Sportsbook Trader: NFL Wild Card Bettors Walk Away Elated
Posted on: January 12, 2026, 03:22h.
Last updated on: January 12, 2026, 03:30h.
- Bills QB Allen goes into beast mode to lead Bills over Jaguars
- Bettors thrilled with Bears’ come-from-behind win over Packers
- Texans head to Pittsburgh to take on Steelers tonight in final Wild Card game
NFL Wild Card Weekend offered up plenty of excitement with four of the five completed games separated by one possession. The Houston Texans are three point favourites tonight in the sixth Wild Card game, in Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers.
In the NFC, the L.A. Rams sneaked by the Carolina Panthers Saturday night, 34-31, led by three TDs by quarterback and MVP betting favourite Matthew Stafford. The Rams, 10-point betting favourites going into the game, in Carolina, were actually down 31-27 to the Panthers with 2:39 left in the fourth quarter but Colby Parkinson hauled in a 19-yard pass from Stafford with 38 seconds left for the win.
The Chicago Bears took out rival Green Bay Packers in another exhilarating NFL Wild Card game, 31-27, also on Saturday night, led by eight receptions for 137 yards by TE Colston Loveland. The Bears erased an 18-point deficit in that game.
QB Josh Allen went into beast mode for the Buffalo Bills in their 27-24 win in Jacksonville yesterday over the Jaguars, going 28-for-35, for 273 yards and three total touchdowns, Buffalo’s first road playoff win in 33 years. Allen twice ended up in the medical tent in the first half but didn’t miss a snap.
Kittle Tears Achilles
“We saw sharp action, which isn’t surprising in a near pick’em game,” said Joey Feazel, Head of Football at Caesars Sportsbook. “Seeing the Jaguars earn respect from the sharps was slightly surprising, but not out of the ordinary.”
In the later afternoon and evening games yesterday, the San Francisco 49ers took out the Eagles in Philadelphia 23-19 (but lost TE George Kittle, who tore his right Achilles). In the evening game, on the AFC front, the New England Patriots had no problem with the visiting L.A. Chargers, winning 16-3.
Bettors walked away elated after Chicago’s thrilling victory, finding its moneyline price as long as +1500,” said Fanatics Sportsbook Sports Trader Ethan Useloff. “With seven TDs scored, both QBs above 300 passing yards, and nearly 900 yards of offense, many SGPs cashed.”
Added Feazel: “This was likely a combination of the 49ers’ health updates throughout the week and the weather forecast, which suggested the game would favor the Eagles. As sharp action continued to come in on Philadelphia with little resistance, the line moved up to -6. Yesterday morning, we saw some buyback that brought it down to -5.5.”
Allen Goes Into Beast Mode to Lead Bills
Bettors had opportunities to back other long moneyline prices at Fanatics, such as San Francisco at +400 and Buffalo at +230. Best game for bettors at Caesars was Packers versus Bears, Bills versus Jaguars and 49ers versus Eagles. Best game for the book was Rams versus Panthers.
On tonight’s game, experts expect a low-scoring affair. The Steelers are a different team at home, and the Texans’ defence struggles more on the road and outdoors. It’s on 42-year-old Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers to make plays, just like he did last week, taking out the Baltimore Ravens in the last game of the regular season to win the AFC North.
“In tonight’s tilt, Houston is three-point favorites after previously being favored by 3.5,” said Useloff. “The total has dropped from 39.5 to 38, with bettors expecting a low-scoring affair. The majority of money has come for Houston, both to win and cover, and many full-weekend parlays are riding on the result of this matchup.
“Many SGPs have anytime TDs from Nico Collins, DK Metcalf, and Kenneth Gainwell, and bettors will also be rooting for both QBs to surpass the 200-yard threshold.”
Updated Betting Lines
At DraftKings, for tonight: Houston is -155 on the ML, the Steelers +130; the spread is Houston -3 (-105), Steelers +3 (-115); and the Over 38.5 (-105), the Under 38.5 (-115). At FanDuel: Houston is -164 on the ML, the Steelers +138; the spread is Houston -3 (-105), Steelers +3 (-115); and the Over 38.5 (-105), the Under 38.5 (-115).
Odds are out for next weekend’s Divisional Round games: San Francisco in Seattle to play the Seahawks Saturday (DraftKings ML is 49ers +275, Seahawks -345), the Rams in Chicago play the Bears Sunday (DraftKings ML is Rams -192, Bears +160), the Bills in Denver to play the Broncos on Saturday (Bills -122, Broncos +102), and the winner of tonight’s tilt in New England to play the Patriots.
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