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Our early primer for the divisional round matchups: How every team could win next weekend

Let's preview the divisional round matchups. How can each team win next weekend and advance? Here's what to know.

7hESPN staff
Seth Wenig/AP

Four wild-card games, four overreactions, four big questions: Bills finally to the Super Bowl?

Is it the Bills' year? Are the 49ers a legit contender? Is Caleb Williams a future MVP? We're sizing up every game.

7hDan Graziano and Ben Solak

TOP HEADLINES

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

Mike Vrabel bloodies lip celebrating game-sealing sack

7h
0:37

Drake Maye carries Patriots to wild-card win over Chargers

In his playoff debut, the second-year QB guides New England to a convincing win against Los Angeles.

6hMike Reiss and Kris Rhim

Patriots' defense dominates in 16-3 win over Chargers

7h
1:09

Maye drops a dime to Hunter Henry for a TD

7h
0:45

Patriots deck Justin Herbert to force fumble

7h
0:24

Odafe Oweh forces a fumble on Maye

7h
0:20

Chargers intercept Maye's tipped pass

7h
0:36
    NFC Wild Card Playoffs

    49ers stop Eagles on fourth down to clinch victory

    10h
    0:28

    Niners defeat defending champs for NFC wild-card win

    The victory sends the 49ers to Seattle for the NFC divisional round next weekend.

    11hNick Wagoner and Tim McManus

    Nick Sirianni defends A.J. Brown after in-game spat

    6h
    0:47

    49ers hold off Eagles with late stop

    10h
    1:13

    Brown, Sirianni have heated sideline exchange

    11h
    0:16

    Kittle carted off with Achilles injury

    11h
    0:23

    Purdy finds McCaffrey for TD to put 49ers ahead late

    11h
    0:17

    Trick-play TD! 49ers take lead on Jennings' TD pass to McCaffrey

    11h
    0:30

    Hurts slings TD pass to Goedert on 4th down

    11h
    0:16

      OFFSEASON ARRIVES FOR SOME

      Offseason guide for eliminated NFL teams: Key free agents, draft outlook, priorities and predictions

      The NFL offseason has arrived for 23 teams. What must each do to have a better season in 2026? We have outlooks, early buzz and predictions.

      7hNFL Nation, +6 More
      ESPN Illustration

      What's next for Matt LaFleur, Brian Gutekunst after the Packers' wild-card loss?

      Green Bay's head coach and GM have one year left on their contracts.

      1dRob Demovsky
      AFC Wild Card Playoffs

      10-yard tush push leads to go-ahead Bills TD

      14h
      0:34

      Josh Allen, Bills outlast Jaguars to advance to AFC divisional round

      The Bills win after intercepting a Trevor Lawrence pass in the last minute of the game.

      14hAlaina Getzenberg and Michael Dirocco

      Bills advance to divisional round thanks to game-sealing INT

      14h
      0:29

      Josh Allen shaken up on Bills' go-ahead TD

      14h
      0:34

      Parker Washington makes leaping grab for a Jags TD

      14h
      0:32

      Allen puts Bills back on top with TD pass to Dalton Kincaid

      14h
      0:28

        COACHING CAROUSEL

        Rex Ryan: If Packers move on from Matt LaFleur, it would be for John Harbaugh

        20h
        2:40

        Tracking head coach firings: Dolphins move on from Mike McDaniel

        There are now eight head coach openings around the NFL. Here's what to know.

        4dESPN staff

        BEARS RALLY TO ADVANCE

        Solak: The Bears are a second-half team, and you can never count them out

        Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that the Bears adjusted at halftime and came back to beat the Packers in the wild-card round. They've been doing this all season.

        1dBen Solak
        Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire

        Caleb Williams, Bears stun Packers again with wild-card win

        The Bears once again pulled out a wild win against Green Bay, which dominated the first half.

        1dCourtney Cronin and Rob Demovsky

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