NFL Playoff Picture and Scenarios for 2026

ByRocky Guha Updated on

The 2025-26 NFL playoffs begin on January 10, 2026. Three Wild card games will be played in each conference. Wild card games are scheduled on Jan 10-12. Divisional games will be played on Jan 17-18. Winners will be advanced to play the Conference Championship game on Jan 25. The Super Bowl LX is scheduled for Feb 8, 2026. NBC Network will be showing the NFL’s biggest event at 6:30 PM ET at the Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA.

We have the top 7 teams of 16 from the AFC Conference and the top 7 teams of 16 from the NFC Conference, who clinched the NFL postseason games. Here are the latest playoff scenarios listed below if the season ends today.

AFC PLAYOFF PICTURE – AFTER WEEK 11

1. Denver Broncos (9-2)

2. New England Patriots (9-2)

3. Indianapolis Colts (8-2)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)

Wild Card Teams:

5. Buffalo Bills (7-3)

6. LA Chargers (7-4)

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4)

Next Teams In The Hunt:

8. Houston Texans (5-5)

9. Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)

10. Baltimore Ravens (5-5)

11. Miami Dolphins (4-7)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (3-7)

13. Las Vegas Raiders (2-8)

14. New York Jets (2-8)

15. Cleveland Browns (2-8)

16. Tennessee Titans (1-9)

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE – AFTER WEEK 11

1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)

2. Los Angeles Rams (8-2)

3. Chicago Bears (7-3)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4)

Wild Card Teams:

5. Seattle Seahawks (7-3)

6. Green Bay Packers (6-3-1)

7. San Francisco 49ers (7-4)

Next Teams In The Hunt:

8. Detroit Lions (6-4)

9. Carolina Panthers (6-5)

10. Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1)

11. Minnesota Vikings (4-6)

12. Arizona Cardinals (3-7)

13. Atlanta Falcons (3-7)

14. Washington Commanders (3-8)

15. New Orleans Saints (2-8)

16. New York Giants (2-9)

Wild card round

No. 1 seed has a bye
No. 2 seed hosts No. 7 seed
No. 3 seed hosts No. 6 seed
No. 4 seed hosts No. 5 seed

Divisional round

The No. 1 seed hosts the lowest remaining seed.
The second-highest remaining seed hosts the second-lowest remaining seed.

Conference championship game

Divisional round winners (higher seed hosts)

Super Bowl

Conference championship winners play at a neutral site.