NFL Wild Card weekend sees four games decided by a single score

The GIST: NFL Wild Card weekend lived up to the hype as four out of five games came down to a single score. Here’s who advanced to next week’s Divisional Round with one Wild Card game still to go — scroll to the bottom for a preview of tonight’s Monday Night Football throwdown between the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers. So much football, so little time.

💙 New England Patriots defense powers first playoff win in seven years: The Pats shut down LA Chargers quarterback (QB) Justin Herbert last night, ousting LA 16–3. The low-scoring affair went without a touchdown (TD) until the fourth quarter, when New England QB Drake Maye connected with former Chargers wide receiver Hunter Henry.

⛏️ San Francisco 49ers overcome injury to top Philadelphia Eagles 23–19: The defending champion Eagles were eliminated on their home turf by a resilient Niners squad. SF tight end George Kittle went down with a torn Achilles in the second quarter, but the 49ers powered on, with running back Christian McCaffrey posting two TDs.

🦬 Buffalo Bills advance with epic tush push: An NFL playoff record–tying four fourth-quarter lead changes later, Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen ultimately got the job done…with a little help from his friends. Allen was essentially carried into the end zone to score the game-winning TD in Buffalo’s 27–24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Whatever it takes.

🐻 Chicago Bears stun rival Green Bay Packers: Speaking of fiery fourth quarters, da Bears were trailing their divisional foe Packers 21–3 at halftime on Saturday, but went on to score a whopping 25 points in the final frame and pull off a 31–27 win — their first playoff victory in 15 years. Look good, play good.

🐏 LA Rams hold on to defeat Carolina Panthers: Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua — aka the league’s best pass catcher — did what he does best on Saturday, recording 10 receptions (including one TD) in the Rams’ closer-than-expected 34–31 win over the Panthers. Plus, X-rays on Rams QB and MVP frontrunner Matthew Stafford’s injured finger came back negative after the W. Phew.