The NFL playoffs have finally arrived, and there’s no shortage of drama as Wild Card weekend kicks off with a Saturday doubleheader that’s got fans buzzing. On January 10, 2026, the postseason begins with two high-stakes NFC showdowns: the Los Angeles Rams traveling east to face the Carolina Panthers, and the Green Bay Packers heading to the Windy City to take on their fierce rivals, the Chicago Bears. With storylines galore and playoff dreams on the line, this is the kind of football Saturday that keeps fans glued to the action.
First up, the No. 5 seed Rams (12-5) are set to square off against the No. 4 seed Panthers (8-9) at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET, with the game airing on FOX and streaming live via Fubo. The Panthers, who clinched their first NFC South title in a decade, are relishing the chance to host a playoff game—a scenario few predicted at the season’s outset. Their journey to the postseason was anything but straightforward, yet here they are, ready to defend home turf against a Rams squad that looked like the class of the conference for much of the year.
But if you think that’s the only intrigue, think again. The nightcap brings one of the NFL’s most storied rivalries back into the spotlight as the No. 2 seed Chicago Bears (11-6), fresh off winning the NFC North, welcome the No. 7 seed Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) to Soldier Field. This 8:00 p.m. ET matchup won’t be on traditional TV everywhere—fans will have to tune in via Amazon Prime Video, though local broadcasts are available in Chicago, Green Bay, and Milwaukee. Legendary broadcaster Al Michaels teams up with Kirk Herbstreit to call the action, adding an extra layer of gravitas to this playoff battle.
Let’s dig a little deeper into these matchups, starting with Rams vs. Panthers. The Panthers may be underdogs—BetMGM had them at +450 with the Rams favored by 10.5 points as of Saturday—but they’ve already proven they can hang with Los Angeles. In a thrilling Week 13 contest, Carolina stunned the Rams 31-28 in front of their home crowd. That victory not only boosted the Panthers’ playoff hopes but also showed that, despite their losing record, they could take down one of the league’s best on any given Sunday—or Saturday, as fate would have it.
History could be on Carolina’s side. Of the four division winners in NFL history who entered the postseason with a losing record, two have managed to win their wild-card games. The Panthers themselves achieved that feat back in 2014. With the pressure squarely on the Rams, who are expected to contend for a deep postseason run, Carolina has little to lose and everything to gain. The stakes are high for both teams: a win means a ticket to the Divisional Round and a shot at Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, California.
Coaching is another storyline to watch. This game marks the playoff debut for Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who’s looking to make a statement in front of the home fans. On the opposite sideline, Rams head coach Sean McVay is no stranger to playoff football, but he’s only 1-1 on the road in wild-card games. Canales is hoping to channel some of that underdog magic that’s defined Carolina’s season, while McVay aims to get his squad back on track after their Week 13 stumble.
As for the Rams, they come into this one with a chip on their shoulder. After rolling through much of the regular season, that loss to Carolina was a wake-up call. Now, with the odds in their favor and a chance to set the record straight, Los Angeles is primed for redemption. FOX’s Joe Davis and Greg Olsen will have the call, bringing fans every twist and turn as these two teams battle for postseason survival.
Switching gears to the night game, it’s hard to overstate the significance of a Bears-Packers playoff clash. This will be the 213th meeting between these NFC North rivals, but only the third time they’ve squared off in the postseason. The regular season saw the teams split their head-to-head matchups, with the most recent encounter ending in a dramatic 22-16 overtime victory for Chicago in Week 16. That game, played at Soldier Field, saw the Bears outlast a Packers team missing starting quarterback Jordan Love. Now, with everything on the line, both teams are at full strength and ready to write another chapter in this historic rivalry.
Seeding might not mean much in this matchup. The Packers, as the No. 7 seed, have already shown they can defy expectations. Back in 2023, Green Bay became the first No. 7 seed to knock off a No. 2 seed, nearly toppling the eventual NFC champions in the process. Bears head coach Ben Johnson is making his playoff debut, while Packers coach Matt LaFleur is 1-1 in wild-card road games. With both teams boasting playoff-caliber rosters and plenty of recent history, this one could go down to the wire.
The betting lines reflect just how close this contest could be. As of Saturday, the Packers were slight favorites by 1 point, with an over/under set at 44.5 points. The Bears, however, have the psychological edge after their recent overtime win and the benefit of home-field advantage in frigid Chicago. Fans can expect a hard-fought, physical game—just what you’d want from a playoff edition of the NFL’s oldest rivalry.
Elsewhere in the league, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks secured the No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC respectively, earning first-round byes. The New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers both snapped long division title droughts, setting the stage for fresh faces and new storylines in this year’s postseason. Notably, perennial contenders like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and Washington Commanders are all watching from home, underscoring just how unpredictable this NFL season has been.
With the wild-card round just getting started, the path to Super Bowl 60 is wide open. Saturday’s games are just the beginning, with more playoff action on tap Sunday and Monday—including Bills vs. Jaguars, 49ers vs. Eagles, Chargers vs. Patriots, and Texans vs. Steelers. But for now, all eyes are on Charlotte and Chicago as the Rams, Panthers, Bears, and Packers battle for their postseason lives.
As the first whistles blow and the tension mounts, fans everywhere will be watching to see who steps up, who stumbles, and who earns the right to keep their Super Bowl dreams alive. The NFL playoffs are here, and with matchups this enticing, anything can happen. Stay tuned—this Wild Card Saturday promises to deliver the thrills football fans crave.