What's at stake for Aaron Rodgers and Brock Purdy as the NFL Playoffs Begin?

Wild Card Weekend is here in the NFL — and with it comes chaos, pressure, and opportunity. Which teams are built to survive January football? Which quarterbacks can change their postseason narrative in one game? And which contenders have everything to lose as the playoff field opens up with no clear favorite?

We start in the NFC with a massive North showdown as the No. 2 seed Chicago Bears host the No. 7 seed Green Bay Packers. Can the Bears seize the moment and win their first playoff game in 15 years behind second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, or do the Packers find life after limping into the postseason on a four-game skid? With Jordan Love searching for answers and Chicago entering a new era, this matchup carries weight far beyond one weekend.

Next, we head to Foxboro for the AFC’s No. 2 seed matchup as the New England Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers. Is this the moment Justin Herbert finally breaks through in the postseason after playing all season behind a battered offensive line? And how much can the Chargers rely on a defense that’s quietly been one of the league’s most complete units against a Patriots offense still finding its footing?

The defending champions begin their road back to the Super Bowl as the Philadelphia Eagles host the San Francisco 49ers. With key starters returning on both sides of the ball, are the Eagles finally healthy at the right time — and does that change the ceiling for a repeat run? Or can the 49ers disrupt Philadelphia’s balance and expose cracks that didn’t show up down the stretch?

In Jacksonville, the Jaguars’ late-season surge meets the ultimate test as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills come to town. With the AFC playoff picture wide open, is there added pressure on Allen to deliver on the road? Can Buffalo establish the run against the league’s best run defense, and how dangerous is a Jaguars team that’s been winning with discipline, takeaways, and momentum?

We close with Monday Night Football as the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Houston Texans in a physical, high-stakes matchup. How will Aaron Rodgers handle a relentless Texans pass rush? What does the return of DK Metcalf mean for Pittsburgh’s offense? And with postseason expectations looming large, what does this game mean for Mike Tomlin’s future if the Steelers fall short?

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Which Wild Card matchup are you watching closest — and which upset feels inevitable?

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