The powers that be who designed and masterminded the inner workings of the NFL couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome of the closely contested games in the 2026 postseason. Over the Wildcard Round’s six playoff games, four came down to the final possession—the most in NFL history.

With a system designed to give the worst teams the best picks in the NFL Draft, the formula works from the bottom up, until the top reaches the bottom. Meeting in the middle, each team and their city get a competitive advantage uptick, keeping all involved engaged.

Days of the dynasty may well have subsided. Perennial names have dropped from the equation, making way for the next generation. The playoff field has never been as wide open as it is for the qualifiers of the 2026 postseason. At home watching are the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow. Rising from the Gen Z crop, with the future still ahead, include names like Drake Maye, Bo Nix, and Caleb Williams, all second-year quarterbacks.

Playing in what may be his last season, Aaron Rodgers is the last relic of the era that included Hall of Famers Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees. But in order to fill those shoes, the new generation has to win the big one to qualify. Rodgers already has one ring, but this season has failed to go out on a high note, a la John Elway and Peyton Manning.

Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills probably holds the most promise of the remaining quarterbacks  for winning Super Bowl LX. Or, could he be the next installment of the Bills past, going to four Super Bowls and never winning one?

Allen led the Bills to one of the outstanding comebacks in the Saturday Wildcard round, on the road, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, 27-24. An 11-yard tush-push of Allen set up the winning score with 1:05 left in the game. Trevor Lawrence was intercepted to close out the game, sending the Bills to Denver for the Divisional Round.

Chicago fans braved the Windy City cold to be miserable for the first three quarters. It was then that quarterback Caleb Williams brought the stagnant Bears offense to life, scoring 25 of their 31 points in the fourth quarter. Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers were eliminated 31-27, scoring just 6 points in the second half.

The first four Wildcard Round games had 12 fourth-quarter lead changes, shattering the prior record of five. It was also the first time all four games in a single round were decided by four points or fewer in NFL history.

Eight teams vie for a Super Bowl berth in the Divisional Round: the No. 1 seed Denver Broncos host the Bills, and the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans in the AFC; in the NFC, the No. 1 seed Seattle Seahawks host the San Francisco 49ers, while the Chicago Bears face the L.A. Rams.

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