The NFL wildcard slate opens with two contrasting NFC matchups: the Los Angeles Rams visit the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, and the Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. This piece breaks down how each team got here, where strengths and weaknesses lie, and what to watch for when the games kick off on January 10, 2026. Expect weather, quarterback play, and matchups in the trenches to matter most in both contests. I’ll highlight key players, situational edges, and the realistic paths each underdog would need to pull an upset.
The Rams enter Carolina as the clear favorite, with more proven offensive firepower and a balanced rushing attack that keeps defenses honest. Matthew Stafford has been at an elite level this season, finding Puka Nacua and Davante Adams consistently and turning big downfield opportunities into points. Los Angeles also boasts a defense that bends but refuses to break, preventing opponents from turning yards into decisive scoring. Special teams issues have popped up earlier, but those problems have not defined the Rams down the stretch.
The Panthers held serve at home during the regular season and handed the Rams a loss in Los Angeles, which injects a real wrinkle into the gameplan. Bryce Young’s improvement from last year is noticeable, shifting his profile from turnover-prone to competent game manager more often than not. Carolina’s offense is still middling overall, with a ground game that is just below average and a passing attack that hasn’t consistently threatened top defenses. Their clearest route to victory is forcing Los Angeles into mistakes and leaning on home-field familiarity and the variables that come with bad weather.
Charlotte’s turf and forecasted damp conditions make ball security and play-call balance more important than pure talent lines on a depth chart. The Panthers could try to shorten drives with a heavier rushing plan, but their defense is merely average across most metrics, so relying on stops is optimistic. The Rams, by contrast, can attack in multiple ways and are unlikely to be flustered if they can establish early rhythm through Stafford’s receivers. Late-game scenarios likely favor the team that minimizes penalties and turnovers.
At Soldier Field, tradition meets a gritty midwinter playoff atmosphere when the Bears and Packers square off in a classic rivalry setting. Green Bay limped into the postseason after losing Micah Parsons to a season-ending injury that hit their defense hard. A four-game losing streak to close the regular season leaves questions about momentum and whether this Packers unit can summon a postseason reset. Their once-stout defense isn’t the same without that impact piece, and that absence amplifies concerns about stopping a productive Chicago offense.
The Bears’ season has been defined by dramatic late comebacks and a physical offensive identity centered on Caleb Williams’s playmaking, especially in tight fourth-quarter situations. Chicago’s aerial game is efficient and complemented by an excellent ground attack that keeps opposing pass rushes honest. Defensively, the Bears have inconsistencies, which means Jordan Love and the Green Bay offense are not out of options if they can exploit coverage seams and sustain long drives. Expect a chess match that could hinge on single plays and clock management.
Weather at Soldier Field will add another strategic layer: play-action, deep shots, and sideline routing can all be influenced by wind and cold, which tends to magnify the advantage for the team that runs the ball effectively. The Packers still have playmakers, but they need control of the line of scrimmage and sharper situational execution than they showed late in the season. If Green Bay can stabilize its offensive line and avoid quick turnovers, this game projects as a tight, tense affair where special teams and field position will matter as much as touchdowns.
Both games present clear favorites with tangible but not insurmountable paths for upsets. Carolina must force turnovers and turn the Rams’ mistakes into points to create an unlikely upset in Charlotte. Chicago has the momentum narrative and a strong ground-and-air balance that can pressure a Green Bay defense missing key pieces. In each matchup, the weather, turnovers, and red-zone efficiency are likely to decide the winner more than raw statistical superiority.
These wildcard matchups capture the unpredictable nature of playoff football: a top quarterback in Stafford against a hungry home crowd in Charlotte, and a rivalry tilt in frigid Chicago where late-season form and health concerns make the result uncertain. Expect both games to emphasize situational coaching, physicality, and the small details that swing postseason outcomes. Tune in for a weekend where inches, not narratives, often determine who advances.
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