Wild-card weekend is officially a wrap, with the Houston Texans steamrolling the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.
The shocking loss, in which the NFL’s most expensive defense forced three turnovers against Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud but ultimately fell by a 24-point margin, preceded the announcement that Mike Tomlin would be stepping down as Pittsburgh’s head coach after 19 seasons. The team made it official with a statement from team president Art Rooney II on Tuesday afternoon.
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In addition to plenty of shakeups in the league’s coaching carousel — currently sitting with nine head coaching vacancies — it was a record-setting wild-card round. This round marked the first time in NFL history that four-plus games were decided by four or fewer points in a single postseason round, per Opta Stats; it’s also the first time there have been six-plus fourth-quarter lead changes in a single playoff round in NFL history, Dante Koplowitz-Fleming of NFL research noted.
The Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers opened things up with a surprising thriller; after LA entered the week as historic road favorites, its 34-31 win over Carolina came down to the wire as MVP favorite Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard, go-ahead touchdown to tight end Colby Parkinson in the final minute of the game. The Panthers got bad news on top of the loss, as starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu reportedly suffered a ruptured patellar tendon, which could affect his availability next season.
That was followed by another Saturday thriller, as Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears mounted yet another comeback win — this time, over their NFC North rival, the Green Bay Packers — to advance to the divisional round. The Packers were off to a 21-3 lead in the first half before the Bears dropped 25 points in the fourth quarter to take the win.
On Sunday, the magic continued with the Josh Allen-led Buffalo Bills defeating Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars, ending Liam Coen’s Cinderella-esque first season as a head coach. After Allen managed a rushing touchdown after the two-minute warning (right after the best tush push ever, perhaps?), a perfectly timed interception from Bills safety Cole Bishop put Allen in position to kneel it out and snag the team’s first road playoff win in 33 years.
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The San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles followed that up with another game that came down to the wire, as the Niners dethroned Philly with a late fourth-quarter touchdown drive (and some trickery from wideout Jauan Jennings). Despite the thrilling win, the Niners will have to deal with yet another brutal blow on the injury front, as All-Pro tight end George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles injury, ending his season.
Despite holding Drake Maye to just one touchdown, the Los Angeles Chargers couldn’t muster up enough offense to take down the New England Patriots. Los Angeles failed to score a touchdown during the contest, losing 16-3 and inviting questions over whether the Chargers’ coaching staff needs to be shaken up over the offseason.
What else is in store this postseason? Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest NFL news and injury updates ahead of the divisional round.
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Chicago Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was listed as a full participant in practice on Wednesday. He’s been battling a concussion.
Wide receivers D.J. Moore (knee) and Rome Odunze (foot) were both limited in practice. Cornerback Nick McCloud did not participate in practice due to a groin injury.
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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was listed as a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. He’s dealing with a sprained right index finger.
Nose tackle Poona Ford was limited with an elbow injury, and guard Kevin Dotson was also limited with an ankle injury. Dotson hasn’t played since Dec. 18.
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Houston Texans wideout Nico Collins (concussion), tackle Trent Brown (ankle), defensive end Denico Autry (knee), and wide receiver Justin Watson (concussion) were the non-participants in Wednesday’s practice.
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New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez practiced on Wednesday but wore a red non-contact jersey after being in concussion protocol earlier this week.
Linebacker Anfernee Jennings, offensive lineman Morgan Moses, offensive lineman Thayer Munford, and tight end Hunter Henry were all absent from Wednesday’s practice.
Running back Terrell Jennings was also in a red non-contact jersey in practice.
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Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver was back on the practice field Wednesday for the first time since Week 8 of the regular season. Oliver was out dealing with knee and biceps injuries.
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen was limited in practice on Tuesday with foot, knee, and right finger injuries listed. Despite being limited, Allen told reporters he feels good as the team prepares for its divisional round matchup with the Denver Broncos on Saturday.
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Chicago placed linebacker T.J. Edwards and offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo on injured reserve and activated offensive lineman Braxton Jones from injured reserve.
The team also signed linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin to the active roster and linebacker Nephi Sewell to the practice squad.
Sean Leahy
Shavers was injured during Sunday’s wild-card round win over the Jaguars during a punt return. After being listed as questionable to return, he re-entered the game later on.
The 26-year-old out of San Diego State played all 17 regular-season games for the Bills, catching 15 passes on 23 targets for 245 yards and one touchdown. He recorded one catch for 14 yards prior to exiting the Jaguars game.
Following the losses of Gabe Davis and Joshua Palmer in the past week, the only healthy receivers on the roster are Khalil Shakir, Brandin Cooks, Keon Coleman.
Sean Leahy
Warner has been out since Week after breaking and dislocating his ankle. The four-time first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler could return to the 49ers’ lineup if the team advances to the NFC Championship Game.
“I’m ready whenever they’re ready. You know what I’m saying?” Warner said last week on “The Ryen Russillo Show.” There’s some Ts that got to be crossed, Is that got to be dotted. If it were just up to me, I’d be out there this weekend, but it’s unfortunately not that way. I got to make sure I’m checking all the boxes and everybody has to get me the OK before they let me go out there.
“But I’m pushing, man. I’m training hard. I’m back doing full football drills and everything, so time will tell. We got to pull the win out first.”
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After 19 seasons, Mike Tomlin’s tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers has ended. Tomlin is stepping away from the Steelers one day after a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round. Tomlin, 53, never had a losing season in Pittsburgh and led the franchise to a Super Bowl win in 2008.
Pittsburgh is now in an unusual spot. The franchise will be conducting a search to replace a head coach for only the third time ever. Chuck Knoll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin are the only three coaches this franchise has known.
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The Buffalo Bills have officially placed wide receiver Gabe Davis on injured reserve with his torn ACL, as this move opens an active roster spot.
Buffalo also signed wideout Krisitan Wilkerson to the practice squad.
Jason Owens
The Buffalo Bills have lost Gabe Davis to a torn ACL, but may be getting back another receiver ahead of Saturday’s divisional-round tilt against the top-seeded Denver Broncos.
Head coach Sean McDermott announced Davis’ diagnosis on Monday, a day after Davis was carted off the field with the knee injury in Buffalo’s wild-card win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Bills also announced Monday that they’ve opened the practice windows for wide receiver Curtis Samuel and defensive tackle Ed Oliver from injured reserve as they prepare for Saturday’s game. Their designations open the door for either or both to play on Saturday.
For more, read here.
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The Buffalo Bills are opening the practice windows of wide receiver Curtis Samuel and defensive tackle Ed Oliver from injured reserve, per head coach Sean McDermott.
Safety Jordan Poyer is week-to-week with a hamstring injury and not expected to play against Denver on Saturday. Tight end Dalton Kincaid was seen following the game in a boot for precautionary reasons.
Ian Casselberry
New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is in concussion protocol after he left Sunday night’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the fourth quarter and did not return.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said on Boston radio station WEEI (via ESPN) that Gonzalez going into concussion protocol was standard procedure after he was not cleared to return to the game.
Gonzalez was injured while defending a pass to Quentin Johnston. He nearly intercepted the pass, stepping in front of Johnston. But as the two players fell to the ground, Johnston landed on Gonzalez’s helmet. The back of Gonzalez’s head appeared to hit the turf.
In 15 starts this season (including Sunday’s playoff game). Gonzalez has recorded 69 tackles and 12 passes defended. That earned him Pro Bowl honors for the first time in his career.
The Patriots will play the winner of Monday night’s wild-card matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans.
Chris Cwik
Houston Texans backup quarterback Davis Mills is expected to be available when his team takes on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. Mills’ wife recently had a baby, putting Mills’ availability in question for the contest.
The 27-year-old will be available, however.
After starting 26 games over his first two NFL seasons, Mills was replaced as the Texans’ starting quarterback after the team took C.J. Stroud in the draft. Mills has served in a backup role since then, though did start three games in 2025 when Stroud was injured.
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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis will undergo an MRI on a knee injury that forced him to leave Sunday’s wild card win over Jacksonville on a cart. Davis had two catches for 14 yards before suffering the injury.
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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that Matthew Stafford sprained his index finger on his throwing hand in the win over Carolina, but will be ready to go against the Chicago on Sunday in their divisional round matchup.
Chris Cwik
The Green Bay Packers are reportedly looking to extend Matt LaFleur. The news comes just two days after the Packers dropped another game against the rival Chicago Bears, this time in the playoffs.
Despite that, the team is reportedly working on a contract extension with LaFleur, who is signed through 2026, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
LaFleur has gone 76-40-1 in seven seasons as the Packers’ head coach. While the team has experienced plenty of regular-season success under LaFleur, he has a 3-6 record in the playoffs.
Chris Cwik
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is going to be busy before the divisional round of the playoffs. McDaniel is set to meet with four teams about their vacant head-coaching positions.
Those four teams are the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans, according to NFL Network.
McDaniel, 42, is also expected to interview for the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator position.
McDaniel is seeking his next opportunity after going 35-33 over four seasons with the Dolphins. While things looked promising in Miami early in his tenure, it fell apart over the last two seasons, leading to his firing.
Chris Cwik
The Los Angeles Chargers looked lifeless on offense during the team’s 16-3 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. Justin Herbert and the Chargers couldn’t even muster a touchdown in the loss.
Because of that, head coach Jim Harbaugh received some questions about offensive coordinator Greg Roman after the contest. Harbaugh avoided directly answering them, saying, “I don’t have that answer right now.”
It’s not the first time the Chargers struggled in the postseason with Roman running the offense. In 22 postseason drives with Harbaugh and Roman, the Chargers have just one touchdown.