Jan. 25, 2026):
- AFC Championship – ~3:00 PM ET on CBS (streaming on Paramount+)
- NFC Championship – ~6:30 PM ET on FOX (streaming on FOX Sports app)
Matchups and exact times/locations determined post-Divisional (higher seed hosts).
Super Bowl LX (Feb. 8, 2026):
- 6:30 PM ET on NBC (streaming on Peacock)
- Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA (home of the 49ers)
- Halftime show and full broadcast details TBD; neutral site for AFC vs. NFC champion.
Some related articles for you:
- Complete NFL Playoff Bracket (Blank)
- Printable Divisional Round Playoff Bracket (Pending Updates on Monday)
- Future NFL Regular Season Schedules
- 2026 Super Bowl Info
