NFL Playoff Picture and Scenarios for 2026

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 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 17

(1) Denver Broncos – (13-3)
(2) New England Patriots – (12-3)
(3) Jacksonville Jaguars – (10-4)
(4) Pittsburgh Steelers – (9-6)
(5) LA Chargers – (11-4) (Wild Card)
(6) Buffalo Bills – (11-4) (Wild Card)
(7) Houston Texans – (10-5) (Wild Card)

Next in Hunt:

8. Indianapolis (8-7)
9. Baltimore (7-8)

AFC Playoff Bracket

AFC Wild Card Round

(1) Denver Broncos – BYE
(3) Jacksonville vs (6) Buffalo
(4) Pittsburgh vs (5) L.A. Chargers
(2) New England vs (7) Houston

NFC PLAYOFF PICTURE – AFTER WEEK 17

(1) Seattle Seahawks – (12-3)
(2) Chicago Bears – (11-4)
(3) Philadelphia Eagles – (10-5)
(4) Carolina Panthers – (8-7)
(5) San Francisco 49ers – (11-4) (Wild Card)
(6) LA Rams – (11-4) (Wild Card)
(7) Green Bay Packers – (9-5-1) (Wild Card)

Next in Hunt:

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)

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.