NFL Wildcard Weekend play-off guide

Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, 9.30pm

A particularly attritional season for NFL quarterbacks has thrust Brock Purdy into an unlikely starring role for the San Francisco 49ers.

Purdy, who was drafted with the very last pick in the 2022 draft to earn the unwanted moniker of 'Mr Irrelevant', was a distance behind Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo on the 49ers depth chart until injury intervened.

The home team are on a 10-game winning streak, with six of those victories coming under Purdy as signal caller, but the overall strength of the 49ers’ offence has made his task much easier.

The 49ers are arguably the best balanced team on both sides of the ball in the NFC, while the in-season addition of running back Christian McCaffrey has added another potent weapon to coach Kyle Shanahan’s playbook.

After a bright start to the season, the Seattle Seahawks ultimately staggered into the playoffs, requiring an overtime win over the LA Rams and an upset win for the Detroit Lions against the Green Bay Packers on the final weekend of the regular season.

During the regular season, the 49ers accounted for the Seahawks 27-7 in Santa Clara and 21-13 in Seattle.

With influential linebacker Jordyn Brooks ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ACL injury and Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith struggling to replicate his early-season form, victory looks a formality for the 49ers.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 1.15am

The Los Angeles Chargers concluded their regular season with a disappointing loss to the Denver Broncos and lost their leading wide receiver Mike Williams to a back injury in that game for a number of weeks, when their play-off berth was already assured.

The Chargers roster has had to contend