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In addition to plenty of shakeups in the league\u2019s coaching carousel \u2014 currently sitting with nine head coaching vacancies \u2014 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<\/a>; it\u2019s 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> came down to the wire as MVP favorite Matthew Stafford threw a 19-yard, go-ahead touchdown to tight end Colby Parkinson<\/a> 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<\/a>, which could affect his availability next season.<\/p>\n That was followed by another Saturday thriller, as Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears mounted yet another comeback win \u2014 this time, over their NFC North rival, the Green Bay Packers \u2014 to advance to the divisional round. The Packers were off to a 21-3 lead in the first half<\/a> before the Bears dropped 25 points in the fourth quarter to take the win.<\/p>\n On Sunday, the magic continued with the Josh Allen-led Buffalo Bills defeating Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars, ending Liam Coen\u2019s 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<\/a>, perhaps?), a perfectly timed interception from Bills safety Cole Bishop put Allen in position to kneel it out and snag the team\u2019s first road playoff win in 33 years<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, ending his season.<\/p>\n Despite holding Drake Maye to just one touchdown, the Los Angeles Chargers couldn\u2019t muster up enough offense to take down the New England Patriots. Los Angeles failed to score a touchdown during the contest, losing 16-3<\/a> and inviting questions over whether the Chargers\u2019 coaching staff needs to be shaken up over the offseason.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Live16 updates Criss Partee<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Criss Partee<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Criss Partee<\/p>\n Chicago placed linebacker T.J. Edwards and offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo on injured reserve and activated offensive lineman Braxton Jones from injured reserve.<\/p>\n The team also signed linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin to the active roster and linebacker Nephi Sewell to the practice squad.<\/p>\n Sean Leahy<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Sean Leahy<\/p>\n 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\u2019 lineup if the team advances to the NFC Championship Game.<\/p>\n “I’m ready whenever they’re ready. You know what I’m saying?” Warner said last week on “The Ryen Russillo Show.<\/a>” 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.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Criss Partee<\/p>\n After 19 seasons, Mike Tomlin’s tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers has ended<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Criss Partee<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Buffalo also signed wideout Krisitan Wilkerson to the practice squad.<\/p>\n Jason Owens<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Head coach Sean McDermott announced Davis’ diagnosis<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n The Bills also announced Monday<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n For more, read here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Criss Partee<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Ian Casselberry<\/p>\n New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez is in concussion protocol after he left Sunday night\u2019s win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the fourth quarter and did not return.<\/p>\n Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said on Boston radio station WEEI (via ESPN<\/a>) that Gonzalez going into concussion protocol was standard procedure after he was not cleared to return to the game.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s helmet. The back of Gonzalez\u2019s head appeared to hit the turf.<\/p>\n In 15 starts this season (including Sunday\u2019s playoff game). Gonzalez has recorded 69 tackles and 12 passes defended. That earned him Pro Bowl honors for the first time in his career.<\/p>\n The Patriots will play the winner of Monday night\u2019s wild-card matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans.<\/p>\n Chris Cwik<\/p>\n Houston Texans backup quarterback Davis Mills is expected to be available when his team takes on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. Mills\u2019 wife recently had a baby, putting Mills\u2019 availability in question for the contest.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old will be available, however.<\/p>\n After starting 26 games over his first two NFL seasons, Mills was replaced as the Texans\u2019 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.<\/p>\n Criss Partee<\/p>\n Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis will undergo an MRI on a knee injury that forced him to leave Sunday\u2019s wild card win over Jacksonville on a cart. Davis had two catches for 14 yards before suffering the injury.<\/p>\n Criss Partee<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Chris Cwik<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Despite that, the team is reportedly working on a contract extension with LaFleur, who is signed through 2026, per ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter.<\/p>\n LaFleur has gone 76-40-1 in seven seasons as the Packers\u2019 head coach. While the team has experienced plenty of regular-season success under LaFleur, he has a 3-6 record in the playoffs.<\/p>\n Chris Cwik<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Those four teams are the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Tennessee Titans, according to NFL Network.<\/p>\n McDaniel, 42, is also expected to interview for the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator position.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Chris Cwik<\/p>\n The Los Angeles Chargers looked lifeless on offense during the team\u2019s 16-3 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday. Justin Herbert and the Chargers couldn\u2019t even muster a touchdown in the loss.<\/p>\n Because of that, head coach Jim Harbaugh received some questions about offensive coordinator Greg Roman after the contest. Harbaugh avoided directly answering them, saying, \u201cI don\u2019t have that answer right now<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Criss](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768419975_693_dims.jpeg\"\/)
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