Wild Card Weekend
Patriots host Chargers in AFC wild card matchup
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The New England Patriots, fresh off a 14-3 regular season, will host the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC wild card playoff game on Sunday night. Quarterbacks Drake Maye and Justin Herbert lead their teams into Gillette Stadium, where weather conditions could play a key role. The Patriots enter as 3.5-point favorites with an over/under of 45.5 points.
The 2026 NFL wild card weekend delivered unprecedented drama, with the Rams, Bears and Bills each securing playoff wins via game-winning touchdowns in the final two minutes. This marked the first time in NFL history that three postseason games ended that way. The thrilling finishes highlighted the unpredictability of the opening playoff round.
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The NFL's wild-card weekend has clarified the early picks for the 2026 NFL Draft, with the Las Vegas Raiders securing the No. 1 selection based on their league-worst 3-14 record. As playoff outcomes reshape team standings, the first 24 picks are now locked in, though trades could alter them before the event in Pittsburgh. Prospects like Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza are expected to headline a class seen as relatively weak.