An NFC wild card game is one of the three opening-round playoff games in the National Football Conference. The NFC sends seven teams to the postseason: its four division champions, seeded 1 to 4 by record, and the three non-division winners with the best records, seeded 5 to 7. The No. 1 seed has a bye, so six teams play in this round.
How the NFC bracket pairs up
| Game | Host | Visitor |
|---|---|---|
| NFC No. 2 vs No. 7 | No. 2 seed (division winner) | No. 7 seed (wild card) |
| NFC No. 3 vs No. 6 | No. 3 seed (division winner) | No. 6 seed (wild card) |
| NFC No. 4 vs No. 5 | No. 4 seed (division winner) | No. 5 seed (wild card) |
There is no fixed bracket after that. The lowest-seeded NFC survivor plays at the No. 1 seed in the divisional round, and the two other winners meet at the higher seed’s stadium. Division rivals can be drawn against each other in any round.
NFC wild card games, 2026 season
The NFC’s three wild card games fall within Wild Card Weekend, which begins Saturday, January 16, 2027. Teams, seeds, matchups, days, kickoff times and broadcasters are all to be announced. See NFL Wild Card Weekend 2027 for the confirmed calendar.
Recent NFC wild card results
| Date | Result |
|---|---|
| Sat, Jan 10, 2026 | Los Angeles Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31 |
| Sat, Jan 10, 2026 | Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27 |
| Sun, Jan 11, 2026 | San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19 |
| Sun, Jan 12, 2025 | Philadelphia Eagles 22, Green Bay Packers 10 |
| Sun, Jan 12, 2025 | Washington Commanders 23, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20 |
| Mon, Jan 13, 2025 | Los Angeles Rams 27, Minnesota Vikings 9 |
The January 2026 NFC games were the tense ones. Los Angeles scored the winner at Carolina with 38 seconds left, Chicago erased an 18-point halftime deficit against Green Bay for its first playoff win since 2011, and San Francisco ended Philadelphia’s title defence with a touchdown inside the last three minutes. A year earlier, Washington won on a field goal off the upright as time expired, and the Rams’ home game against Minnesota was moved to Glendale, Arizona because of the Los Angeles-area wildfires.
Recaps: 2026 NFL wild card results, 2025 NFL wild card results. The AFC side is covered on the AFC wild card game.
Sources: NFL Football Operations (“2026 NFL Schedule Announced”); Wikipedia, “NFL playoffs”, “2024–25 NFL playoffs” and “2025–26 NFL playoffs”.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many NFC teams play on Wild Card Weekend?
Six of the seven NFC playoff teams. The No. 1 seed receives a bye straight into the divisional round.
Can two NFC teams from the same division meet in the wild card round?
Yes. The NFL places no restriction on division rivals meeting in any playoff round.
Are the 2027 NFC wild card matchups set?
No. They are to be announced once the regular season ends and the seeds are final.