The Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs wraps up Sunday with two heavyweight matchups that bring both history and high stakes to the table. In the AFC, the surging Houston Texans head into Foxborough to take on a New England Patriots team that’s rediscovering its postseason swagger. Over in the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams travel to a frigid Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears in a clash that’s been four decades in the making.
Let’s break down what’s on deck for this pivotal Sunday of playoff football.
**AFC Divisional Playoff: No. 5 Houston Texans (13-5) at No.
2 New England Patriots (15-3)**
Kickoff: 3 p.m.
ET
Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
TV: ESPN/ABC
Streaming: ESPN+ / ESPN Deportes
Radio: Sirius XM (National: Channel 88 | Texans: 812 | Patriots: 821 | Spanish: 832), Westwood One (John Sadak, Jason McCourty)
Referee: Shawn Smith
Weather: 34°F, cloudy, chance of snow with light winds. 1-3 inches of snow possible overnight.
Odds: Patriots -3 (FanDuel)
This isn’t just another playoff game for the Patriots-it’s their first postseason win since hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LIII, and it came in classic Foxborough fashion. Their 16-3 Wild Card win over the Chargers was a throwback performance: disciplined defense, efficient offense, and a team that looked like it remembered exactly how to win in January.
Now they welcome a Houston Texans squad that’s been quietly building something special. Houston’s 30-6 dismantling of Pittsburgh wasn’t just a win-it was the first road playoff victory in franchise history, and it came with authority. The Texans are now in the Divisional Round for the third straight year, the longest postseason streak in team history, and they’re playing with the kind of confidence that could shake up the AFC hierarchy.
This matchup will hinge on how well Houston’s offense can handle the cold and the Patriots’ defensive looks. New England’s secondary thrives on confusion and disguise, but the Texans have shown they can stay composed on the road. If Houston can establish rhythm early and avoid the kind of slow start that’s doomed many teams in Foxborough, we could be in for a tight one.
**NFC Divisional Playoff: No. 5 Los Angeles Rams (13-5) at No.
2 Chicago Bears (12-6)**
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m.
ET
Location: Soldier Field, Chicago, IL
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock
Radio: Sirius XM (National: Channel 88 | Rams: 818 | Bears: 805 | Spanish: 832), Westwood One (Kevin Harlan, Ross Tucker)
Referee: Shawn Hochuli
Weather: 18°F, mostly cloudy with a chance of snow. Low around 4°F.
Odds: Rams -3.5 (FanDuel)
If you’re into playoff storylines, this one’s got plenty. The Bears are coming off a historic comeback win over Green Bay, rallying from 18 points down and scoring 25 in the fourth quarter-the most in franchise playoff history and third-most in any NFL postseason fourth quarter. That kind of resilience doesn’t just happen-it speaks to a team that believes in itself, even when the odds are stacked.
On the other sideline, the Rams are fresh off their own road triumph, a 34-31 Wild Card win over the Panthers that marked their first postseason road victory since 2022. They’re no strangers to playoff football, and they’ve got the kind of offensive firepower that can travel-even into the icebox that is Soldier Field in January.
This will be the first time these two teams meet in the postseason in 40 years. The last time?
The 1985 NFC Championship Game, when the Bears blanked the Rams 24-0 en route to their iconic Super Bowl run. That history might not mean much to the players on the field Sunday, but it adds a layer of intrigue for fans who remember when these franchises last crossed paths in January.
The key matchup here might be the Rams’ offense against the Bears’ defense, especially in these weather conditions. Cold, snow, and wind tend to favor physical football, and the Bears have shown they can win ugly. But if the Rams can get their ground game going early and take some pressure off their quarterback, they’ve got the tools to take control.
Bottom Line:
Sunday’s Divisional matchups offer two very different flavors of playoff football.
In the AFC, it’s a battle between a Patriots team looking to reclaim its postseason pedigree and a Texans squad eager to prove they belong among the league’s elite. In the NFC, it’s a historic rematch with modern stakes, where weather, grit, and momentum all collide in what promises to be a classic at Soldier Field.
Bundle up. It’s going to be a cold one-and a good one.