Sports
Winners and Losers For Every Matchup
Hope you enjoyed the holiday season, folks, but the (actual) most wonderful time of the year is finally upon us — the 
NFL playoffs.
The road to Super Bowl LIX begins on Saturday with a pair of tantalizing matchups between the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers, followed by the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears.
The field is wide open this year, and we’re ready to see some surprises in the first round of postseason.
Here are GIVEMESPORT’s picks for Wild Card weekend!
Los Angeles Rams (12-5) at Carolina Panthers (8-9)
Spread: Rams -10.5
Despite being heavy underdogs, the 
Carolina Panthers will head into this matchup with some confidence after beating the 
Los Angeles Rams 31-28 in Week 13.
However, it’s highly unlikely Matthew Stafford throws three interceptions again, and the Rams offense should be firing on all cylinders on Saturday.
Carolina will have to rely on its run game to move down the field, and Bryce Young will have to make some big throws if the Panthers want any chance of earning their first playoff win since 2015.
Los Angeles is just too good on both sides of the ball to slip up here.
- GIVEMESPORT Pick: Los Angeles Rams
Green Bay Packers (9-8) at Chicago Bears (11-6)
Spread: Packers -1.5
This might be the most exciting matchup heading into Wild Card weekend, as bitter NFC North rivals 
Green Bay Packers and 
Chicago Bears face off on what is expected to be a cold night at Soldier Field.
Both teams come into the postseason on losing streaks, with the Packers dropping their last four and Chicago, their last two. Having split the season series, this one can go either way, especially with the injuries derailing Green Bay’s once-promising season.
Still, Jordan Love should be healthy and has enough weapons to make the difference.
- GIVEMESPORT Pick: Green Bay Packers
Buffalo Bills (12-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (13-3)
Spread: Bills -1.5
With the 
Kansas City Chiefs and 
Baltimore Ravens both missing the playoffs, this might be the 
Buffalo Bills‘ best shot at winning a Super Bowl since Josh Allen came into the league.
They’ll have to advance past a young 
Jacksonville Jaguars team that was arguably the biggest surprise in the NFL this season. The Jags fielded one of the best defensive units in the league, finishing as the top rushing defense. Bills’ running back James Cook led the NFL in rushing, so this should be a tantalizing duel.
Anything less than a vintage performance from Allen won’t cut it, while Trevor Lawrence will be eager to prove himself as a legit top quarterback.
We think Buffalo’s experience and relative desperation will swing the game ever so slightly in their favor.
- GIVEMESPORT Pick: Buffalo Bills
San Francisco 49ers (12-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
Spread: Eagles -5.5
The defending Super Bowl champions host the 
San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, in a battle between a dominant defense versus a talented offense.
The 
Philadelphia Eagles allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards in the NFL this season, and should make things difficult for Brock Purdy and Co. Meanwhile, the Niners’ defense has left a lot to be desired, and while Philly hasn’t been an offensive force this season, Saquon Barkley could run riot if given enough room this weekend.
If Jalen Hurts can get his offense humming, the Eagles take this one.
- GIVEMESPORT Pick: Philadelphia Eagles
Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at New England Patriots (14-3)
Spread: Patriots -3.5
Six years after Tom Brady moved on to greener pastures, the 
New England Patriots are looking like Super Bowl contenders once again.
And while Drake Maye has looked like the real deal so far this season, he has a lot to prove this weekend against the 
Los Angeles Chargers. Chargers QB Justin Herbert will also be feeling the pressure, still looking for his first postseason win in his sixth NFL season.
New England has been dominant on the ground of late, and will surely look to establish their run game as early as possible. Maye has blossomed into one of the best passers in football, but LA’s defense is good against the pass.
The Chargers will have to limit pressure on Herbert — something they’ve struggled with all season — if they want a chance to win on Sunday.
We’ve got the Pats taking it.
- GIVEMESPORT Pick: New England Patriots
Houston Texans (11-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
Spread: Texans -3
A 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers leading the 
Pittsburgh Steelers to the playoffs is remarkable, but how far can he really take this thing?
He’ll come up against one of top defenses in the NFL in the 
Houston Texans, riding a nine-game winning streak into the playoffs. Their offense has been good during that stretch, while the Steelers failed to live up to the lofty expectations set for their talented defensive unit before the season started.
The Texans have had a hard time protecting C.J. Stroud, however, and Pittsburgh has shown they can get to opposite quarterbacks, finishing sixth in sacks with 48.
Rodgers has shown the ability to come up with miracles in the past, but this Texans team is rolling and too good defensively to give the Steelers much of a chance.
- GIVEMESPORT Pick: Houston Texans
Donald Trump Offers Support to John Harbaugh Following Ravens Dismissal
Harbaugh led the Ravens to six AFC North titles, four AFC championship games and a Super Bowl title, and a 180-113 record between 2008 and 2025.
