NFL Playoffs Wild Card Weekend Recap: Chaos, Comebacks & Clutch Performances

Good evening, Bench Warmers.

We went live on a Sunday night because the first weekend of the NFL playoffs (formerly “Super Wild Card Weekend”… the NFL quietly dropped the “Super” like we wouldn’t notice) delivered exactly what January football is supposed to deliver:

pressure, chaos, and games that didn’t end until the very last breath.

Outside of the Patriots game, everything was a one-score knife fight—and even New England kept it within reach for a while before the system finally closed the door.

I had notes for every game. We’re going chronological order like a responsible adult… even though the playoffs don’t let anyone feel responsible.

And yes: this was a solo show. Solo shows are hard. But you guys rocked with me.

Before we jump in:

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Now let’s get into it.

Game 1: #5 Rams @ #4 Panthers — Rams survive, 34–31

The best way to describe this game is not “the Rams dominated.”

Because they didn’t.

And if you took Rams -10 or -10.5… I’m not laughing at you. I’m just looking at you like, “yeah… same.”

I said the Rams were going to roll. Vegas leaned the same way. Carolina reminded everybody that the “backed into the division title” label doesn’t matter once you’re in the tournament.

The headline:

The Rams advanced… but Carolina arrived.

If I’m a Rams fan, I’m leaving this game with more concerns than confidence, even in a win.

The Rams numbers:

• Matthew Stafford: 24/42, 304 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT
  He put on the Superman cape like the Detroit days and hit the game-winner with 38 seconds left.

• Puka Nacua: 10 catches, 111 yards, receiving TD + rushing TD

• Colby Parkinson: 2 catches, including the game-winning TD

The Panthers story:

This was a coming out party.

• Bryce Young: 21/40, 264 yards, TD, INT, plus a 24-yard rushing TD

• Tetairoa McMillan: 5 catches, 81 yards (and yes, he’s making his case)

• Jalen Coker: 9 catches, 134 yards, TD

• Carolina scored on 4 of their last 6 drives

The real conversation in Charlotte is simple:
Did Bryce prove enough to stake your future—and a second contract—on him?

Carolina’s season ends bittersweet, but it feels a lot better than the last few years. This team is ahead of schedule.

The Rams move on, but the message is clear:
January doesn’t care about your reputation.

Game 2: #7 Packers @ #2 Bears — Cardiac Bears strike again, 31–27

I don’t know what else to call them.

They’re the Cardiac Bears for a reason.

Chicago scored 25 points in the 4th quarter. They outscored Green Bay 25–6 in the final frame. And they completed an 18-point comeback like it was a casual Sunday hobby.

Packers: how do you lose this?

Green Bay led:

• 21–3 at halftime

• 27–16 after Matthew Golden’s TD

And still found a way to let it slip.

Jordan Love: 24/46, 323 yards, 4 TD
Great first half. Then disappeared like somebody turned the lights off.

And the hidden killer: special teams.

Brandon McManus: 0/2 on FGs + missed extra point
That’s 7 points left on the board in January. You don’t get those back.

Bears: ice in the veins

Caleb Williams: 24/48, 361 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Down 18 in the 4th? Didn’t blink.

DJ Moore: game-winning TD with 1:43 left
And Colston Loveland absolutely exploded late: 137 yards and became the go-to target from the third quarter on.

And yes, the loud part:
Matt LaFleur is officially under heat.
You can’t keep being the team that “should’ve” won.

Chicago hosts the Rams next. And they’re comfortable in the exact type of games that break teams.

Game 3: #6 Bills @ #3 Jaguars — Josh Allen drags Buffalo, 27–24

This one was a fourth-quarter street fight. Four lead changes in the fourth.

And in the end, it came down to something the Bills have lived with for years:

Josh Allen is the whole engine.

He might not win MVP in the official sense, but in the “most valuable to his team” sense?

Come on.

Bills:

Josh Allen: 28/35, 273 yards, 1 passing TD, 2 rushing TD, no turnovers
On the final drive he even hit a 10-yard tush push (yes, Josh Allen running the Bills’ emotional support QB sneak).

Khalil Shakir: 12 catches, 82 yards
For everybody screaming “they have no weapons,” Shakir was doing his best to shut that down.

Brandin Cooks: huge 36-yard catch that helped set up the winner.

Buffalo rushed for 79 yards—their season low—and still beat a talented Jacksonville team on the road.

That’s gritty.

Jaguars:

Great season. Brutal ending.

Trevor Lawrence: 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Two mistakes in that kind of game is the difference.

Parker Washington: 107 yards, TD

Jacksonville finishes 13–4, AFC South champs, and it still won’t feel good—because the NFL changes fast. You don’t get guaranteed “next year we’ll be back” seasons.

Also: Liam Coen outcoached Sean McDermott…
…but Allen bailed the Bills out.

Now Buffalo goes to Denver.

And yes: Allen’s got that “John Elway didn’t draft me” energy ready to go.

Game 4: #6 49ers @ #3 Eagles — Philly stunned, 23–19

Philly… lock your doors. Grease the poles. Hide the batteries. It’s not safe.

The Niners came in makeshift, then lost George Kittle with an Achilles injury, and still found a way.

The big picture:

This was Kyle Shanahan doing what Shanahan does when he has to.

You scheme. You stress the defense. You make people wrong.

And the Eagles offense did what it’s done all season:
inconsistent.

You can’t live like that in January.

Niners:

Brock Purdy: 262 yards, 1 TD late to McCaffrey
Not a great night, but he “nutted up in his Wranglers” when it mattered.

Christian McCaffrey: 2 rushing TDs
Used smartly. Fresh in key moments. Body blows all night.

Philly had chances, but the second half offense was not playoff-winning football.

And I’m just saying—if Kevin Patullo isn’t fired before bedtime, I’d be surprised.

Niners move on to a rematch with Seattle (again). That’s the kind of matchup that turns into a stress test, not a beauty contest.

Game 5: #2 Patriots vs #7 Chargers — The system wins, 16–3

This wasn’t flashy. This was a chokehold.

New England gets their first playoff win in seven years, and they did it the way the Patriots always do it:

Control the clock. Play defense. Let the other team drown slowly.

Patriots:

Drake Maye: 17/29, 268 yards, TD, INT
Calm. Controlled. Used his legs. Looked like he belonged.

Rhamondre Stevenson: 69 rush yards, 9.9 per carry
Every run was a body blow. By the end, the Chargers had no response.

Hunter Henry: 3 catches, 64 yards, TD (the only TD)
Borregales: 3/3 on field goals
Defense held LAC to 3 points.

Chargers:

This was tough to watch.

Justin Herbert: 11/19, 93 yards
He was physically beaten and had no help from a battered line.

Kimani Vidal: 9 carries, 56 yards (best offensive player)

This is the reality: injuries matter, sure. But the Chargers were supposed to challenge for the AFC West. Instead, Denver won it. LA limped in as the last seed and got swallowed whole.

Divisional Round Matchups We Know (So Far)

#6 Bills @ #1 Broncos

Ultimate test: can individual greatness overpower a complete team?
Denver’s defense has to bottle up the best player in the NFL.
Buffalo is betting Allen can drag them anyway.

#6 49ers @ #1 Seahawks

Seattle has rest. San Francisco has scar tissue.
One of those matters more in January.

#5 Rams @ #2 Bears

Bears are riding momentum. Rams are riding Stafford’s cape.
Whose light goes out first?

Patriots host winner of Texans vs Steelers

Houston’s defense is a nightmare. Steelers might be the weakest defense left.
New England waits—and the system is ready.

Playoff Point Tracker (Because this is personal now)

This thing moves fast.

After Wild Card Weekend:
Niko leads 8–6.

And I’m not going to lie—if the Broncos or the Rams go down next week, it’s going to be tough for me to come back.

But it’s competitive.

And that’s the point.

Final Word

If you don’t stay down and you never quit…

Come on over here and sit on The Far End of the Bench.

Drop your takes in the comments:

• Which team impressed you most?

• Which coach is in trouble first?

• Who’s your real Super Bowl pick right now?

And for the love of Boomer:
Subscribe to the channel.

We’ll see you Thursday for the full episode with Niko—divisional previews, more Wild Card recap, and a college football national championship to talk about.

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