The road to Super Bowl LX officially opens this weekend, and the NFL landscape looks drastically different than years past. As the league kicks off Wild Card Weekend powered by Verizon on Jan. 10, a historic youth movement is sweeping the field, with 12 of the 14 starting quarterbacks under the age of 30—the most in postseason history.
The action runs from Saturday through Monday night, setting the stage for a tournament defined by fresh faces and ancient grudges. While the Philadelphia Eagles enter the fray as the No. 3 seed looking to become the 10th team to repeat as Super Bowl champions, they face a crowded field of contenders, including seven teams that didn’t even make the playoffs last year.
A New Guard Under Center
The quarterback hierarchy is shifting. While 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers prepares for his 22nd career postseason start (this time with the Pittsburgh Steelers) and Matthew Stafford leads the potent Rams offense, the bracket is dominated by the next generation.
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Three quarterbacks—Drake Maye (New England), Caleb Williams (Chicago), and Bryce Young (Carolina)—are set to make their postseason debuts after leading their respective franchises from worst-to-first division titles. This marks only the fourth time in history that four No. 1 overall picks will start in the same postseason. Meanwhile, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow continue to chase their first rings, with Allen boasting the highest combined passing and rushing yards per game in playoff history (309.8).
The Top Seeds Wait in the Wings
While 12 teams battle it out this weekend, two heavyweights earned the right to rest. The Denver Broncos secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time since 2015, tying a franchise record with 14 wins. In the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks also locked up the top spot with a franchise-best 14 wins, looking to replicate the success of their 2013 championship run.
Wild Card Weekend Slate
The slate begins Saturday with a double-header starting at 4:30 p.m. ET as the high-flying L.A. Rams visit the Carolina Panthers. Later that night, the NFL’s oldest rivalry gets a playoff chapter as the Green Bay Packers visit the Chicago Bears. The two teams split their season series, with the Bears boasting the league’s best turnover differential.
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Sunday features a triple-header of heavy hitters.
The Buffalo Bills head south to face the Jacksonville Jaguars, who ride an eight-game winning streak into the tournament. The defending champion Eagles host the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of the 2022 NFC Championship, pitting two of the league’s most dynamic playmakers—Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey—against one another. The nightcaps sees the New England Patriots hosting their first playoff game since 2019 against the stingy L.A. Chargers defense.
The round concludes Monday night as the Houston Texans, winners of nine straight, visit Pittsburgh to face the Steelers.
Turnaround Season
This year’s bracket is a testament to parity in the league. Carolina, Chicago, Jacksonville, New England, San Francisco, and Seattle all punched playoff tickets after missing out in 2024. Even more impressive, the Panthers, Bears, and Patriots captured division crowns just one season after finishing in last place, proving once again that in the NFL, fortunes can change in an instant.
Wild Card Schedule At A Glance
- Saturday, Jan. 10: Rams at Panthers (FOX), Packers at Bears (Prime Video)
- Sunday, Jan. 11: Bills at Jaguars (CBS), 49ers at Eagles (FOX), Chargers at Patriots (NBC)
- Monday, Jan. 12: Texans at Steelers (ESPN/ABC)
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