bradcalkins / Depositphotos.com
Here are my NFL Divisional Round game predictions, both straight-up and against the spread and my results from last week and the season totals.
You’ll also find an array of fantastic notes down below for the four Divisional Round games, courtesy of NFL Communications press releases.
There are 11 VFLs on teams alive in the NFL Divisional Round with 8 of them on active rosters. Darrell Taylor (NE/Practice Squad), Jakob Johnson (Hou/Practice Squad) and Joshua Palmer (Buf/IR) are not on the active 53-player rosters at the moment Below with each game you’ll find the active roster VFLs in that game. Look for a VFL in the NFL, ex-Vol and local player update blog soon on this feed and website, 991TheSportsAnimal.com.
Vince’s Picks Results
Wildcard Round: 4-2 straight-up & 3-3 spread
Season: 187-91 (67%) straight-up & 156-122 (56%) spread
Winners are in bold. Pick against the spread selection is listed to the side.
Buffalo at Denver (-1) – Denver -1
VFLs: none
San Francisco at Seattle (-7) – Seattle -7
VFLs: WR Jauan Jennings (SF), RB Velus Jones Jr. (Sea)
Houston at New England (-3) – New England -3
VFLs: DE Derek Barnett (Hou), QB Joshua Dobbs (NE)
LA Rams (-3.5) at Chicago – Chicago +3.5
VFLs: DE Byron Young (LAR), S Jaylen McCollough (LAR), RT Darnell Wright (Chi), LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (Chi)
NEW YORK — Jan. 13, 2026 — The Wild Card round produced one of the most exciting starts to a postseason in NFL history.
There were 12 fourth quarter lead changes with four teams winning after trailing in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter across the six Wild Card games, both the most in a single postseason in NFL history. Three teams – the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams – scored the game-winning touchdown in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, the most such wins in a postseason all-time.
Four teams that did not win their division – Buffalo, Houston, the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco – won on Wild Card Weekend for the third time ever, joining 2015 and 2020. Over 80 percent of the plays (775 of 968) during Wild Card Week occurred during a one-score game and four games were decided by four points or fewer, the most in a single round in NFL postseason history.
For the first time in 16 seasons (since 2010), four different teams will host Divisional playoff games than the prior season and three Divisional games will be hosted by teams – Chicago, New England and Seattle – that missed the playoffs last season.
The NFC West – with the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco and Seattle – is the fourth division all-time with three teams competing in the Divisional playoffs, joining the 2022 NFC East, 1997 NFC Central and 1992 NFC East.
Seven of the eight remaining starting quarterbacks are under the age of 30, with Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (age 37) as the only starting quarterback left who has previously led his team to a Super Bowl title. For the first time in 26 seasons and for the third time ever (1999 and 2000), three quarterbacks in their first or second season – New England’s Drake Maye, Denver’s Bo Nix and Chicago’s Caleb Williams – will start in the Divisional round.
For the Divisional playoffs capsules, click here.
AFC Divisional playoffs notes:
No. 6 Buffalo Bills (13-5) at No. 1 Denver Broncos (14-3) (Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS/Paramount+): The Broncos – the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2015 – are set to host their first playoff game since the 2015 AFC Championship Game (Jan. 24, 2016, against New England) prior to winning Super Bowl 50 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara (the site of Super Bowl LX). On Wild Card Weekend, the Bills defeated the Jaguars, 27-24, to earn their first road postseason victory since the 1992 AFC Championship Game (Jan. 17, 1993, at Miami).
- In the 2024 Wild Card round last season in Buffalo, the Bills defeated the Broncos, 31-7, and Buffalo has won both postseason meetings against Denver, including the 1991 AFC Championship Game (Jan. 12, 1992) to advance to Super Bowl XXVI.
- Denver and Buffalo have both advanced to 10 AFC Championship games in their franchise histories.
- During the regular season, the Broncos defense led the NFL in sacks (68), ranked second in total defense (278.2 yards per game allowed) and rushing defense (91.1 yards per game allowed) and ranked third in scoring defense (18.3 points per game against) and passes defensed (94).
- Denver tied with the Los Angeles Rams to allow a league-low 23 sacks and its +45 sack differential is the highest in a season in NFL history, surpassing the 1977 New England Patriots (+44).
- Bills quarterback Josh Allenhas the most rushing yards (701) and second-most rushing touchdowns (nine) by a quarterback in NFL postseason history and his 309.5 combined passing and rushing yards per playoff game is the highest in NFL history, among quarterbacks with at least 10 playoff starts.
No. 5 Houston Texans (13-5) at No. 2 New England Patriots (15-3) (Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+/ESPN Deportes): New England defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 16-3, on Wild Card Weekend to secure their first postseason win since Super Bowl LIII (Feb. 3, 2019, against the Los Angeles Rams). Houston earned its first road playoff win in franchise history with a 30-6 win at Pittsburgh and advanced to the Divisional playoffs for the third straight season, the longest such streak in team history.
- The Patriots have won eight consecutive Divisional playoff games (Jan. 14, 2012, to Jan. 13, 2019), the longest such streak in NFL history. The Texans, with a win, can advance to their first-ever Championship Game.
- New England has defeated Houston in both previous postseason meetings (2012 and 2016 Divisional playoffs, both in New England). In Week 6 of the 2024 season – their last regular season meeting – the Texans defeated the Patriots, 41-21, as both J. Stroudand Drake Maye recorded three touchdown passes. The game marked Maye’s first career NFL start.
NFC Divisional playoffs notes:
No. 6 San Francisco (13-5) at No. 1 Seattle Seahawks (14-3) (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX One/FOX Deportes): The Seahawks, the No. 1 seed for the first time since 2014 and looking for their first playoff win since the 2019 Wild Card (Jan. 5, 2020, at Philadelphia) round, will host their first postseason game since the 2020 Wild Card (Jan. 9, 2021, against the Los Angeles Rams). Prior to that game, Seattle had won 10 consecutive home playoff games from Jan. 14, 2006, to Jan. 7, 2017. Last week, San Francisco defeated Philadelphia, 23-19, to earn its first road playoff win since the 2021 Divisional playoffs (Jan. 22, 2022, at Green Bay).
- Seattle and San Francisco split the season series, with the 49ers earning a Week 1 victory in Seattle (17-13) and the Seahawks winning in Week 18 at San Francisco (13-3) to clinch the NFC West division title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
- The NFC West rivals have split the two previous postseason meetings. Seattle defeated San Francisco, 23-17, in the 2013 NFC Championship Game (Jan. 19, 2014) prior to winning Super Bowl XLVIII while the 49ers defeated the Seahawks, 41-23, in the 2022 Wild Card round.
- The 49ers have won seven consecutive Divisional playoff games (Jan. 14, 2012, to Jan. 20, 2024), tied with Kansas City (seven consecutive games from Jan. 12, 2019, to Jan. 18, 2025) for the second-longest such streak all-time.
- San Francisco can become the first team to advance to 20 Championship Games while Seattle seeks its fifth Championship Game appearance (three in the NFC, one in the AFC).
- Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigbaled the NFL with a franchise-record 1,793 receiving yards and is the fourth player since 1975 to lead the league in receiving yards while playing for the No. 1 seed in his conference, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Drew Pearson (1977 with Dallas) and Jerry Rice (1994 with San Francisco) as well as John Jefferson (1980 with the San Diego Chargers).
No. 5 Los Angeles Rams (13-5) at No. 2 Chicago Bears (12-6) (Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock/Telemundo/Universo): Last week, Chicago overcame an 18-point deficit – the largest comeback in Chicago postseason history – and scored 25 fourth quarter points – the third-most ever in a playoff game – to defeat Green Bay, 31-27, for its first postseason win since the 2010 NFC Divisional round (Jan. 16, 2011, against Seattle). In the Wild Card round, the Rams earned their first road postseason victory since the 2021 Divisional Playoffs (Jan. 23, 2022, at Tampa Bay) with a 34-31 win over the Panthers.
- The Bears and Rams are set to meet in the postseason for the first time in 40 years. The teams have split their two previous playoff meetings, with the Bears defeating the Rams, 24-0, in the 1985 NFC Championship (Jan. 12, 1986) prior to winning Super Bowl XX, while Los Angeles defeated Chicago, 24-14, in the 1950 Divisional playoffs (Dec. 17, 1950).
- Chicago looks for multiple home wins in the same postseason for the third time in the Super Bowl era (1985 and 2006) while the Rams can win multiple road games in the same postseason for the third time in franchise history (1979 and 1989).
WORST TO FIRST
Chicago (NFC North), the No. 2 seed in the NFC and New England (AFC East), the No. 2 seed in the AFC, won division titles this season after finishing last in their divisions in 2024.
Since 1970, seven teams have hosted a conference championship game after finishing in last or tied for last in their division the previous season.
The Bears and Patriots can join the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009 New Orleans Saints, 1999 St. Louis Rams, 1988 Cincinnati Bengals, 1981 Cincinnati Bengals, 1979 Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 1970 San Francisco 49ers as the only teams in NFL history to host a conference championship game after finishing in last or tied for last in their division the previous season.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER & DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR MATCHUP
On Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS/Paramount+), Buffalo quarterback and 2024 Most Valuable Player Josh Allen will face Denver cornerback and 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II in the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
The matchup will mark the fifth time in NFL history that a reigning Most Valuable Player and reigning Defensive Player of the Year will play each other in the postseason.
| DATE | MVP | DEFENSIVE POY | RESULT |
| Jan. 18, 2026 (AFC-D) | Josh Allen, Buffalo | Pat Surtain II, Denver | ??? |
| Feb. 11, 2024 (SB LVIII) | Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City | Nick Bosa, San Francisco | KC 25, SF 22 (OT) |
| Feb. 3, 2019 (SB LIII) | Tom Brady, New England | Aaron Donald, L.A Rams | NE 13, LAR 3 |
| Jan. 14, 2007 (NFC-D) | Shaun Alexander, Seattle | Brian Urlacher HOF, Chicago | CHI 27, SEA 24 |
| Jan. 4, 1976 (AFC-C) | Ken Stabler HOF, Oakland Raiders | Joe Greene HOF, Pittsburgh | PIT 16, OAK 10 |
FAMILIAR MATCHUP
San Francisco and Seattle will meet for the second time in three weeks, after the Seahawks visited the 49ers in Week 18 of the regular season and earned a 13-3 win.
Saturday night’s game (8 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX One/FOX Deportes) will mark the fifth time since 2012 and the first since 2022 (Philadelphia vs. New York Giants) that two teams have met in the playoffs after previously meeting in the last week of the regular season.
Additionally, when the 49ers visit the Seahawks on Saturday night, it will mark the first time in NFL history with two teams facing each other in the first week of the season, the last week of the regular season and the playoffs.
JOSH ALLEN
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen has 3,632 passing yards, 701 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns (26 passing, nine rushing, one receiving) in 14 playoff games.
On Wild Card weekend, Allen, who has nine rushing touchdowns in the postseason, surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young (eight rushing touchdowns with San Francisco) for the second-most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in the postseason in NFL history.
With a rushing touchdown on Saturday at Denver (4:30 p.m. ET, CBS/Paramount+), Allen can tie Jalen Hurts (10 rushing touchdowns with Philadelphia) for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in the postseason in NFL history.
With at least three combined passing and rushing touchdowns on Saturday, Allen, who has seven postseason games with at least three combined passing and rushing touchdowns, can become the fifth quarterback in NFL history with at least eight such games in the postseason, joining Tom Brady (15 games with New England and Tampa Bay), Patrick Mahomes (11 with Kansas City), Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Montana (nine with San Francisco and Kansas City) and Aaron Rodgers (nine with Green Bay).
The players with the most postseason games with at least three combined passing and rushing touchdowns in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES |
| Tom Brady | New England, Tampa Bay | 15 |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 11 |
| Joe Montana HOF | San Francisco, Kansas City | 9 |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay | 9 |
| Josh Allen | Buffalo | 7 |
| Brett Favre HOF | Green Bay, Minnesota | 7 |
Allen has three career playoff games with multiple rushing touchdowns and on Saturday, can become the first quarterback and fifth player all-time with multiple rushing touchdowns in four career postseason games, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith (five games), Terrell Davis (four), Franco Harris (four) and John Riggins (four).
BROCK PURDY
Since entering the NFL in 2022, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy ranks fourth with 1,605 passing yards and tied for sixth with eight touchdown passes in seven career postseason starts.
Purdy has five postseason wins and with a win on Saturday night at Seattle (8 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX One/FOX Deportes), can become the fourth quarterback in NFL history with at least six postseason wins in their first four seasons, joining Russell Wilson (seven wins with Seattle), Tom Brady (six with New England) and Patrick Mahomes (six with Kansas City).
The starting quarterbacks with the most postseason wins in their first four seasons in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | WINS |
| Russell Wilson | Seattle | 7 |
| Tom Brady | New England | 6 |
| Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City | 6 |
| Brock Purdy | San Francisco | 5* |
| *in fourth season | ||
Additionally, with a win on Saturday night, Purdy, who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 Draft, can become the sixth starting quarterback drafted in the seventh round or later or undrafted with at least six postseason wins in NFL history, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Roger Staubach (10th round, 11 wins with Dallas), Bart Starr (17th round, nine with Green Bay), Kurt Warner (Undrafted, nine with St. Louis Rams and Arizona), Steve Young (Undrafted, eight with San Francisco) and Johnny Unitas (ninth round, six with Baltimore).
The starting quarterbacks drafted in the seventh round or later or undrafted with the most postseason wins in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | DRAFT | WINS |
| Roger Staubach HOF | Dallas | 10th round | 11 |
| Bart Starr HOF | Green Bay | 17th round | 9 |
| Kurt Warner HOF | St. Louis Rams, Arizona | Undrafted | 9 |
| Steve Young HOF | San Francisco | Undrafted | 8 |
| Johnny Unitas HOF | Baltimore Colts | 9th round | 6 |
| Jake Delhomme | Carolina | Undrafted | 5 |
| Brock Purdy | San Francisco | 7th round | 5* |
| *entering Divisional playoffs | |||
MATTHEW STAFFORD
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes this season, has 3,300 passing yards and 22 touchdown passes in 11 career postseason starts.
With at least two touchdown passes on Sunday at Chicago (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock/Telemundo/Universo), Stafford, who has eight consecutive playoff games with at least two touchdown passes, can tie Aaron Rodgers (nine consecutive games with Green Bay) as the only quarterbacks ever with multiple touchdown passes in nine consecutive postseason games.
The quarterbacks with multiple touchdown passes in the most consecutive playoff games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | GAMES |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay | 9 (Jan. 10, 2016 – Jan. 24, 2021) |
| Joe Flacco | Baltimore | 8 (Jan. 15, 2012 – Jan. 10, 2015) |
| Matthew Stafford | L.A. Rams | 8* (Jan. 17, 2022 – Jan. 19, 2025) |
| *active streak | ||
YOUNG QUARTERBACKS
New England quarterback Drake Maye (age 23) and Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud (age 24) will meet on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+/ESPN Deportes) in the Divisional Playoffs.
If Maye and Stroud both start on Sunday, it will mark the sixth postseason matchup since 1950 to feature two starting quarterbacks under the age of 25.
When Maye, who is 23 years old, and Stroud, who is 24 years old meet on Sunday, it will mark the sixth time since 1950 that a postseason matchup features starting quarterbacks under the age of 25:
| DATE | HOME QB | ROAD QB | RESULT |
| Jan. 18, 2026 (AFC-D) | Drake Maye, New England | C.J. Stroud, Houston | ??? |
| Jan. 29, 2023 (NFC-C) | Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia | Brock Purdy, San Francisco | PHI 31, SF 7 |
| Jan. 16, 2021 (AFC-D) | Josh Allen, Buffalo | Lamar Jackson, Baltimore | BUF 17, BAL 3 |
| Jan. 12, 2020 (AFC-D) | Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City | Deshaun Watson, Houston | KC 51, HOU 31 |
| Jan. 6, 2001 (NFC-D) | Daunte Culpepper, Minnesota | Aaron Brooks, New Orleans | MIN 34, NO 16 |
| Jan. 4, 1986 (AFC-D) | Dan Marino HOF, Miami | Bernie Kosar, Cleveland | MIA 24,CLE 21 |
Additionally, Maye and Stroud will have a combined age of 47 years, 248 days on Saturday, the fifth-youngest combined age between any opposing starting quarterbacks in the postseason since 1950.
The youngest combined age between opposing starting quarterbacks in the postseason since 1950:
| DATE | HOME QB | ROAD QB | COMBINED AGE |
| Jan. 4, 1986 (AFC-D) | Dan Marino HOF, Miami | Bernie Kosar, Cleveland | 46 years, 151 days |
| Jan. 6, 2013 (NFC-WC) | Robert Griffin III, Washington | Russell Wilson, Seattle | 47 years, 2 days |
| Dec. 31, 1983 (AFC-D) | Dan Marino HOF, Miami | Dave Krieg, Seattle | 47 years, 178 days |
| Jan. 29, 2023 (NFC-C) | Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia | Brock Purdy, San Francisco | 47 years, 208 days |
| Jan. 18, 2026 (AFC-D) | Drake Maye, New England | C.J. Stroud, Houston | 47 years, 248 days* |
| *combined age as of Sunday | |||
With a win on Sunday, Stroud, who has three postseason wins and turns 25 on Oct. 3, 2026, can become the fifth quarterback since 1950 with four postseason victories prior to his 25th birthday, joining Ben Roethlisberger (five wins), Patrick Mahomes (four), Brock Purdy (four) and Mark Sanchez (four).
SECOND CAREER POSTSEASON START
Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams, Denver quarterback Bo Nix, New England quarterback Drake Maye and Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold are all expected to make their second career postseason start in the Divisional Playoffs this weekend.
The quarterbacks with the most passing yards in their first two career playoff starts:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | PASSING YARDS |
| Andrew Luck | Indianapolis | 731 |
| Matthew Stafford | Detroit | 703 |
| Kurt Warner HOF | St. Louis Rams | 649 |
| Dan Fouts HOF | San Diego | 647 |
| Matt Hasselbeck | Seattle | 646 |
| Richard Todd | New York Jets | 646 |
| Caleb Williams | Chicago | 361* |
| Drake Maye | New England | 268* |
| Sam Darnold | Minnesota | 245* |
| Bo Nix | Denver | 144* |
| *in first career playoff start |
With at least 300 passing yards on Sunday against Los Angeles (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock/Telemundo/Universo), Williams, who had 361 passing yards in his first career postseason start against Green Bay on Wild Card Weekend, can join Marc Bulger, Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Fouts, Matt Hasselbeck and Matthew Stafford as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 300 passing yards in each of their first two playoff starts.
CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY
San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey, who ranked second with 2,126 scrimmage yards (1,202 rushing, 924 receiving) and third with 17 touchdowns (10 rushing, seven receiving) this season, has 950 scrimmage yards (570 rushing, 380 receiving) and 11 touchdowns (six rushing, five receiving) in eight career postseason games.
With a touchdown on Saturday night at Seattle (8 p.m. ET, FOX/FOX One/FOX Deportes), McCaffrey, who has a touchdown in eight consecutive playoff games, can join Pro Football Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas (nine consecutive games with Buffalo) as the only players in NFL history with a scrimmage touchdown in nine consecutive playoff games.
The players with a scrimmage touchdown in the most consecutive playoff games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES |
| Thurman Thomas HOF | Buffalo | 9 (Jan. 17, 1993 – Jan. 2, 1999) |
| Emmitt Smith HOF | Dallas | 8 (Jan. 23, 1994 – Dec. 28, 1996) |
| John Stallworth HOF | Pittsburgh | 8 (Dec. 30, 1989 – Jan. 1, 1984) |
| Christian McCaffrey | Carolina, San Francisco | 8* (Jan. 7, 2018 – Feb.11, 2024) |
| *active streak | ||
With at least 100 scrimmage yards and a touchdown on Saturday night, McCaffrey, who has at least 100 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in his last five playoff games, can join Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis (seven consecutive games with Denver) as the only players in NFL history with at least 100 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in six consecutive postseason games.
PUKA NACUA
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who led the NFL with 129 receptions and ranked second with 1,715 receiving yards this season, has 30 receptions for 433 yards and two touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in four career playoff games.
With at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards on Sunday at Chicago (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock/Telemundo/Universo), Nacua, who had 10 receptions for 111 yards on Wild Card weekend, can join Travis Kelce (2020 with Kansas City) as the only players with 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in consecutive games in a single postseason all-time.
COLSTON LOVELAND
Chicago rookie tight end Colston Loveland, who had eight receptions for 137 yards in the Bears 31-27 Wild Card win, became the first rookie tight end with at least eight receptions and 100 receiving yards in a playoff game in NFL history.
With at least four receptions on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock/Telemundo/Universo), Loveland can surpass Doug Jolley (11 receptions in 2002 with the Oakland Raiders) for the second-most postseason receptions by a rookie tight end in NFL history, trailing only Sam LaPorta (21 receptions in 2023 with Detroit).
With at least 40 receiving yards on Sunday, Loveland can surpass Sam LaPorta (176 receiving yards with Detroit) and Keith Jackson (142 with Philadelphia) for the most postseason receiving yards by a rookie tight end in NFL history.
The rookie tight ends with the most postseason receiving yards in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | REC. YARDS |
| Sam LaPorta | Detroit | 2023 | 176 |
| Keith Jackson | Philadelphia | 1988 | 142 |
| Colston Loveland | Chicago | 2025 | 137* |
| *entering the Divisional playoffs | |||
With at least 100 receiving yards on Sunday, Loveland can join Ja’Marr Chase (2021 with Cincinnati) as the only rookies in NFL history with at least 100 receiving yards in multiple playoff games.
###
