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Best NFL Games to Bet on for Wild Card Weekend

The NFL Wild Card schedule spans Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, featuring a total of six games. Let's preview two of the most anticipated games below.

Saturday | 4:30 PM ET | Los Angeles Rams vs. Carolina Panthers (+10.5, O/U 46.5)

We could see history made here if this spread holds, as the Panthers (+10.5) would be the biggest home underdog in NFL playoff history. That's very interesting when you consider these facts:

• The Panthers already beat the Rams at home as a 10-point underdog in a Week 13 upset (31-28).
• The Rams have already lost three games as a favorite of more than a touchdown to the 49ers (+8.5), Panthers (+10), and Falcons (+7.5).
• The Rams have already given up five game-winning drives this year, and Bryce Young has 12 game-winning drives (six this year) in his 14 NFL wins.
• The Rams were the No. 1 scoring defense going into Week 13 with Carolina, but finished No. 10 after a poor finish on that side of the ball.
• The Panthers forced Matthew Stafford into three turnovers, including a pick-six and decisive strip-sack fumble, and the Panthers are getting multiple defenders back for this game they didn't have that day, including Pro Bowl corner Jaycee Horn.

Still, there's no denying the Rams have arguably been the best team this year, as they have never done worse than holding a fourth-quarter tie in all 17 games, the only team in 2025 that can make that claim. The Panthers have a losing record (8-9), lost their last two games, and have been outscored by 69 points this season. Davante Adams is also slated to return to action for the Rams, who also should get offensive line reinforcements with the return of right guard Kevin Dotson.

However, some upset potential is brewing again with this one, should the Panthers run the ball as effectively as they did last time. The Rams also have a strong running game, but it can be a detriment in short-yardage situations, as we've seen in several losses. The field goal unit is also suspect for the Rams, costing them in games against the Eagles (two blocks), 49ers (missed extra point to take a late lead), and Seahawks (missed go-ahead field goal in fourth quarter). Stafford is also the only quarterback in NFL history to lead a go-ahead touchdown drive in overtime and not win the game (at Seattle). The Rams have blown leads of 19 and 16 points in the second half of games this year.

The Rams should win according to the NFL odds, but you might be surprised to know that the five worst playoff teams in scoring differential are 4-1 in their first playoff game. There's just something to be said about an underdog playing at home in a game like this, so the Rams, who have the second-best odds to win Super Bowl 60, better be careful here with this opponent.

Saturday | 8:00 PM ET | Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears (+1.5, O/U 45.5)

With another Saturday night matchup between these NFC North rivals, the NFL is hoping for more of the same from their two meetings in December. In both games, the Packers were leading by a touchdown in the final minute, and as he's done all year, Caleb Williams had the Bears in the red zone with a chance to tie. In Green Bay, he threw a game-ending interception in the end zone on fourth down. In Chicago, he threw a game-tying touchdown on fourth down, then threw an even greater pass in overtime for 46 yards to D.J. Moore to pull off the shocking 22-16 upset that has largely helped Chicago win the NFC North at 11-6 in Ben Johnson's first year.

The Packers (9-7-1) haven't won since their first game against Chicago, and they've been plagued by numerous injuries. They lost Christian Watson and Zach Tom in the Denver loss, and the biggest loss that day wasn't even on the scoreboard. They lost superstar defender Micah Parsons for the season to a torn ACL while he was leading the league in pass pressures. Along with losing tight end Tucker Kraft to a torn ACL earlier this season, the Packers have effectively lost both difference-makers that would help them get over the hump and reach the Super Bowl this year.

Jordan Love also suffered a concussion on a nasty hit in Chicago and left the game. That's another reason the Packers haven't won another game, although backup Malik Willis played well in his absence. The Packers actually had their best rushing day of the season in Chicago, a bad run defense they'll need to exploit more this week with Love cleared from the concussion protocol. But in resting starters in Week 18 at Minnesota, that should be valuable to get running back Josh Jacobs going in this matchup, and it sounds like Watson (their most dangerous receiver) and Tom (one of their best linemen) are going to be able to return in time for this matchup.

If the Packers were good enough to lead by a touchdown late in both meetings, then a healthier version of this team with its playoff experience edge over the Bears should give them a good shot to advance as the No. 7 seed, something that's only happened one other time in NFL history, and that too was Green Bay at Dallas in 2023. But the Bears are a tough out, and they have a record six wins after trailing in the final 2:00 this year. They also dominate turnover battles with the most takeaways (33) and fewest giveaways (11), which is good for a league-best +22 turnover differential. We'll just have to see how Williams and his young receivers handle their first taste of the playoffs in the oldest rivalry in the NFL.