The Ringer NFL Show
Playoff Primer! The Most Interesting Story Lines in the NFC Wild-Card Matchups
08 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What are the most interesting storylines in the NFC wild-card matchups?
Welcome to the Ringer NFL show.
Chapter 2: What should we expect from the Rams vs. Panthers game?
I'm your host, Shiel Kapadia. Today, we are taking a look at the NFC matchups during wildcard weekend. We got Rams and Panthers Saturday afternoon. We got Packers at Bears Saturday night, and then 49ers at Eagles Saturday. in the late afternoon window on Sunday. What is the most interesting thing about each of these matchups? That's what we're going to talk about.
My guest today is the Ringers, Billy Gill. Let's take a break. We come back.
Chapter 3: What key factors will influence the Packers vs. Bears matchup?
We talk NFC playoff matchups. The Ringer NFL show is presented by FanDuel. FanDuel's got it all. Same game parlays, quick bets for jumping in live and your way so you can build the bet that fits your play. Plus, don't miss out on the NFL playoffs all month long. Download the FanDuel app or head to FanDuel.com slash Ringer NFL to get started.
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Chapter 4: What makes the 49ers vs. Eagles game significant this season?
Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut. All right, we are back here with Billy Gill. We are talking NFC playoff matchups in the wildcard round. What's the most interesting thing about each matchup? Billy, let's start with Rams at Panthers, the old Saturday afternoon. Panthers are big home underdogs here. I'm curious what you're going to say here.
Because, I mean, they're 10.5-point underdogs at home. I think everyone expects the Rams to win. But what is your most interesting thing for this game?
Chapter 5: How do playoff implications affect the Rams and Panthers?
I feel like we're aligned here. We're connected. We don't even know it, but our minds are in the same place. Because I was going to say, my most interesting thing about this, and I know this isn't a gambling show, and I know we do a lot of spreads and a lot of gambling and all that, but the minus 10, the heavy favorite there, on the road, in the playoffs, interesting.
Because we talked about it a couple days ago when we were talking about this matchup, and a lot of people writing the Panthers off, like, if you listen back to that episode, I was writing them off as well. But I did a thing, Shield, before this episode. You know what I did? What's that? I went back and I re-watched the matchup. I watched the game summary.
Chapter 6: What are the dynamics between the Packers and Bears coaches?
The preparation.
I did it for this game. I said, you know what? We have big, heavy implications here for the playoffs. Happy playoffs, by the way, to you, Shield, and to all those others. Oh, and by the way, PSA, because I forgot to do it last week. If you're out there and you're listening... cancel your Red Zone subscription because you no longer need a Red Zone subscription.
So cancel that now so you save money every month. Now, big time playoff implications moving forward. Obviously, every game is an elimination game. Now, I went back and I watched the games. This game... Very close. It was somewhat miraculous by the Panthers to win the game. It took three turnovers, took two interceptions, took a late fumble, but they kept that thing close.
Chapter 7: What historical context surrounds the 49ers vs. Eagles rivalry?
The Rams still almost came back and tied that game, forced overtime or won that game. But that spread is massive, especially for a road team. I don't know if you've done any research, looked it up, how often it is that you have such big spreads on the road in the NFL, but it's something that catches your eye for sure.
I did do that. I actually did that exact exercise. I wanted to know just home teams that are underdogs of seven points or more. Who were they and what happened in those games? So let's take a little trip down memory lane here. So 2010, Saints at Seahawks. You remember that game, the Beast Quake game. Seahawks are 10-point underdogs. They're seven and nine.
No one's given them a shot against the Saints. And they beat the Saints.
Chapter 8: How do injuries impact the 49ers' chances in the playoffs?
Not only do they cover, they beat the Saints 41-36. So you had that. 2011. Steelers at Broncos. Tim Tebow. Were you a big Tim Tebow guy?
Was that the Tebow game with the one reception, the walk-off touchdown he had?
Actually, was it that game?
I actually can't remember. He was very corny, obviously, but I wanted him to succeed. Didn't end up happening.
Didn't end up happening, but it did happen in that game because the Broncos won 29-23. They were seven and a half point underdogs in that game. And then 2020, the Bucs had commanders. Do you remember this one? Billy Tom Brady versus Taylor Heineke. The 11-5 Bucs against the 7-9. They were called the Washington football team. This was that era, the Washington football team.
And the Bucs won, but they didn't cover. So the last three times we've had this happen, The underdog has covered all three times and has won two of those times. So that brings me, Billy, to the most interesting thing for me about this game. Okay. And that's what happens if the Panthers actually pull the upset off here. Okay?
Because I don't think anyone, you know, when you're in content, sometimes you want to take that zag and you want to say, I know, no one's going to just pick the Panthers outright. I actually think you're going to have a hard time finding like one person picking the Panthers to win this game outright. But it can happen. That's why they play the games. It's not going to be me.
But if it is the Panthers, think about all the ramifications. So short term, you have the Panthers or the four seed. If they win now, all of a sudden, if you're one of these other team, the Bears, the Eagles, the Seahawks, you might get to face the Panthers in the second round with a chance to go to the NFC championship game. So that's one thing that can happen.
And then the second thing that can happen. Bryce Young, you know, we talked about him, I think the first time you were on with me and we say, like, seems like a likable guy. We can go hang out with Bryce Young, me, you, Bryce Young, go have a meal, you know, maybe have a drink.
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