Updated NFL playoff scenarios after Wild Card weekend games

The NFL playoff picture has started to take shape after the opening set of Wild Card weekend games, with two results already locked in and several key scenarios still in action. While there’s more football to be played, Saturday’s outcomes have already clarified potential matchups in both conferences and reshaped the road ahead for several contenders.

With higher seeds holding serve and lower seeds bowing out, the divisional-round permutations are becoming easier to track even if plenty remains undecided.

Bears and Rams advance

Saturday’s action delivered wins for the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams, eliminating the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers from postseason contention.

Chicago’s victory secures them another home playoff game, with the Bears now guaranteed to face the highest remaining seed in the NFC divisional round. That opponent will only be determined once the remaining Wild Card games are completed.

Meanwhile, the Rams’ road win ensures they remain alive as the No. 5 seed, meaning their path forward will stay away from home. Los Angeles will travel again next weekend, with their destination dependent on the result of the **San Francisco 49ers vs Philadelphia Eagles matchup.

NFC divisional-round scenarios after Saturday’s games

With two NFC games in the books, the remaining scenarios are relatively straightforward:

• If the Eagles defeat the 49ers, the Rams will head to face the Seattle Seahawks, while Chicago will host Philadelphia.
• If the 49ers upset the Eagles, Los Angeles will travel to Chicago, and San Francisco will face Seattle.

Regardless of outcome, the Rams cannot host a divisional-round game due to their seeding.

The Seahawks, as the NFC’s top seed, will face the lowest remaining seed, making Sunday’s Eagles-49ers clash critical for Seattle’s matchup.

AFC playoff scenarios

In the AFC, no Wild Card games have concluded yet, leaving all scenarios intact. The Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and Pittsburgh Steelers all remain in play.

Buffalo’s potential path is particularly demanding. The Bills are unlikely to host a playoff game unless they reach the AFC Championship and face the Chargers. Otherwise, road trips appear inevitable.

Jacksonville, red-hot to close the regular season, could either host a divisional-round game or travel depending on Sunday’s results.

With only two games complete, the playoff puzzle is far from finished. However, Saturday’s results have already simplified several NFC outcomes and increased pressure on Sunday’s matchups.

By the end of Wild Card weekend, the full divisional-round schedule and the true Super Bowl paths will finally be locked in.

Also Read: Chicago Bears suffer brutal playoff injury setback as T.J. Edwards, Ozzy Trapilo ruled out for remainder of postseason

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