> At a Glance
> – The NFL postseason begins Saturday with two NFC Wild Card games
> – 4:30 p.m. ET: Rams at Panthers; 8 p.m. ET: Packers at Bears
> – Both contests feature regular-season rematches decided by one score
> – Why it matters: Winners move within one victory of the NFC title game
The playoffs arrive early for four NFC teams as the Wild Card Round tips off with a prime-time doubleheader featuring division rivalries and a revenge game.
Game 1: Rams at Panthers
Carolina hosts Los Angeles in Charlotte at 4:30 p.m. ET, airing on Fox and streaming on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app. The No. 4 Panthers (8-9) edged the No. 5 Rams (12-5) 31-28 in Week 13, forcing three turnovers from Matthew Stafford.
The Panthers became one of the few clubs ever to reach the playoffs with a losing record after clinching the NFC South.
Game 2: Packers at Bears
The nightcap kicks off at 8 p.m. ET at Soldier Field, where the No. 2 Bears (11-6) face the No. 7 Packers (9-7-1). Amazon Prime Video carries the national broadcast; Chicago viewers can also watch on Fox, and Green Bay on NBC.
This is only the third postseason meeting between the rivals and the first since Green Bay’s 2010 NFC Championship victory in Chicago. The teams split the 2025 regular-season series, with the Bears storming back in Week 16 for a 22-16 overtime win on a 46-yard TD pass from Caleb Williams to DJ Moore.
Full Weekend Schedule
Saturday:
- Rams at Panthers, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
- Packers at Bears, 8 p.m. ET (Amazon Prime Video)
Sunday:
- Bills at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
- 49ers at Eagles, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
- Chargers at Patriots, 8 p.m. ET (NBC/Peacock)
Monday:
- Texans at Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)
Key Takeaways
- Panthers aim to repeat regular-season upset over the higher-seeded Rams
- Bears-Packers rivalry adds historic edge to prime-time slot
- All games stream via NFL+ on phones/tablets
The postseason opener sets the tone as eight teams fight for survival on Wild Card Weekend.
