The 2026 NFL Playoffs started with a really exciting Wild Card Weekend that had close games, comebacks, and even a blowout. From Saturday to Monday night, every game had something important on the line, and most teams had to fight until the end to survive.
The weekend began with the Los Angeles Rams playing the Carolina Panthers. The Rams were favored by 2 possessions, but surprisingly, it was a back-and-forth game. Ultimately, the Rams were able to score later in the game and win 34–31. Carolina played hard at home, but a few mistakes at the end cost them their season.
Later on Saturday night, the Chicago Bears pulled off one of the biggest wins of the weekend against the Green Bay Packers. The Bears were down 21-3 at halftime, but their quarterback, Caleb Williams, helped lead a huge comeback. Chicago won 31–27, giving their fans their first playoff win in 15 years.
Sunday started with the Buffalo Bills winning a close game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27–24. Quarterback Josh Allen made big plays throughout the game, which helped the Bills to hold off Jacksonville and get a late interception to get a tough playoff road win.
Another close game was the San Francisco 49ers beating the defending Super Bowl champions, the Eagles, 23–19. The 49ers scored late and then relied on their defense to finish the game. The loss ended Philadelphia’s title hopes early in a crushing fashion to a franchise that has performed so well in recent years.
Sunday night featured a defensive battle between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Patriots controlled the game and won 16–3, shutting down Justin Herbert and the Chargers’ offense, and they earned their first playoff win in the post-Brady era.
The Wild Card round ended on Monday night with the Houston Texans dominating the Pittsburgh Steelers. Houston got an early lead and never slowed down, winning 30–6. The Texans’ defense was too much for Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers’ offense, which caused problems for them all night. This helped the Texans earn their first playoff road win in franchise history.
Overall, Week 1 of the 2026 NFL Playoffs delivered exactly what fans hoped for. There were close games, big performances, and surprising results. With so many exciting moments already, the rest of the playoffs look like they will be just as intense.
