One home team will not be moving on to the championship round.

The 2026 NFL Divisional Round is getting set to kick off this weekend with some huge matchups. Many of the teams have already played and defeated their Wild Card opponents.

The top seeds in both conferences are now preparing to play after their first-round bye.

Anything can happen in the 2025 postseason. These playoffs already have the most fourth-quarter lead changes and the most game-winning touchdowns in the final three minutes in a single postseason in NFL history. The next round should provide us with just as much action.

Los Angeles is getting set to face the Chicago Bears in the Divisional round after they defeated the Panthers. The Houston Texans have a date with the Patriots after they destroyed the Pittsburgh Steelers. They might be down a dynamic player in Nico Collins after he was carted off the field. San Francisco took down the defending Super Bowl Champs on the road. They have a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers lost George Kittle for the rest of the playoffs in that first round. Buffalo squeezed out a victory over the Jaguars to set up a matchup with the Broncos.

ESPN’s Computer Predicts Some Tough Games In The Divisional Round

NFL Logo (Image Credits: Imagn)
ESPN’s computer model, the Football Power Index, already knows what is going to happen. It has predicted the winner of all four games this weekend.

First up is the Denver Broncos against the Buffalo Bills. The model has Denver moving on to the AFC Championship game.

Winner: Broncos, 50.7 percent chance

The next game is the Seattle Seahawks at home against the San Francisco 49ers. ESPN’s computer model predicts that the Seahawks will move on to the NFC Championship game.

Winner: Seahawks, 59.2 percent chance

The third game features the New England Patriots taking on the Houston Texans in the Divisional round. ESPN’s model has the Patriots winning and taking on Denver in the AFC championship game.

Winner: Patriots, 51.7 percent chance

Last but not least, the Chicago Bears face the Los Angeles Rams. Here is the upset as the model has the road team coming out with the win.

Winner: Rams, 61.8 percent chance

This won’t make Bears fans happy to see this.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.