We are one step away from Super Bowl LX. the NFL playoffs It started with a bang during a A hectic Wild Card weekend that included several photo finishes. No matter where you looked, the playoffs were going down to the wire via the opening slate. Overall, there were four comebacks in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter More than ever in a single postseason.
Now, there are only eight teams left standing, hoping to punch their ticket to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX. As we begin the divisional round that begins Saturday, the No. 1 seeds in both conferences, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, are coming off their first-round bye weeks and into the fray, adding more firepower to the playoff bracket.
As we prepare for more action, let’s take a first look at the Divisional Round matchups, plus odds and a sneak preview of each contest.
Asian Federation
- Saturday, 4:30 PM ET on CBS (streaming on Paramount+)
We don’t have to look back far to find the last time these two teams met in the postseason, as just last year they competed in the wild card round. Buffalo throttled the Broncos at Highmark Stadium, 31-7. Denver scored in the opening drive, then was shut out the rest of the way.
But this match had to be different. For starters, it will be played at Mile High Stadium after Denver earned the No. 1 seed. The Broncos also boast one of NFL The best defense, allowing just 18.3 points per game during the regular season. They’ll need an elite level of play again to keep Josh Allen — who scored three touchdowns last week — in check.
The Bills quarterback is coming off his first playoff win on the road with a win over the Jaguars in Jacksonville and is looking to add more to his resume in the postseason, as he enters this game as the road favorite.
NFL Divisional Round odds, predictions and expert picks: Can Bills beat Broncos?
Tyler Sullivan
- Sunday, 3pm ET on ESPN (streaming: Fubo (Try for free)
This will be the first meeting between these two teams since the 2016 divisional round, which New England won en route to the Super Bowl title. They last met in Week 6 of last season, when Houston cruised to a 41-21 win, but both teams look very different now.
Both quarterbacks are also looking to rebound from uneven wild-card showings. Drake May threw two interceptions in the win over the Chargers, while C.J. Stroud came off a three-run outing against Pittsburgh. Houston still boasts one of the NFL’s best defenses and showed it again Monday night against the Steelers.
New England isn’t typically grouped among the league’s elite units, however It looked like Justin Herbert was sacked six times Sunday night, setting the stage for what could be a defensive encounter.
NFC
- Saturday, 8pm ET on Fox (streaming: Fubo (Try for free)
We have ourselves a rubber match between two NFC West rivals. The Seahawks and 49ers split the regular season series, with San Francisco winning in Week 1 before Seattle returned the favor with a 13-3 win in Week 18 to clinch the top seed and the division title. Oddly enough, the road team won both games, but the 49ers will have to overcome some major injury issues to keep that trend alive here.
San Francisco has been hit hard by injuries all season and was knocked out in a playoff win over Philadelphia in which star tight end George Kittle suffered an injury. Season-ending Achilles tear. This leaves Brock Purdy without one of his primary weapons as he faces Seattle’s elite defense. The Seahawks ranked No. 1 in scoring defense this season, allowing just 17.2 points per game, and also led the league in third-ranking yards per rush allowed.
That defensive dominance, combined with the strong play of Sam Darnold at quarterback, helped Seattle win 11 of its final 12 games to close out the regular season. This is the fourth time the Seahawks have finished first, and each of the previous three times resulted in a trip to the Super Bowl.
- Sunday at 6:30 PM ET on NBC
Both teams picked up late wins in Wild Card Weekend. Los Angeles avoided an upset on the road against the Carolina Panthers after Matthew Stafford led a game-winning 71-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes of regulation.
Meanwhile, Chicago made a miraculous second-half comeback against the Green Bay Packers, closing an 18-point deficit. Caleb Williams’ offense exploded late, outscoring Green Bay 25-6 in the fourth quarter.
The last time these two teams met was during the 2024 regular season, when Chicago cruised to a 24-18 win. In that game, D’Andre Swift piled up 165 yards from scrimmage, while Stafford committed no touchdowns and committed two turnovers.