Canal Street Chronicles
The 2026 NFL Playoffs are upon us, and unfortunately, the New Orleans Saints are once again not among this year’s playoff field. Even without the Saints in the playoffs this year, there are quite a few players to root for, and teams to root against. We certainly have some interesting matchups this weekend, so let’s take a look at each game as well as which teams will be moving on to the Divisional Round next weekend.
Last week I went 7-9
I told you so: Vikings over Packers!
What do I know: Panthers over Bucs?
Saturday, January 10th – 3:30pm CST – FOX
This Wild Card game is a rematch of one of the most surprising upsets in the NFL this past season, a 31-28 Carolina win at home over a Rams team that was the NFC’s top seed at that point, the Sunday following Thanksgiving. The win was sealed with a 43-yard TD pass by Bryce Young, stunning a Rams team that was on a six-game winning streak at that point.
The Rams multiple weapons on offense, led by Matthew Stafford, will be the story coming into the game, but it is the defense that has much to prove here. This rematch will come down to the Rams defense coming through as the best unit on the field, forcing Bryce Young into a pair of crucial turnovers his team won’t be able to recover from. The 2025 NFC South champs will exit the playoffs as unceremoniously as they entered them. Los Angeles wins 30-20.
Pick: Rams
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Saturday, January 10th – 7:00pm CST – Prime Video
This Wild Card game is a rematch of arguably the Game of the Year this past regular season, a 22-16 overtime thriller in Chicago on the Saturday before Christmas. It is that game that earned Chicago the NFC North title, their first since 2018. These teams did split the season series though, and Green Bay’s starting QB Jordan Love missed the huge OT loss due to injury. Love will be back for this one.
Although these teams are the class of their devision, neither has finished the season strong, as Chicago has lost their final two games, and Green Bay their last four. This may be a bit skewed in Green Bay’s case, as they were ravaged with injuries and rested everyone they could in a season finale that featured a practice squad player at starting QB. Both teams rosters are as healthy and rested as they can be coming into this one. It will be another close one, but Chicago is just better, at least on offense, and home field advantage will prove to be just that. Chicago wins 27-24.
Pick: Bears
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**Sunday, January 11th – 12:00pm CST –...
