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The “most unusual” NFL season in years is set for a fitting finale.

After a record-breaking number of comebacks on Wildcard Weekend, six teams progressed to the Divisional Round.

They have been joined by the top seeds from each conference, with the Denver Broncos (AFC) and Seattle Seahawks (NFC) having received byes for the first round.

Yet the race for the Super Bowl remains wide open and this weekend’s four games are even tougher to call than last week.

“It’s win or go home and at this point of the season, every team has the ability to hurt you,” said Seattle’s British defensive coordinator Aden Durde.

“Every team has earned the right [to be here]. There’s no-one you can take lightly or put above someone else.”

Durde’s Seahawks are the marginal favourites to win Super Bowl 60 ahead of the Los Angeles Rams.

Kansas City knocked the Buffalo Bills out of the play-offs in four of the past five years and with the Chiefs missing out – along with fellow AFC rivals Baltimore and Cincinnati – is this Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen’s best chance yet to reach the Super Bowl?

The NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player led the Bills to a comeback win at Jacksonville last week – but they must now visit the AFC’s top seed Denver.

“Defence still wins championships,” said USA Today reporter Tyler Dragon. “Denver are a well-balanced team and kind of like the Seahawks, it starts with that defence.”

The Broncos have won 13 of their past 14 games and led the league with 68 sacks – 11 more than any other team.

“That allows head coach Sean Payton to… be aggressive because you know your defence is going to get you the ball back,” said former NFL coach Phil McGeoghan.

Houston and New England’s defensive units dominated in their wins last week, and now Patriots quarterback Drake Maye faces a stern test of his MVP credentials against the Texans, who led the league for fewest yards allowed (183.5 per game).

“I love that Houston defence and that front, in particular Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson,” said McGeoghan.

The Rams and San Francisco 49ers both won last week to join NFC West rivals Seattle in the Divisional Round, making it three teams from that division in the last eight.

The Chicago Bears made a record six fourth-quarter comebacks during the regular season and pulled off another last week to progress, but if the Rams win in Chicago it will ensure a divisional match-up for the Conference Championships.

“The Bears’ slow starts are going to come back to bite them, especially against the upper echelon teams – and the Rams are certainly one of those, ” said Dragon.

“Matt Stafford is the MVP favourite, they have arguably the best receiving corps in the NFL with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams on the outside, and their defence is pretty good as well.”

Injury-hit San Francisco lost another key player last week – tight end George Kittle – and this week they visit Seattle, whose quarterback Sam Darnold has only played one play-off game.

Should they win, the Seahawks would also host the Conference Championship at Lumen Field, where their raucous fans are known as ‘the 12s’ because they are like having a 12th man.

“It’s probably the loudest venue I’ve been to,” said Dragon. “Those fans can get after it and it really helps when the opposing offence has the ball.

“Seattle are a well-rounded team. They aren’t dependent on Darnold and last time they played the 49ers their defence held them to only three points.”

Conference seed in brackets, all kick-off times GMT

Saturday, 17 January

Sunday, 18 January

The “most unusual” NFL season in years is set for a fitting finale.

After a record-breaking number of comebacks on Wildcard Weekend, six teams progressed to the Divisional Round.

They have been joined by the top seeds from each conference, with the Denver Broncos (AFC) and Seattle Seahawks (NFC) having received byes for the first round.

Yet the race for the Super Bowl remains wide open and this weekend’s four games are even tougher to call than last week.

“It’s win or go home and at this point of the season, every team has the ability to hurt you,” said Seattle’s British defensive coordinator Aden Durde.

“Every team has earned the right [to be here]. There’s no-one you can take lightly or put above someone else.”

Durde’s Seahawks are the marginal favourites to win Super Bowl 60 ahead of the Los Angeles Rams.

Kansas City knocked the Buffalo Bills out of the play-offs in four of the past five years and with the Chiefs missing out – along with fellow AFC rivals Baltimore and Cincinnati – is this Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen’s best chance yet to reach the Super Bowl?

The NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player led the Bills to a comeback win at Jacksonville last week – but they must now visit the AFC’s top seed Denver.

“Defence still wins championships,” said USA Today reporter Tyler Dragon. “Denver are a well-balanced team and kind of like the Seahawks, it starts with that defence.”

The Broncos have won 13 of their past 14 games and led the league with 68 sacks – 11 more than any other team.

“That allows head coach Sean Payton to… be aggressive because you know your defence is going to get you the ball back,” said former NFL coach Phil McGeoghan.

Houston and New England’s defensive units dominated in their wins last week, and now Patriots quarterback Drake Maye faces a stern test of his MVP credentials against the Texans, who led the league for fewest yards allowed (183.5 per game).

“I love that Houston defence and that front, in particular Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson,” said McGeoghan.

The Rams and San Francisco 49ers both won last week to join NFC West rivals Seattle in the Divisional Round, making it three teams from that division in the last eight.

The Chicago Bears made a record six fourth-quarter comebacks during the regular season and pulled off another last week to progress, but if the Rams win in Chicago it will ensure a divisional match-up for the Conference Championships.

“The Bears’ slow starts are going to come back to bite them, especially against the upper echelon teams – and the Rams are certainly one of those, ” said Dragon.

“Matt Stafford is the MVP favourite, they have arguably the best receiving corps in the NFL with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams on the outside, and their defence is pretty good as well.”

Injury-hit San Francisco lost another key player last week – tight end George Kittle – and this week they visit Seattle, whose quarterback Sam Darnold has only played one play-off game.

Should they win, the Seahawks would also host the Conference Championship at Lumen Field, where their raucous fans are known as ‘the 12s’ because they are like having a 12th man.

“It’s probably the loudest venue I’ve been to,” said Dragon. “Those fans can get after it and it really helps when the opposing offence has the ball.

“Seattle are a well-rounded team. They aren’t dependent on Darnold and last time they played the 49ers their defence held them to only three points.”

Conference seed in brackets, all kick-off times GMT

Saturday, 17 January

Sunday, 18 January

Wayne Rooney says caretaker head coach Michael Carrick is the “right choice at this moment in time” to “steady the ship” at Manchester United.

United confirmed that Carrick would take charge until the end of the season – succeeding Ruben Amorim – on Tuesday.

Rooney and Carrick were team-mates at Old Trafford, playing together on 366 occasions and winning five Premier League titles.

“It is probably the obvious choice really because I don’t think there are any top, top managers available at the minute,” he said on the latest edition of BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show.

“I think it is the right choice at this moment in time.

Carrick’s short-term appointment still leaves questions around who the board will turn to in the summer.

Xabi Alonso, who left Real Madrid on Monday, and England manager Thomas Tuchel are among the names to have already been suggested.

“Alonso did incredible at Leverkusen and I think you have more chance of him sitting and waiting and hoping with [Liverpool manager Arne] Slot,” Rooney said.

Carrick made 464 appearances for United across a 12-year spell and had a three-game stint as caretaker manager at the club in 2021, winning two games and drawing one.

The 44-year-old managed Middlesbrough between 2002 and 2005.

“Michael’s great fun. He is a great character, but don’t be fooled by how calm he looks,” Rooney said.

“He can have fun as well, but make no mistake, he’d be going in there now with full focus.”

Manchester United sit seventh in the Premier League after winning just one of their past six games.

Carrick’s first assignment comes on Saturday (12:30 GMT) when Manchester City make the short trip to Old Trafford.

“It is a massive game for the club, for Michael,” Rooney said.

“I think what he will do is bring a bit of calmness, a bit of grit to the game, which I think is needed. It is going to be very difficult, Manchester City are obviously a top team and it will be difficult to get anything out of it even at Old Trafford.

Carrick has brought former England assistant Steve Holland in as his number two, with Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion also part of his staff.

Holland worked under Gareth Southgate when England finished fourth at the 2018 World Cup and were runners-up at Euro 2020 and 2024.

“I was really impressed him tactically at England, how he worked and his organisation,” Rooney said.

“Steve Holland did all the training, Gareth Southgate didn’t really, he’d be more the manager and Steve took all the sessions.

Wayne Rooney says caretaker head coach Michael Carrick is the “right choice at this moment in time” to “steady the ship” at Manchester United.

United confirmed that Carrick would take charge until the end of the season – succeeding Ruben Amorim – on Tuesday.

Rooney and Carrick were team-mates at Old Trafford, playing together on 366 occasions and winning five Premier League titles.

“It is probably the obvious choice really because I don’t think there are any top, top managers available at the minute,” he said on the latest edition of BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show.

“I think it is the right choice at this moment in time.

Carrick’s short-term appointment still leaves questions around who the board will turn to in the summer.

Xabi Alonso, who left Real Madrid on Monday, and England manager Thomas Tuchel are among the names to have already been suggested.

“Alonso did incredible at Leverkusen and I think you have more chance of him sitting and waiting and hoping with [Liverpool manager Arne] Slot,” Rooney said.

Carrick made 464 appearances for United across a 12-year spell and had a three-game stint as caretaker manager at the club in 2021, winning two games and drawing one.

The 44-year-old managed Middlesbrough between 2002 and 2005.

“Michael’s great fun. He is a great character, but don’t be fooled by how calm he looks,” Rooney said.

“He can have fun as well, but make no mistake, he’d be going in there now with full focus.”

Manchester United sit seventh in the Premier League after winning just one of their past six games.

Carrick’s first assignment comes on Saturday (12:30 GMT) when Manchester City make the short trip to Old Trafford.

“It is a massive game for the club, for Michael,” Rooney said.

“I think what he will do is bring a bit of calmness, a bit of grit to the game, which I think is needed. It is going to be very difficult, Manchester City are obviously a top team and it will be difficult to get anything out of it even at Old Trafford.

Carrick has brought former England assistant Steve Holland in as his number two, with Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion also part of his staff.

Holland worked under Gareth Southgate when England finished fourth at the 2018 World Cup and were runners-up at Euro 2020 and 2024.

“I was really impressed him tactically at England, how he worked and his organisation,” Rooney said.

“Steve Holland did all the training, Gareth Southgate didn’t really, he’d be more the manager and Steve took all the sessions.

Wayne Rooney says caretaker head coach Michael Carrick is the “right choice at this moment in time” to “steady the ship” at Manchester United.

United confirmed that Carrick would take charge until the end of the season – succeeding Ruben Amorim – on Tuesday.

Rooney and Carrick were team-mates at Old Trafford, playing together on 366 occasions and winning five Premier League titles.

“It is probably the obvious choice really because I don’t think there are any top, top managers available at the minute,” he said on the latest edition of BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show.

“I think it is the right choice at this moment in time.

Carrick’s short-term appointment still leaves questions around who the board will turn to in the summer.

Xabi Alonso, who left Real Madrid on Monday, and England manager Thomas Tuchel are among the names to have already been suggested.

“Alonso did incredible at Leverkusen and I think you have more chance of him sitting and waiting and hoping with [Liverpool manager Arne] Slot,” Rooney said.

Carrick made 464 appearances for United across a 12-year spell and had a three-game stint as caretaker manager at the club in 2021, winning two games and drawing one.

The 44-year-old managed Middlesbrough between 2002 and 2005.

“Michael’s great fun. He is a great character, but don’t be fooled by how calm he looks,” Rooney said.

“He can have fun as well, but make no mistake, he’d be going in there now with full focus.”

Manchester United sit seventh in the Premier League after winning just one of their past six games.

Carrick’s first assignment comes on Saturday (12:30 GMT) when Manchester City make the short trip to Old Trafford.

“It is a massive game for the club, for Michael,” Rooney said.

“I think what he will do is bring a bit of calmness, a bit of grit to the game, which I think is needed. It is going to be very difficult, Manchester City are obviously a top team and it will be difficult to get anything out of it even at Old Trafford.

Carrick has brought former England assistant Steve Holland in as his number two, with Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion also part of his staff.

Holland worked under Gareth Southgate when England finished fourth at the 2018 World Cup and were runners-up at Euro 2020 and 2024.

“I was really impressed him tactically at England, how he worked and his organisation,” Rooney said.

“Steve Holland did all the training, Gareth Southgate didn’t really, he’d be more the manager and Steve took all the sessions.