Finally, we have the order. After plenty of NFL Week 18 drama, every playoff spot has been decided: The Panthers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the NFC South on the line, but with Atlanta beating New Orleans, they still squeak in at 8-9. The Pittsburgh Steelers survived a Sunday Night classic, as a missed field goal by Baltimore punched their ticket into the first round.
Every matchup except one has a spread of four points or less. Get ready for another nail-biting weekend with our preview of the NFL Wild Card odds.
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Los Angeles Rams (12-5) at Carolina Panthers (8-9)
- Start: 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX
- Spread: Rams -9.5, Panthers +9.5
- Moneyline: Rams -500, Panthers +360
- Total: 46.5
While the Rams’ record and 9.5-point spread indicate they’re a much better team than Carolina, one of the Rams’ five losses came at the hands of the Panthers.
In Week 13, the Panthers pulled off a 31-28 upset as 10.5-point home ‘dogs by intercepting MVP candidate Matthew Stafford twice and forcing a fumble. Meanwhile, quarterback Bryce Young and the Panthers were efficient, throwing three touchdowns on just 20 passes while running backs Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle combined for 141 yards rushing on 35 carries.
It’s tough to see Stafford making the same mistakes twice, but it’s not like the Rams got shut out. They still posted 28 points despite the turnovers, indicating that it will once again come down to how effective and efficient the Panthers are on offense. Oddsmakers don’t expect another high-scoring affair with the 46.5 total.
Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) at Chicago Bears (11-6)
- Start: 8 p.m. ET on Prime Video
- Spread: Packers +1, Bears -1
- Moneyline: Packers -105, Bears -115
- Total: 46.5
Just as the football gods lined it up, the storied rivalry of the Packers vs. the Bears is back in the postseason. Oddsmakers understand the magnitude of the matchup, making the spread nearly a coin flip.
The Bears and Packers split their NFC North division battles in the regular season, with the Bears needing overtime in Week 16 to beat QB Malik Willis after a helmet hit put starter Jordan Love in concussion protocol.
Love will be back for the wild-card round, but he hasn’t played for two weeks since the injury. The Bears, meanwhile, are coming off their second straight loss, falling to the 49ers and the Detroit Lions.
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Buffalo Bills (12-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)
- Start: 1 p.m. ET on CBS
- Spread: Bills -1, Jaguars +1
- Moneyline: Bills -115, Jaguars -105
- Total: 51.5
Another coinflip game. While the Buffalo are the sexier team with playoff experience, you can argue that Jacksonville is the hotter and better overall squad after winning eight straight and taking the AFC South division.
While Buffalo boasts the perceived better QB in Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence has been on fire, with 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions during their seven-game streak. Allen has been more hit-or-miss; the 2024 MVP topped 200 passing yards just twice in his last five starts and hasn’t scored a passing touchdown in his last two starts.
San Francisco 49ers (12-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
- Start: 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX
- Spread: Eagles -3.5, 49ers +3.5
- Moneyline: Eagles -200, 49ers +170
- Total: 46.5
The Eagles need a wild-card win more for their sanity than a Super Bowl repeat. The Eagles have been teetering on a team meltdown all year, and a loss to the 49ers could be the fuse that blows everything up: Is Jalen Hurts the future at QB? Will A.J. Brown social media himself off the roster? Will the coaching staff be on the hotseat?
All could be cured if they defeat a 49ers team everyone believes is among the best-coached squads in football. The 49ers, meanwhile, finally looked like the lesser team in their 13-3 Week 18 loss against Seattle. With the division title on the line, QB Brock Purdy looked lost, throwing for just 127 yards with one INT. Seattle also held star RB Christian McCaffrey to just 28 rushing yards on eight carries.
Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at New England Patriots (14-3)
- Start: 8 p.m. ET on NBC
- Spread: Patriots -4, Chargers +4
- Moneyline: Patriots -200, Chargers -170
- Total: 46.5
While the Patriots have been the talk of the NFL all season, the Chargers have a legit chance to play spoiler in the wild-card round. The four-point spread is respectable, and QB Justin Herbert received much-needed rest in Week 18 to be ready for a heated battle in Foxborough.
The key to a Chargers upset is protecting Herbert behind a leaky line – he is among the most QBs in the NFL. His lack of time in the pocket puts the offense in bad spots unless he can make a heroic play.
Monday, January 13, 2026
Houston Texans (12-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
- Start: 8 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC
- Spread: Texans -3, Steelers +3
- Moneyline: Texans -175, Steelers +160
- Total: 39.5
Speaking of pass rush, veteran QB Aaron Rodgers better strap up when he faces the Texans. The good news is that wideout DK Metcalf should be back in the lineup, an addition sorely needed to help stretch the field and open up passing lanes.
With the Steelers opening as +3 home ‘dogs, oddsmakers seem to anticipate Rodgers struggling to escape the elite Texans pass rush. Still, Pittsburgh has a long history of disrupting quarterbacks themselves in high-intensity matchups, and the Texans’ offense has been uneven throughout the season. Oddsmakers expect a tough defensive battle with the total at 39.5.