play0:46What do the 49ers need to do vs. the Eagles?Field Yates previews the 49ers’ playoff matchup vs. the Eagles.
Why Matthew Stafford is Kurt Warner’s pick for NFL MVP (1:42)Kurt Warner joins “The Rich Eisen Show” to detail why Matthew Stafford is most deserving of league MVP. (1:42)
Stephen A. Smith breaks down why he’s confident the Bears will defeat the visiting Packers in their NFC wild-card matchup Saturday.
What do the 49ers need to do vs. the Eagles?Field Yates previews the 49ers’ playoff matchup vs. the Eagles.
The wild-card round for the 2025 NFL playoffs has six great matchups, and we have you covered with what you need to know heading into the weekend.
The games began Saturday, with Panthers QB Bryce Young making his first playoff appearance and facing the Rams. Another rendition of the Packers-Bears rivalry follows on Saturday night. Sunday brings a QB duel between the Bills’ Josh Allen and Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence, the 49ers visiting the Eagles, and the Chargers traveling cross-country to face Patriots QB Drake Maye. Monday caps the slate with a pesky Texans defense facing Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers.
Everything you want to know is here in one spot to help you get ready for a loaded weekend of NFL playoff football. Let’s get into the full wild-card slate.
Stephen A. picks NFC wild-card winner between Bears and Packers
Stat to know: Both QBs should have all the time they need. The Bears lead the league in pass block win rate (73.6%), and on plays without Micah Parsons on the field, the Packers have just a 28.1% pass rush win rate. On the flip side, the Bears also have almost zero pass rush (28.8% PRWR, 31st) while the Packers rank sixth in pass block win rate (69%). — Walder
Bold prediction: The Bears will hit a trick play on the first drive. They almost had one against the Packers in Week 16 — a fourth-and-goal direct snap to RB Kyle Monangai that went over his head. Johnson will have another wrinkle for his first postseason game as coach, and Chicago needs to get out to a faster start in this game. — Solak
Matchup X factor: Bears TE Colston Loveland. He has topped 90 receiving yards in each of his past two games. He has the alignment versatility to work multiple levels of the field in coach Ben Johnson’s offense. Look for Loveland to see steady volume from QB Caleb Williams versus the Packers’ zone-heavy defense. — Bowen
One bet to consider: Bears +1.5. Chicago runs efficiently, forces turnovers and closes better late. Green Bay moves the ball but stalls when it matters. Take the team built to survive discomfort. — Maldonado
Officiating nugget: Referee Adrian Hill missed two games because of a leg injury, but overall, his crew threw the second-most flags among the 17 crews (17.9). The Bears led the NFL with nine flags for roughing the passer, four more than the next team, but Hill’s crew called only three such penalties. — Seifert
Maldonado’s pick: Bears 27, Packers 24 Moody’s pick: Packers 24, Bears 21 Solak’s pick: Bears 27, Packers 23 Walder’s pick: Packers 34, Bears 31 FPI prediction: GB, 55.9% (by an average of 1.8 points)
Matchup must-reads: Will Packers’ Love win a SB like Favre, Rodgers in Year 3? … A new layer in Packers-Bears rivalry: Foam cheese grater hats … ‘Fragile’ no more: How the Bears’ Williams, Johnson evolved
Stat to know: The Jaguars have a 67.8% pass block win rate, which ranks ninth best but is by far the best for a Jaguars team with QB Trevor Lawrence under center. A part of that solution? Cole Van Lanen, who took over at LT in Week 13 and has a 92% pass block win rate, which is 22nd best at the position and an upgrade over Walker Little. — Walder
Bold prediction: Bills WR Gabe Davis, who played for the Jags in 2024, will score a touchdown in his revenge game. The Bills use Davis as a short-yardage and red zone threat because of his 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame. If they can’t run the ball in and need to drop back, Davis will be Allen’s preferred target. — Solak
Matchup X factor: Bills CB Taron Johnson. His ability to get to depth in Buffalo’s foundational zone coverages is key versus a Jaguars passing game that features deep in-breaking concepts. Here, Johnson can close the intermediate windows, which will limit Lawrence’s explosive play ability. — Bowen
One bet to consider: UNDER 51.5. Buffalo allows the fewest opponent plays per game and has a run-heavy offense. The Jaguars’ offense is efficient but not fast. — Maldonado
Officiating nugget: Referee Brad Allen’s crew threw the fewest flags per game this season (12.9). That could help the Jaguars, who were the NFL’s third-most penalized team (9.3 per game). The Bills were tied for the sixth fewest at 6.8 per game. — Seifert
Maldonado’s pick: Bills 27, Jaguars 20 Moody’s pick: Jaguars 31, Bills 27 Solak’s pick: Jaguars 23, Bills 21 Walder’s pick: Bills 34, Jaguars 30 FPI prediction: JAX, 51.5% (by an average of 0.4 points)
Matchup must-reads: Secret sauce to Bills beating the Jaguars? A big key is the O-line … How Jaguars QB Lawrence’s grill gift came to be … Jaguars clinch AFC South, turn sights toward playoffs
Field Yates previews the 49ers’ playoff matchup vs. the Eagles.
Stat to know: Since Week 7 — the week after LB Fred Warner’s ankle injury — the 49ers are allowing opponents a 47% success rate on designed runs (third highest). Though the Eagles haven’t been nearly as successful on the ground this season as they were in 2024, San Francisco’s defense could present the opportunity for RB Saquon Barkley to have a big game. — Walder
Bold prediction: Niners DE Bryce Huff will get a key sack. Huff is the 49ers’ best shot at edge pressure, and he has a quick first step that can challenge Eagles LT Jordan Mailata. Huff has been struggling mightily of late, but expect an impassioned performance here. — Solak
Matchup X factor: Eagles S Reed Blankenship. He will be asked to play a two-way role in the secondary, limiting the middle-of-the-field targets in the 49ers’ route tree while also filling the alleys to cut off RB Christian McCaffrey in the run game. Blankenship had 53 solo tackles and one interception this season. — Bowen
One bet to consider: 49ers QB Brock Purdy UNDER 1.5 passing touchdowns. The Eagles allow a league-low passing touchdown rate. And Fangio defenses historically suppress red zone passing efficiency, supporting Purdy’s under. — Maldonado
Officiating nugget: The 49ers were the second-least-penalized team in the NFL (six per game), but they’re tied for the most flags for unnecessary roughness (10). Overall, referee Alan Eck’s crew threw the NFL’s second-fewest flags per game this season (13). — Seifert
Maldonado’s pick: Eagles 24, 49ers 20 Moody’s pick: 49ers 20, Eagles 17 Solak’s pick: 49ers 24, Eagles 17 Walder’s pick: 49ers 30, Eagles 28 FPI prediction: PHI, 55.4% (by an average of 2.2 points)
Matchup must-reads: How the NFL’s best QB room got 49ers back to playoffs … What drives the Eagles defense? Meatballs … Injured 49ers LB Bethune to miss playoffs
What we’re hearing on the Chargers: QB Justin Herbert has been playing through a fractured left hand since Week 13, but he said this week that his hand feels the best it has since the injury. Herbert and other key starters rested in Week 18, a decision he said proved beneficial. “I’d say definitely not taking hits on it last week was probably pretty helpful,” he said. — Kris Rhim
Stat to know: The Patriots’ average of 8.7 air yards per attempt ranks as the second most in the NFL. But that makes for an interesting matchup against the Chargers’ defense, which allows opponents just 5.0 air yards per attempt (third lowest). Los Angeles achieves that by being the most two-high-heavy (57%) defense and the league’s most zone-heavy defense (70%). — Walder
Bold prediction: Chargers RB Omarion Hampton will shine on 20-plus carries and 100-plus yards against a poor Patriots run defense, especially if DT Khyiris Tonga (foot) can’t go. The Chargers need to run the ball to protect their offensive line and control pace, and Hampton has looked good since returning from his ankle injury. — Solak
Matchup X factor: Patriots TE Hunter Henry. His ability to uncover and work the seams gives the Patriots an edge in the red zone. Henry has five red zone touchdown receptions this season, including two in his past three games. He should be a priority target for Maye. — Bowen
One bet to consider: Patriots -3.5. New England is top five in point differential, points per drive on offense and defensive points allowed per drive. Since Week 10, the Chargers’ offense ranks bottom three in yards per play, success rate, explosive play rate and points per drive. That gap supports the margin. — Maldonado
Officiating nugget: Patriots CB Carlton Davis III was flagged six times for defensive pass interference, second most in the regular season. But the Chargers haven’t been great at drawing pass interference and have had only four called against their opponents, second lowest. — Seifert
Maldonado’s pick: Patriots 24, Chargers 17 Moody’s pick: Patriots 27, Chargers 24 Solak’s pick: Patriots 20, Chargers 14 Walder’s pick: Patriots 26, Chargers 23 FPI prediction: NE, 53.1% (by an average of 1.4 points)
Matchup must-reads: Why Mack stayed in L.A.; inside his relationship with Tuipulotu … Barnwell weighs in on Maye’s MVP candidacy … Herbert taking snaps, says rest helped hand
Tomlin to Eisen: We’re excited to have DK Metcalf back
Bold prediction: The Steelers will get shut out in the first half. There’s so much hype for the Texans’ pass rush, but it’s the secondary’s ability to create turnovers and minimize YAC that will lead to quick three-and-outs in this one. Houston can sustain long drives to control the clock, too. — Solak
Matchup X factor: Anderson. He can play a difference-making role, setting an edge to limit the Steelers’ outside zone run game, while also creating chaos as a pass rusher to disrupt Rodgers’ rhythm. — Bowen
One bet to consider: Texans -3. The Texans allow the second-lowest points per drive and force the most field goals per drive. Pittsburgh can score only with short fields, so the cleaner defense will cover in this game. — Maldonado