The NFL playoffs will begin this weekend, with Wild Card Weekend taking over.
We’re getting closer to Super Bowl LX, with all 14 teams set. The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks secured the #1 seeds in the AFC and NFC, meaning they received byes and don’t have to play this weekend.
For Aussies, Sunday will see four teams begin their road to Super Bowl LX. The games scheduled are as follows:
- #4 Carolina Panthers vs #5 Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, January 11, 08:30 AEDT)
- #2 Chicago Bears vs # 7 Green Bay Packers (Sunday, January 11, 12:00 AEDT)
Let’s preview these upcoming games as part of our NFL Wild Card 2026 Sunday betting predictions and maximise the betting potential available with our NFL betting markets…
NFL Wild Card 2026 Sunday Betting Preview
Let’s split the two games and preview each of them separately…
- #4 Carolina Panthers vs #5 Los Angeles Rams
The Carolina Panthers went 8-9 in the regular season but won the NFC South with a better head-to-head record than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons (both 8-9). However, they lost their last two regular-season games.
The Los Angeles Rams had a much better record, despite being a lower seed. They finished second in the NFC West, finishing with a record of 12-5; tied with the San Francisco 49ers but better on the head-to-head.
- #2 Chicago Bears vs # 7 Green Bay Packers
Two NFC North teams, these divisional rivals have shared a storied past. It’s a game that will offer bettors plenty, as both teams don’t like each other.
The Bears finished atop the division at 11-6, while the Packers finished 9-7-1. Both teams enter the Wild Card with losing streaks, albeit the Bears on a two-game run and the Packers on a four-game run.
The two have played twice as part of their divisional slate, with each sharing a win:
- December 7: Packers 28-21 Bears in Green Bay
- December 21: Bears 22-16 Packers in Chicago; win in overtime
NFL Wild Card 2026 Sunday Betting Predictions
We have NFL betting odds available for the upcoming Wild Card Weekend.
For each game, check out our predictions in our NFL 2026 Wild Card Weekend Preview. For Sunday’s games:
- Panthers vs Rams: We’re predicting the Rams to win and do so comfortably (‘Los Angeles Rams by 1-13 Pts’). They have a stronger season record. The Panthers did win earlier in the season (31-28 Week 13), so we think Tetairoa McMillan will score a touchdown after recording the winning score last time.
- Bears vs Packers: We’re predicting the Bears to win after winning at Soldier Field a few weeks ago. Packers are on a poor streak, and the Bears will have home-field advantage in a fierce NFC North rivalry. ‘Caleb Williams 225+ Yards’ offers value, having made 250 in the OT win.