Checking the NFL Sunday game scores usually feels like a routine, but today was different. If you were looking for tight, nail-biting finishes like yesterday’s overtime thriller in Denver, you probably ended up a little surprised. Or maybe disappointed.
Today was about the heavyweights asserting dominance. It was about the home teams protecting their turf with a level of physicality that basically told the underdogs to "stay home." We saw Mike Vrabel’s New England Patriots methodically dismantle a surging Houston Texans team, and the Chicago Bears... well, they reminded everyone why Soldier Field is a house of horrors in January.
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The Patriots Defense Just Wouldn't Break
The early window gave us the Houston Texans at the New England Patriots. Honestly, many people (myself included) thought C.J. Stroud might have enough magic left in the tank to pull off the upset. He's been incredible. But the final score—Patriots 21, Texans 16—doesn’t quite capture how frustrating this game was for Houston.
New England didn't light up the scoreboard. Drake Maye played a steady game, but the story was the New England defense. They held the Texans to just one touchdown.
Every time Houston crossed the 40-yard line, the field seemed to shrink. The Patriots' pass rush, led by Harold Landry III, was relentless. Stroud was under duress on nearly 40% of his dropbacks. You simply can't win playoff games on the road when your quarterback is running for his life before he finishes his three-step drop.
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Key Takeaways from Foxborough:
- Efficiency over Volume: Drake Maye didn't put up 300 yards, but he avoided the "big mistake."
- Red Zone Lockdown: Houston settled for field goals twice inside the 10-yard line. That’s the game right there.
- Home Field Matters: The Gillette Stadium crowd was deafening, especially on third downs.
Frozen in Chicago: The Rams vs. Bears Showdown
Then we had the nightcap. The Los Angeles Rams traveling to Chicago. If you like "old school" football, this was your dream. If you like high-scoring track meets, it was a nightmare.
The temperature at kickoff was 20 degrees, but with the wind off Lake Michigan, the "feels like" temp was reportedly 7 degrees. You could see the breath of every player on every snap. The NFL Sunday game scores tracker eventually settled on a 31-24 victory for the Chicago Bears, but it felt much grittier than a seven-point game.
Rome Odunze was the hero here. Despite playing with a stress fracture in his foot, he was Caleb Williams' go-to target when it mattered most.
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The Rams didn't go quietly. Matthew Stafford is a warrior, and he kept chunking the ball into the wind, finding Cooper Kupp for a late score to make it interesting. But the Bears' ground game, anchored by a physical offensive line, chewed up the clock in the fourth quarter. They wore the Rams down. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective.
What This Means for the Conference Championships
So, the dust has settled on the Divisional Round. We now know exactly who is playing for a trip to the Super Bowl.
In the AFC, it’s the Denver Broncos hosting the New England Patriots.
This is a fascinatng matchup. You have the veteran savvy of Sean Payton and Mike Vrabel going head-to-head. However, there’s a massive injury cloud over Denver. Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle in their win over Buffalo. Can Jarrett Stidham lead them past a Patriots defense that looks like a brick wall? It’s a huge ask.
Over in the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks will host the Chicago Bears.
Seattle looked like the best team in football yesterday, crushing the 49ers 41-6. Kenneth Walker III is playing like a man possessed. But the Bears are scrappy. They find ways to win ugly.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you are looking ahead to the Championship Sunday, keep these variables in mind:
- Monitor the Nix Factor: Denver’s spread against New England is going to shift wildly depending on the reports coming out of Broncos practice regarding Stidham’s chemistry with the first-team receivers.
- The Seattle Momentum: The Seahawks didn't just win; they embarrassed a division rival. Teams coming off a 30+ point playoff win often carry that "invincibility" into the next round, but the Bears’ defense is much more disciplined than the injury-riddled Niners squad we saw on Saturday.
- Weather Watch: Both games are in outdoor stadiums (Denver and Seattle). In late January, the weather is often the 12th man. Check the wind speeds specifically, as high gusts neutralize the deep passing game more than snow or rain ever will.
The road to Super Bowl LX is narrowing. The favorites held serve today, but as we’ve seen all season, that just means the pressure is even higher for next week.