NFL Playoff Picture 2026: Complete Bracket Set as Road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara Begins
Seahawks claim NFC's top seed while Broncos, Patriots and Jaguars lead surprising AFC field; Steelers grab final playoff spot with Sunday night victory
The NFL playoff field is set, and honestly? Nobody saw this coming.
After a chaotic Week 18 that featured dramatic finishes, shocking upsets, and one of the most improbable playoff pictures in recent memory, we finally know all 14 teams that will compete for a chance to play in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8.
But before we break down every matchup, let's address the elephant not in the room: For the first time since Patrick Mahomes took over as Kansas City's starting quarterback in 2018, the Chiefs are staying home. Three-time Super Bowl champions. Five consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances. And now they're watching from the couch.
That's the story that will define this postseason — opportunity. Wide open opportunity.
AFC Playoff Picture: Broncos, Patriots Lead Surprising Field
The AFC bracket reads like something out of an alternate universe. Before the season started, how many people would've predicted the top three seeds would be Denver, New England and Jacksonville? Show of hands?
Yeah, that's what we thought.
Here's how the AFC shakes out:
1. Denver Broncos (14-3) — BYE The Broncos won the AFC West by three games and secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with their Week 18 victory over the Chargers. This is Denver's first playoff bye since 2015, and Sean Payton knows exactly how valuable it is.
2. New England Patriots (14-3) Drake Maye has arrived, folks. The Patriots won 14 games, claimed the AFC East and ended Buffalo's streak of five consecutive division titles. They'll host the Chargers in what should be a quarterback showcase.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) The Jags locked down the AFC South and will host Josh Allen and the Bills in what might be the toughest draw of the Wild Card round.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers clinched the AFC North with a thrilling Sunday night victory over Baltimore, grabbing the conference's final playoff spot.
5. Houston Texans (12-5) Despite missing the division, Houston earned the fifth seed and will travel to Pittsburgh for Monday night's Wild Card matchup.
6. Buffalo Bills (12-5) The Bills moved up to the sixth seed after their blowout win over the Jets, combined with the Chargers resting starters. They drew the short straw and must face the red-hot Jaguars on the road.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) Justin Herbert rested in Week 18, but the Chargers still made the playoffs. They'll face Drake Maye and the Patriots in Foxborough in a game that could define both young quarterbacks' legacies.
AFC Wild Card Schedule
Saturday, Jan. 10
1 p.m. ET: Buffalo Bills (6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3)
Sunday, Jan. 11
8 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Chargers (7) at New England Patriots (2)
Monday, Jan. 12
8 p.m. ET: Houston Texans (5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (4)
NFC Playoff Picture: Seahawks Grab Top Seed in Saturday Thriller
The NFC race came down to Saturday night's winner-take-all showdown between Seattle and San Francisco. The Seahawks' defensive masterpiece locked up the conference's No. 1 seed with a 3-0 shutout, while the 49ers fell to the sixth seed.
That stings especially hard for San Francisco, which could have played five straight home games through the Super Bowl at Levi's Stadium. Instead, Kyle Shanahan's team opens on the road in Philadelphia.
1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3) — BYE The Seahawks claimed their first NFC top seed in years with that dominant defensive performance. They're the only team in the conference getting a week off, and they earned it.
2. Chicago Bears (11-6) — NFC North Champions The Bears won their first division title since 2018 despite losing to Detroit in Week 18. They held onto the No. 2 seed after Philadelphia lost to Washington, and they'll host rival Green Bay in the Wild Card round. First playoff game in Chicago since the double doink.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) — NFC East Champions The Eagles claimed the East but dropped to the three seed after their Week 18 loss. They'll host the 49ers in what should be one of the best games of Wild Card weekend.
4. Carolina Panthers (8-9) — NFC South Champions The Panthers ended their playoff drought by winning a messy three-way tie in the NFC South at 8-9. They claimed the division with a 3-1 record against Atlanta and New Orleans. They'll host the Rams in what might be the most evenly matched game of the weekend.
5. Los Angeles Rams (12-5) The Rams destroyed Arizona in Week 18 to lock up the fifth seed. They have one of the league's most explosive offenses and should give Carolina everything they can handle.
6. San Francisco 49ers (12-5) The Saturday night loss dropped San Francisco from potentially playing all their playoff games at home to opening on the road in Philly. That's a brutal twist of fate.
7. Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) The Packers locked into the seventh seed and will travel to Chicago for a division rivalry playoff game. These teams split the regular season series, and the Bears won the division on their Week 16 victory over Green Bay.
NFC Wild Card Schedule
Saturday, Jan. 10
4:30 p.m. ET (FOX): Los Angeles Rams (5) at Carolina Panthers (4)
8 p.m. ET: Green Bay Packers (7) at Chicago Bears (2)
Sunday, Jan. 11
4:30 p.m. ET (FOX): San Francisco 49ers (6) at Philadelphia Eagles (3)
The Road to Santa Clara
Every team in this playoff field is playing for a chance to compete in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday, Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on NBC, Telemundo and Peacock, with Bad Bunny headlining the Apple Music Halftime Show.
This marks the second time Levi's Stadium will host the Super Bowl (the first was Super Bowl 50 in 2016) and the 60th anniversary of the championship game. Santa Clara is also the only U.S. city hosting both the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup matches in 2026, making it a truly historic year for Bay Area sports.
The stadium will expand to approximately 75,000 capacity for the big game, and the entire week leading up to it will feature events throughout San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Clara.
Games to Watch
Bills at Jaguars might be the best game of Wild Card weekend. Jacksonville has been on fire late in the season, but Josh Allen in the playoffs is a different beast. This game has 40-plus combined points written all over it.
Chargers at Patriots is the young quarterback bowl. Drake Maye versus Justin Herbert. Two franchise quarterbacks early in their careers with everything to prove. These teams combined for 25 wins — they're both legit.
Bears-Packers brings the rivalry to the playoffs. These division foes know each other intimately, they split the season series, and now they're doing it again with everything on the line. Soldier Field is going to be rocking.
49ers at Eagles features two of the NFC's most complete teams. San Francisco will be motivated after losing the division and the bye, while Philadelphia gets a home playoff game against a team desperate to prove it belongs.
The Favorites
Let's be honest — the AFC is wide open without Kansas City. Denver has the bye and home-field advantage. New England has Drake Maye playing like a veteran. Jacksonville is peaking at the right time. Buffalo has Josh Allen, who can take over any game.
In the NFC, Seattle earned that top seed with elite defense. The Rams have the most explosive offense in football, with their quarterback as an MVP favorite. San Francisco is motivated and talented enough to run the table from the road.
But here's what makes this postseason special: Nobody knows who's winning. The Chiefs aren't lurking in the background waiting to crush everyone's dreams. The field is legitimately wide open.
Fourteen teams. Four weekends. One trophy.
The road to Santa Clara starts Saturday, and by the time we reach Feb. 8, one of these teams will be holding the Lombardi Trophy in the Bay Area sunshine.
Let the chaos begin.
Wild Card Weekend begins Saturday, Jan. 10 with three games across both conferences. Divisional Round schedule will be announced following Wild Card weekend results.
