Even in opening with a doubleheader of rematches, theNFL playoffsmanaged to open with a bit of the unexpected.
The Saturday afternoon slot of the wild-card round often produces a dud, but that was hardly the case this year. TheLos Angeles Rams, who were a heavy favorite and a popular pick to be the NFC's Super Bowl representative, found themselves with a legitimate challenge from theCarolina Panthers, needing to regroup in the final minutes topush ahead for a 34-31 win. But the biggest thrills would come from theChicago Bears, who rallied from a 21-3 deficit tostun the rival Green Bay Packerswith a 31-27 win. That outcome would not only give Chicago its first postseason win in 15 years but also go down as the largest playoff comeback in Bears franchise history.
Here are the biggest winners and losers from Saturday's NFL playoff wild-card action:
Winners
Caleb Williams
After the first half, the second-year signal-caller seemed destined for an offseason of unfounded questions on whether he could deliver in crunch time. So much for that narrative. Williams engineered a turnaround that will go down as an all-timer for the franchise, further entrenching the notion that these are hardly the same old Bears. With a run game that usually paces the attack coming up empty and Chicago's game plan thrown off by its substantial early deficit, Williams was often left to create on his own. He certainly rose to the occasion, with his stunning fourth-down heave demonstrating his singular status among passers, even if his consistency still isn't all there. Capturing the lead with a 25-yard scoring strike was a fitting exclamation point for Williams, who threw for 195 yards and two scores in the fourth quarter alone. Regardless of how the season ends for Chicago, this is the kind of night that affirms the campaign as a resounding success, and one that makes anything feel possible under the current setup.
Ben Johnson
From the off-kilter offensive execution to some questionable game management in the early going, Johnson invited plenty of scrutiny with the Bears' lackluster start out of the gate. He's due for a reprieve, however, after authoring a historic breakthrough for the franchise. Johnson helped the Bears rediscover their explosive form late despite facing a difficult landscape that forced the attack to be one-dimensional, with the team scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter alone. There's been a good deal of fortune involved with Chicago's seven fourth-quarter comebacks this season, and Green Bay certainly opened the door with several missteps down the stretch. Still, Chicago has grown accustomed to living on the edge, and Johnson has helped a young and inexperienced core rapidly mature so as to navigate situations like this. And after raising eyebrows by saying in his introductory news conference that he "kind ofenjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year," he's now done that in his first year in the top job.
Colston Loveland
Forget Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Bears tight end is closing out his inaugural pro campaign as the league's most lethal first-year weapon. Loveland finished with a game-high 137 yards on eight catches and a two-point conversion, repeatedly roasting Green Bay on out-breaking routes. The Michigan product became the first rookie tight end with 100-plus receiving yards in a playoff game since Keith Jackson in 1988, and he notched his third consecutive game with at least six catches and 90 yards. A rare matchup threat, he sizes up as one of the biggest breakout candidates in the entire league for 2026.
Super Bowl VII (Dolphins 14, Washington 7): Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Manny Fernandez (75) tackles Washington running back Larry Brown (43) in Super Bowl VII at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Dolphins completed a 17-0 undefeated season with the win." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl XVII (Washington 27, Dolphins 17): Washington running back John Riggins (44) breaks loose from Miami Dolphins defensive back Don McNeal (28) on a 43-yard touchdown run during Super Bowl XVII at the Rose Bowl." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl XVIII (Raiders 38, Washington 9): Los Angeles Raiders running back Marcus Allen (32) carries the ball against Washington safety Mark Murphy (29) during Super Bowl XVIII at Tampa Stadium." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl XXII (Washington 42, Broncos 10): Washington quarterback Doug Williams (17) looks to throw against the Denver Broncos during Super Bowl XXII at Jack Murphy Stadium." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl XXIV (49ers 55, Broncos 10) : San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig (33) celebrates with teammates against the Denver Broncos at the Superdome. The 55 points scored by the 49ers remains a Super Bowl record." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl XXVI (Washington 37, Bills 24): Washington cornerback Alvoid Mays (20) hits Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly (12), causing him to fumble during Super Bowl XXVI at the Metrodome." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl 51 (Patriots 34, Falcons 28 - OT): New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman hauls in a catch off a deflected pass that would help New England mount the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. The game also featured the first ever overtime in a Super Bowl." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl 53 (Patriots 13, Rams 3): Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore makes a pivotal interception in the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With the win, the Patriots tied the Steelers for most Super Bowl victories (six)." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl 55 (Buccaneers 31, Chiefs 9): Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski spikes the football after catching a touchdown pass during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl 56 (Rams 23, Bengals 20): Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp catches the game-winning touchdown pass as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple defends at SoFi Stadium." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl 57 (Chiefs 38, Eagles 35): The Chiefs' Kadarius Toney (19) is tackled by the Philadelphia Eagles' Nakobe Dean (17) and Arryn Siposs (8) after a Super Bowl-record 65-yard punt return at State Farm Stadium." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl 58 (Chiefs 25, 49ers 22, OT): Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr. (12) celebrates with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) after the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Super Bowl: One great image from each game
Romeo Doubs
ThePackersreceiver's fumbling of an onside kick precipitated Green Bay's collapse in the Week 16 overtime loss against Chicago. This time around, he can't be blamed for the Packers folding. Doubs led Green Bay with 124 yards and a touchdown on eight catches. With the offense sputtering late, he stepped up on several occasions to snag critical first downs. Don't be surprised if he pulls down a hefty sum in a couple of months, when he figures to be one of the most attractive options in a booming receiver market.
Matthew Golden
He shouldn't have to hear about going without a touchdown as a rookie anymore. The Packers' first-round receiver finally found the end zone on a dazzling 23-yard fourth-quarter catch-and-run, during which he slipped several defenders. Golden capped an underwhelming first year with 84 yards on four catches. Better things – and a bigger role – should be ahead in Year 2.
Matthew Stafford's late heroics
The final stat line – 24-of-42, 304 yards with three touchdowns and an interception – sure was a lot prettier than the actual play for most of the day. After a sizzling start, Stafford spent a good chunk of his day misfiring or otherwise struggling to come up with answers for Carolina's defense, with a finger injury late in the first half seemingly exacerbating the issues. But with the Rams facing a four-point deficit in the final three minutes, Stafford slung the offense 71 yards by completing six of seven throws, capping his effort with a sublime scoring strike to tight end Colby Parkinson. With things not clicking on the perimeter, Stafford did his most significant damage by shredding the Cover 3 looks that the Panthers opened with – and for some reason returned to late. It's not the kind of effort that the quarterback or his team will want to reprise, especially considering how shaky things were when Carolina generated pressure. But only a select few signal-callers are capable of pulling out of a tailspin and delivering that result.
Jalen Coker
On a team that has spent first-round draft picks on wide receivers in successive years, it was a former undrafted free agent who powered a Panthers aerial attack that had at times looked lifeless this season. Coker's 134 receiving yards were not only a career high but more than half of the Panthers' total in that category (264). The second-year wideout also hauled in Bryce Young's perfectly delivered go-ahead touchdown throw on a corner route late in the fourth quarter. Coker's disconnect with Young in the first quarter led to an interception that deepened the Panthers' early hole, so his day wasn't without error. Still, he looks to be the perfect complement to Offensive Rookie of the Year front-runner Tetairoa McMillan for a Carolina passing game that will look to take off in earnest in 2026.
Losers
Matt LaFleur
Prior to the game, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that LaFleur and Packers brass planned to meet after the conclusion of the season to discuss a contract extension, with the coach's deal currently set to expire after next season. Safe to say that the summit is bound to be a bit more awkward now. Given the injuries that crippled what looked to be a title-ready roster, Green Bay fading down the stretch is at least somewhat understandable. But capping a four-game losing streak to end the regular season with a multi-faceted meltdown against a rival is a devastating way to go out. Jordan Love roasted Chicago early with play-action, with the offense scoring touchdowns on each of its first three drives. From there on, Green Bay was out of sorts, at times barely able to move the ball. Yes, the defense and special teams also wilted after halftime. But LaFleur is ultimately responsible for those slip-ups, too. Though his standing as one of the NFL's premier play-callers and offensive architects is unimpeachable, LaFleur has too often been at the center of these kind of setbacks. Maybe parting with a coach who is 76-40-1 and has reached the postseason in six of seven seasons will prove unpalatable for Packers president and CEO Ed Policy, who's facing his first full offseason in the role. But as LaFleur said after the game, "This one is going to hurt for a really, really long time."
Brandon McManus
It wouldn't be a Packers implosion without special teams playing a prominent role. McManus missed both of his field-goal attempts as well as an extra point. It was a brutal outcome for a player signed to a three-year extension just 10 months ago.
Said McManus after the game: "An embarrassing performance ... it's the most disappointing part of my career right now."
Rams' secondary
There were myriad issues for a team that severely undermined its standing as a leading Super Bowl threat. But while the penalties and special teams meltdowns should be more readily fixable – despite how persistent a theme the latter has remained despite the late December firing of coordinator Chase Blackburn – the issues on the back end appear as pressing as ever. The return of standout safety Quentin Lake, who missed the regular-season tilt with Carolina, didn't make a drastic difference for a group that unraveled down the stretch, particularly in giving up big plays. Even on a day when the Rams' front frequently dictated terms and created havoc, the secondary couldn't live up to its responsibilities and now looms as a major liability in the divisional round.
Ikem Ekwonu
Brutal outcome for the Panthers left tackle, who buckled after being bull-rushed by Rams rookie Josaiah Stewart. Ekwonu was carted off with what Panthers coach Dave Canales said after the game looked to be a "significant" knee injury. The 2022 first-round pick already has had his fifth-year option, which is fully guaranteed, picked up for 2026. But the injury at least complicates his financial future beyond that.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Matt LaFleur's hot seat tops NFL playoff winners and losers
