The NFL playoffs have already produced plenty of drama, but the road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California has a long way to run.
According to the NFL, this year’s playoffs have already set a record for most fourth quarter lead changes, with a staggering 12 lead changes in the first round of the postseason alone.
The Buffalo Bills captured a win in a back-and-forth affair with the Jacksonville Jaguars, while the Chicago Bears erased an 18-point deficit in beating the Green Bay Packers, shattering a team record for biggest comeback in a playoff game.
It’s hard to imagine that things could get even wilder in this postseason, but with some electric matchups on the docket this weekend, things should remain chaotic and entertaining moving forward.
Here’s who’s still in the playoffs, and what the road ahead looks like.
NFC Divisional Round Matchups
The NFC playoffs will head to the Pacific Northwest on Saturday night when the Seattle Seahawks, the top seed in the conference, welcome the San Francisco 49ers to town in a divisional battle.
The Seahawks beat the 49ers in the final week of the regular season to secure the top seed in the NFC, but the 49ers kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles over the weekend.
Unfortunately for the 49ers that win came at a steep cost, as star tight end George Kittle tore his Achilles tendon, and will be out for the remainder of the playoffs.
The Seahawks meanwhile had one of the NFL’s best offenses, finishing in the top-10 in the league in yards per game and third in the league in points per game with 28.4.
In the second game of the divisional round, the Bears will host the Los Angeles Rams in what is expected to be a frigid contest Sunday at Soldier Field, with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m. on NBC.
According to Pro Football Reference, teams that play their home games in domed stadiums have not fared well in cold weather playoff games, posting a 2-15 record in outdoor games with a kickoff temperature below freezing since 2000.
Still, the Rams will pose a formidable matchup to the Bears, as they had the NFL’s best offense both in points per game and in points per game this season.
Matthew Stafford had one of his best offensive seasons ever as he was named a first-team All-Pro for the first time ever, and Puka Nacua cemented his status as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL by racking up more than 1,700 receiving yards on the year.
The Bears are no strangers to clutch victories however, and they certainly will be a formidable opponent. Caleb Williams has led the team to six comeback wins this season when his team has trailed in the fourth quarter, and he wrote the latest chapter in that history with his epic performance against the Packers, setting a franchise record for passing yards in a playoff game in the 31-27 triumph.
Add to that the two-headed monster of running backs the Bears have in Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift, and they could go punch-for-punch with the Rams on Sunday.
What’s Ahead in the NFC?
If the Seahawks win, then they would host the NFC Championship Game a week from Sunday in Seattle.
If the Seahawks lose to the 49ers, then the game would be played at the home stadium of either the Bears or the Rams.
AFC Divisional Round Matchups
The top-seeded Denver Broncos will lead off the playoff weekend by welcoming the Buffalo Bills to Empower Field at Mile High on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
The Broncos won 13 of their final 14 games as they went 14-3 on the season, earning the top seed in the AFC thanks to the strong performance of their defense, which allowed the second-fewest yards per game in the NFL.
Bo Nix also had a great season for Denver, throwing for 3,931 yards and 25 touchdowns.
The Bills meanwhile are fresh off their first road playoff win in more than 30 years after they defeated the Jaguars, and they of course are led by incredible quarterback Josh Allen, who threw for 273 yards and rushed for 33 more in Buffalo’s win.
The Bills also boast a top-10 defense in the league, and they opened the week as a narrow betting favorite in the contest.
The Houston Texans and New England Patriots will follow with a tough game in Foxborough on Sunday at 2 p.m., and this will feature a matchup of two of the top defenses in the league. The Texans’ defense terrorized Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night, allowing just 175 total yards and sacking Rodgers four times. They also held the Steelers to a mark of just 2-for-14 on third down, and they forced a pair of turnovers in the game.
The Texans’ pass rushers could pose an issue for the Patriots’ offensive line, as Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter have formed one of the league’s best tandems this season.
Not to be outdone, the Patriots also had a top-10 defense during the regular season, and allowed just 18.8 points per game, good for fourth-best in the NFL. They held the Los Angeles Chargers to just over 200 yards of offense in their Sunday win, and Drake Maye threw for 268 yards and a touchdown in his playoff debut.
What’s Ahead in the AFC?
The Broncos own the top seed in the AFC, so if they win on Saturday they would host the AFC Championship Game.
If the Bills pull off the upset, they would visit the winner of Sunday’s battle between the Patriots and Texans.
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