NFL Wildcard Sunday Preview and Predictions

<p>The NFL playoffs will begin this weekend, with Wild Card Weekend taking over.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>For Aussies, Sunday will see four teams begin their road to Super Bowl LX. The games scheduled are as follows:</p> <ul> <li>#4 Carolina Panthers vs #5 Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, January 11, 08:30 AEDT)</li> <li>#2 Chicago Bears vs # 7 Green Bay Packers (Sunday, January 11, 12:00 AEDT)</li> </ul> <p>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…</p> <h2>NFL Wild Card 2026 Sunday Betting Preview</h2> <p>Let’s split the two games and preview each of them separately…</p> <ul> <li><strong>#4 Carolina Panthers vs #5 Los Angeles Rams</strong></li> </ul> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <ul> <li><strong>#2 Chicago Bears vs # 7 Green Bay Packers</strong></li> </ul> <p>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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>The two have played twice as part of their divisional slate, with each sharing a win:</p> <ul> <li>December 7: Packers 28-21 Bears in Green Bay</li> <li>December 21: Bears 22-16 Packers in Chicago; win in overtime</li> </ul> <h2>NFL Wild Card 2026 Sunday Betting Predictions</h2> <p>We have <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/american-football">NFL betting odds</a> available for the upcoming Wild Card Weekend.</p> <p>For each game, check out our predictions in our NFL 2026 Wild Card Weekend Preview. For Sunday’s games:</p> <ul> <li><strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/american-football/nfl/los-angeles-rams-at-carolina-panthers-9997775">Panthers vs Rams</a>:</strong> We’re<strong> predicting the Rams to win</strong> and do so comfortably<strong> (‘Los Angeles Rams by 1-13 Pts’)</strong>. They have a stronger season record. The Panthers did win earlier in the season (31-28 Week 13), so we think <strong>Tetairoa McMillan will score a touchdown</strong> after recording the winning score last time.</li> <li><strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/american-football/nfl/green-bay-packers-at-chicago-bears-9997751">Bears vs Packers</a>:</strong> We’re <strong>predicting the Bears to win</strong> after winning at Soldier Field a few weeks ago. Packers are on a poor streak, and the <strong>Bears will have home-field advantage</strong> in a fierce NFC North rivalry.<strong> ‘Caleb Williams 225+ Yards’</strong> offers value, having made 250 in the OT win.</li> </ul>