NFL wild-card winners and losers: Was that the greatest round of games in NFL playoff history?
The opening round of the NFL playoffs didn't just deliver excitement—it rewrote the record books, potentially cementing itself as the single greatest round of postseason games in league history.
The defining statistic was sheer volatility: through the first four games, there were an astonishing twelve fourth-quarter lead changes, shattering the previous single-round record of six. None of the teams leading at the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter in the first three contests held on to win, a trend the Philadelphia Eagles narrowly avoided completing. For the first time ever, all four opening games were decided by four or fewer points.
Beyond the numbers, the weekend was a showcase of elite individual performances and legendary team efforts. Quarterbacks Matthew Stafford, Caleb Williams, and Josh Allen engineered clutch game-winning drives. The Chicago Bears authored the largest playoff comeback in franchise history (18 points), one of only a dozen such comebacks in NFL annals. The Carolina Panthers, heavy underdogs, pushed the Los Angeles Rams to the final minute, defying all expectations.
The only non-competitive affair was the New England Patriots' victory over the Los Angeles Chargers—an 80% hit rate for thrilling games that promises massive viewership for the divisional round.
The weekend also reshaped coaching and player narratives heading into the offseason:
WINNERS
Matt Burke, Houston Texans Defensive Coordinator: His unit scored two touchdowns and allowed none in a dominant 30-6 win over Pittsburgh. Each playoff victory strengthens his case as a premier head-coaching candidate.
Caleb Williams' Impossible Throw: The Bears quarterback's fourth-down, off-platform laser for 35 yards to Rome Odunze while being flushed left was a season-defining highlight, essential to Chicago's epic comeback.
Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills Head Coach: A first-round exit would have ignited intense scrutiny. Surviving a 27-24 nail-biter over Jacksonville, powered by Josh Allen, likely cools any immediate hot-seat talk.
Carolina Panthers' Moral Victory: Despite the loss, taking the Rams to the wire with a strong showing from Bryce Young provides tangible hope for a franchise long in need of it.
LOSERS
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers QB: For the second straight postseason, Herbert's performance was glaringly subpar, failing to surpass 100 passing yards until late in a 16-3 loss. His consistent playoff struggles remain a puzzling, often-overlooked flaw.
Nick Sirianni & A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles: A sideline shouting match between coach and star receiver epitomized a miserable, drama-filled season that ended with a whimper against San Francisco. A major offseason reset appears inevitable.
The brilliance of the wild-card round presents a formidable challenge: Can the rest of the playoffs possibly live up to this standard of sustained, high-stakes drama? The bar has been set astronomically high.
