What an Early Exit Could Mean For Every NFL Team Playing on Wild Card Weekend

For the NFL teams that didn't qualify for the postseason, the 2026 offseason has already arrived. For many of them, the post-regular season fallout has already included some significant changes.

On Tuesday, for instance, the Baltimore Ravens decided to part ways with longtime head coach John Harbaugh.

Another six teams will have their campaigns ended over Wild Card Weekend, and for them, a playoff berth won't necessarily guarantee the status quo. That's especially true for franchises that have higher expectations than simply getting an invite to the dance.

From coaching changes and contract decisions to roster moves and tweaks to offseason philosophies, plenty of big decisions could hinge on how the 12 teams playing this weekend fare. Here's what an early exit could mean for each of them.

New England Patriots: Concentrated Focus On Adding Pass-Rush Help

AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper

Patriots LB K'Lavon Chaisson

A year after winning just four games, the New England Patriots won 14, earned the AFC's No. 2 seed and fielded an offense and a defense that each ranked in the top 10.

Mike Vrabel showed himself to be the right coach for this franchise, and second-year quarterback Drake Maye emerged as an MVP candidate.

Should the Patriots stumble against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, we probably won't see many changes at the top. However, executive vice president Eliot Wolf may have to put the full-court press on finding a top-tier edge-rusher.

New England added Milton Williams, Harold Landry and K'Lavon Chaisson last offseason, and while the trio did boost the defense significantly, it hasn't given the Patriots a premier pass rush.

The Patriots finished the regular season with just 34 sacks, and if they struggle to get pressure against a banged-up Chargers O-line, it may be time to find additional help.

That could mean targeting a free agent like Khalil Mack or Jaelan Phillips, or it could mean zeroing in on a draft prospect like Clemson's T.J. Parker or Oregon's Matayo Uiagalelei. Either way, New England shouldn't be content with a merely average pass rush.

Chicago Bears: Significant Defensive Turnover

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Bears S Jaquan Brisker

Like the Patriots, the Chicago Bears engineered a massive turnaround with a new head coach and a second-year quarterback.

Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson proved to be just the coach needed to help Caleb Williams play up to his status as the 2024 first overall pick.

The Bears won six more games than they did in 2024, claimed the NFC North crown, and finished as the NFC's No. 2 seed. However, they could easily fall to the rival Green Bay Packers on Saturday.

Green Bay and Chicago split their regular-season series, with the Bears winning Round 2 in overtime. If the Bears lose Round 3, general manager Ryan Poles may look to make significant defensive changes.

Johnson clearly has something cooking with Williams and an offensive supporting cast that was heavily tweaked during the 2025 offseason.

Chicago retooled its offensive line before using its top two draft picks on tight end Colston Loveland and receiver Luther Burden III. While the Bears added a couple of pieces to their defense, including defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, they didn't give it the same overhaul.

That could become the goal in 2026. While Chicago's defense has been good at generating takeaways, it ranked just 29th in yards allowed. And with defenders like Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Andrew Billings, Nick McCloud, and Jonathan Owens set to be free agents, we could see a lot of roster change on that side of the ball.

Jacksonville Jaguars: A Rush to Add More Secondary Help

AP Photo/Zach Bolinger

Jaguars CB Greg Newsome II

The Jacksonville Jaguars managed to win their first AFC South title since 2022, thanks in no small part to the arrival of new head coach Liam Coen.

The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator helped maximize Trevor Lawrence's performance while pushing a squad that won four games in 2024 all the way to the AFC's No. 3 seed.

Sunday's matchup against the Buffalo Bills will serve as a test of just how far the Jaguars have come. If they fall short against Buffalo, there's a good chance that Jacksonville's secondary will have played a role.

New general manager James Gladstone aggressively addressed Jacksonville's secondary since taking over at the start of the offseason. He signed Jourdan Lewis, traded up for receiver/corner Travis Hunter in the draft, and traded for Greg Newsome II at the in-season deadline.

Unfortunately, Gladstone's strategy hasn't really paid off. While Hunter's season-ending LCL injury played a role, Jacksonville's 21st-ranked pass defense has left something to be desired.

If the Jags defense gets carved up by Josh Allen and the Bills, Gladstone may need to continue loading up the secondary. With no first-round pick because of the Hunter trade, that may mean swapping out impending free agents such as Newsome and Andrew Wingard for veterans like Jamel Dean and Kamren Curl in the spring.

Philadelphia Eagles: Another Coordinator Change

AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo

The Philadelphia Eagles' 2025 season has felt a lot like their 2023 campaign. That year, Philly was coming off a Super Bowl loss and dealt with new offensive and defensive coordinators. The team never seemed to gel, and they were ousted in the Wild Card Round.

This year, the Eagles were coming off a Super Bowl win and had to navigate the departure of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who left to become New Orleans Saints head coach. The offense has been wildly inconsistent under new coordinator Kevin Patullo.

Philly earned a division title and the NFC's No. 3 seed this year after being the No. 5 seed in 2023, but the vibe surrounding the team has been similar.

Head coach Nick Sirianni has voiced his support for Patullo heading into the postseason.

"There's always adjustments and as you go through, I thought he [has] done a nice job of handling everything that's come his way, staying mentally sharp and staying mentally tough," Sirianni told reporters.

If the Eagles fall to an injury-hampered San Francisco 49ers team on Sunday, however, fans can expect Patullo to be firmly on the hot seat. Philadelphia replaced its offensive and defensive coordinators after that derailed 2023 campaign and went on to lift the Lombardi.

Pittsburgh Steelers: More Uncertainty About Mike Tomlin's Future

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin

Questions about Mike Tomlin's long-term future with the Pittsburgh Steelers have swirled for much of the 2025 season.

While Pittsburgh got off to a fast start with new quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a midseason slump left the team fighting the Ravens for the AFC North title on the final week of the regular season.

The Steelers only claimed the division and the No. 4 seed thanks to a missed field goal at the end of regulation.

The win got Pittsburgh in, though, which should quiet any talk of the Steelers firing Tomlin or the future Hall of Famer walking away from Pittsburgh—at least for a week. That could quickly change, however, if the Steelers get embarrassed by the Houston Texans on Monday night.

While Tomlin has never delivered a losing season, he hasn't yielded a playoff win since 2016. Pittsburgh could decide that it's time for a change, just as the rival Ravens did, and Tomlin could decide that he can no longer find postseason success with the Steelers.

"A source close to Tomlin believes stepping away is at least a possibility," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote.

Leaving now would make some sense if things have grown stale in Pittsburgh. Rodgers isn't a long-term answer at quarterback, and Tomlin has long been working with an average overall roster. This might be Tomlin's last chance to win anything meaningful in Pittsburgh for a while.

If nothing else, fans can expect the questions about Tomlin's future to grow louder if Pittsburgh's postseason run ends on Monday.

Carolina Panthers: Renewed Questions About Bryce Young

AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Panthers QB Bryce Young

The Carolina Panthers managed to win the NFC South and claim the NFC's No. 4 seed with an 8-9 record, due to a monumental collapse by the Buccaneers. While few expect Carolina to outlast the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, the Panthers did beat the Rams back in Week 13.

For a franchise that last made the playoffs in 2017, a postseason berth does represent real progress. However, an embarrassing loss in the rematch with Los Angeles could renew the questions surrounding quarterback Bryce Young.

The Panthers traded up to take Young first overall in the 2023 draft, and he went on to have a miserable rookie season. He fared better toward the end of Year 2, his first under head coach Dave Canales, and has looked like a legitimate franchise quarterback at times this season.

However, Young has still experienced the occasional dud, like his 54-yard, one-interception outing against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17. His regular-season QB rating of 87.8 was good, not great, and he remains a uniquely undersized signal-caller at only 5'10".

Carolina has shown real growth under Canales over the last two years, but it's fair to wonder if the Panthers were winning because of Young or in spite of him.

Young will be contract-eligible next offseason, and while he hasn't done enough to warrant a long-term deal, a playoff win or two would do wonders for his job security. If he falls flat against Los Angeles and the Panthers get blown out, Carolina may start kicking the tires on quarterback alternatives.

Houston Texans: A Delay on C.J. Stroud's Contract Extension

AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian

Texans QB C.J. Stroud

Toward the end of C.J. Stroud's stellar rookie campaign, the Texans quarterback felt like a lock for an early extension.

The Ohio State product posted a 100.8 passer rating, was named Offensive Rookie of the Year and helped lead Houston to its first of two straight AFC South titles.

Two years later, though, the decision on whether to extend Stroud after his third season feels much harder to make.

The Texans are back in the playoffs, albeit as the No. 5 seed this time. However, Stroud's play over the last two seasons hasn't matched what he put on the field in 2023. The 24-year-old won 10 games last season and nine games in 2025, but he finished those campaigns with passer ratings of 87.0 and 92.9, respectively.

Just as concerning is the fact that Houston's offense didn't seem to lose much this year when Stroud was sidelined and Davis Mills took over at quarterback.

The Texans went 3-0 with Mills as the starter this season.

Obviously, Stroud has played well enough that there is no quarterback controversy brewing in Houston. However, the Texans may want to wait another year or two before deciding whether Stroud deserves top-of-the-market money or a second-tier Sam Darnold-level contract.

The Texans aren't going to just ignore the messes the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals are in after giving early deals to Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray, respectively.

Winning a playoff game for a third straight year would certainly draw Stroud closer to that lucrative second contract. However, a loss to a middling Steelers team could leave him playing for a new deal in 2026.

Los Angeles Rams: Uncertainty About Matthew Stafford's Future

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Rams QB Matthew Stafford

The Rams spent most of the regular season looking like one of the most dangerous teams in the NFL. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who has had one of the best seasons of his career, has been a big reason why.

However, Los Angeles lost two of its last three games, losing the NFC West and falling to the No. 5 seed in the process. That sets up this weekend's rematch with Carolina.

A second loss against the Panthers could leave Stafford uncertain about his future.

The Rams will almost certainly let Stafford hang around as long as he wants. However, they did let him explore the trade market last offseason before settling on a revised contract that will need to be addressed again this offseason.

"We're taking it a year at a time," head coach Sean McVay said, per The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue.

Next season will be a contract year for Stafford, and he'll likely want more long-term security than his current deal provides if he plans on playing in L.A. beyond 2026. Of course, if the Rams fall flat and exit in the Wild Card Round, he may decide to finish his career elsewhere.

Should Stafford get to the open market, he'd easily command one of the top quarterback salaries in the NFL. And if he isn't happy about his chances of winning another Super Bowl in L.A., he could play out his deal and hit free agency or even try forcing his way out in the spring.

$40 million of Stafford's 2026 compensation will become fully guaranteed on March 16.

Buffalo Bills: Questions About Sean McDermott's Job Security

AP Photo/Adrian Kraus

Bills head coach Sean McDermott

The Bills failed to win the AFC East for the first time since 2019, but they are likely carrying championship expectations, even as the conference's No. 6 seed.

The reason? Buffalo won't have to contend with elite quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, who have sent the Bills home short of a Super Bowl berth in each of the last five years. That doesn't mean the path to Super Bowl LX will be any easier, but perception is reality.

In this case, the perception is that this is the best chance reigning MVP Josh Allen and the Bills have ever had to make a run at the Super Bowl. Fair or not, someone will bear the blame for Buffalo continually falling short, especially if it exits in the opening round.

Head coach Sean McDermott could become the scapegoat.

"Some folks around the league have wondered to me whether Bills ownership might grow impatient with Sean McDermott if Buffalo doesn't make a playoff run in a year Patrick Mahomes is out of the postseason," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote recently.

Would the 51-year-old actually be out with a wild-card loss? That feels unlikely, but he could find himself on the hot seat.

The Bills have been perennial contenders in nine seasons under McDermott, but at some point, ownership could grow impatient with his inability to take an elite quarterback like Allen and deliver a championship. After all, that appears to be exactly what just went down in Baltimore.

San Francisco 49ers: More Roster Turnover

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

49ers RB Christian McCaffrey

The 49ers had a chance to earn the NFC's No. 1 seed in Week 18 but fell to the No. 6 seed instead. Still, their run to the playoffs was impressive, especially considering the roster turnover we saw over the last year.

Facing a tight cap situation, the 49ers chose to let several veterans go, including safety Talanoa Hufanga, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, cornerback Charvarius Ward, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who was traded. San Francisco then saw defensive stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner suffer season-ending injuries while playing a full eight games without quarterback Brock Purdy.

It's clear that the 49ers were able to reload without a full-on rebuild, but a one-and-done postseason could prompt more roster changes.

The 49ers are already expected to move on from wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Michael Silver. Impending free agents like Jauan Jennings and Spencer Burford could be on the way out, and general manager John Lynch may consider getting younger at a few spots, too.

While the 49ers are projected to have $50.3 million in 2026 cap space, they have needs that could quickly gobble up cap space. San Francisco could use receiver depth, and it will need a high-end complementary pass-rusher, even after Bosa is cleared to return.

And while it's hard to fathom this 49ers team playing without Christian McCaffrey or Trent Williams, both will be in their 30s next season and could be potential cap casualties if San Francisco feels it's drifting further away from title contention.

Los Angeles Chargers: Questions About Greg Roman's Future

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman talks to QB Justin Herbert.

Few will be totally shocked if the Chargers bow out in the Wild Card Round for the second straight season. Injuries have been a significant issue for L.A. this season, and it enters as the No. 7 seed.

It's been an uphill battle for a team that lost star tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater for the season, spent time without rookie running back Omarion Hampton, and watched quarterback Justin Herbert play through a fractured hand late in the season.

Those injuries help explain why the offense struggled for a second straight season, but they don't totally exonerate coordinator Greg Roman.

A year ago, the Chargers finished 20th in total offense; this season, they finished 20th in scoring.

Roman probably won't be out with a loss. This year's injuries can't be dismissed, and L.A. battled a lack of receiver depth last season. Roman has also been with head coach Jim Harbaugh at multiple stops, which bodes well for his job security.

However, another embarrassing playoff performance—the Chargers had just 15 first downs and 12 points in last year's wild-card loss—could lead to some uncomfortable conversations about Roman's long-term outlook.

Green Bay Packers: An Offensive-Line Overhaul

AP Photo/Duane Burleson

Packers OT Rasheed Walker

The Packers have backed their way into the playoffs with four straight losses, which obviously isn't ideal. Injuries have played a role in Green Bay's late-season sag, as Tucker Kraft and Micah Parsons were both lost to season-ending ACL tears—and quarterback Jordan Love has missed time with an injury.

A loss in Chicago this weekend probably won't put Love or head coach Matt LaFleur on the hot seat. However, it could leave general manager Brian Gutekunst reevaluating the makeup of the offensive line.

Green Bay has dealt with injuries along the offensive line, too, and Elgton Jenkins was lost for the year to a fibula fracture. However, the line has been suspect, especially in the ground game, pretty much all season.

Despite having standout Josh Jacobs leading the backfield, the Packers averaged a modest 4.1 yards per carry during the regular season.

Gutekunst has tried investing in the line, using a 2024 first-round pick on Jordan Morgan and a 2025 second-round pick on Anthony Belton. A more extensive overhaul may be on the docket, though, especially with left tackle Rasheed Walker and center Sean Rhyan set to hit free agency and with Jenkins set to enter a contract year with a cap hit of $24.8 million.

*Contract and free-agent status information via Spotrac.