NFL Wild Card 2026 Odds: Opening Lines Set as Rams Open as Massive Road Favorites
The Board: Wild Card Weekend Opening Lines
The Los Angeles Rams enter the tournament as the most feared Wild Card team in years. Despite being the 5-seed, they travel to Carolina as double-digit favorites. Meanwhile, the AFC North is represented by a Steelers squad that clawed into the playoffs on the final day, only to find themselves as home underdogs against a surging Houston Texans team.
| Matchup | Spread | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|
| LA Rams at Carolina Panthers | RAM -10.5 | 46.5 |
| Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears | GB -1.5 | 45.5 |
| Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars | BUF -1.5 | 52.5 |
| SF 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles | PHI -4.5 | 44.5 |
| LA Chargers at New England Patriots | NE -3.5 | 46.5 |
| Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers | HOU -3.5 | 39.5 |
— Straight Bets Daily (@StraightBetsDly) January 6, 2026
High-Stakes Showdowns: Analysis & Trends
The Houston Texans are the betting darlings of January. Riding a 10-game winning streak and boasting the conference’s top scoring defense, they are laying 3.5 points on the road in Pittsburgh. However, bettors should note that Houston has never won a road playoff game in franchise history (0-5 all-time). Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is 4-1 in their last five games and allowed just 19.6 PPG during that stretch.
In the NFC, the Packers-Bears matchup is the ultimate toss-up. These divisional rivals split their regular-season series, with the home team winning each time. With Jordan Love returning from a shoulder injury, the line has stabilized at Green Bay -1.5. Chicago’s defense has been elite at home, forcing seven turnovers in their last three games at Soldier Field.
What They Said
“The Rams at -10.5 on the road is a massive number for the playoffs, but it reflects just how much more consistent Matthew Stafford has been compared to the Panthers’ offense lately. If Carolina can’t stop the run, this game gets ugly early.” — Vegas Lead Oddsmaker
“Everyone is talking about Houston’s win streak, but playoff football in Pittsburgh is a different beast. Expect a low-scoring, physical battle that likely comes down to the final possession.” — NFL Betting Analyst
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
The winners of these games move on to face the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, who earned first-round byes. For teams like the Bills and Eagles, this weekend is about survival. Josh Allen faces a Jaguars defense that enters the postseason on an eight-game winning streak of its own. Expect the lines to move significantly as injury reports for Jordan Love and Justin Herbert become clearer later in the week.
