We now know every matchup to begin the 2026 NFL playoffs, aside from who will win the AFC North and face the Houston Texans on Wild Card Weekend.
The NFC will see a couple of high-profile matchups, while the Carolina Panthers will host the Los Angeles Rams. Over in the AFC, the Bills will head to Jacksonville and the Chargers will face the Patriots.
Here’s the full playoff picture, including first-round games and final standings in both conferences (pending the Ravens vs. Steelers game tonight):
NFL Playoff Bracket
This is pending the result of Ravens vs. Steelers.
AFC
- (1) Broncos receive a bye
- (2) Patriots vs. (7) Chargers
- (3) Jaguars vs. (6) Bills
- (4) Steelers vs. (5) Texans
NFC
- (1) Seahawks receive a bye
- (2) Bears vs. (7) Packers
- (3) Eagles vs. (6) 49ers
- (4) Panthers vs. (5) Rams
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NFL Playoff Picture
AFC
- Denver Broncos (13-3)**
- New England Patriots (13-3)**
- Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)**
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- Houston Texans (12-5)
- Buffalo Bills (12-5)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
** Division champion
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The AFC North — and final playoff spot in the NFL — will be decided on Sunday night, when the Steelers host the Ravens. Pittsburgh could have clinched the division title last week, but it lost on the road in Cleveland and Baltimore won in Green Bay.
Before the season, few would have predicted that the top three seeds in the AFC would be the Broncos, Patriots and Jaguars. Denver, though, won the AFC West by three games, New England won 14 games and the Jaguars won 13.
Denver will get the first-round bye while New England and Jacksonville play on Wild Card Weekend — and neither has an easy matchup.
Chargers vs. Patriots will feature two of the NFL’s best young quarterbacks with Drake Maye and Justin Herbert facing off. The Jaguars drew the shortest straw and will have to host Josh Allen.
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NFC
- Seattle Seahawks (14-3)**
- Chicago Bears (11-6)**
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)**
- Carolina Panthers (8-9)**
- Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
- Green Bay Packers (9-7-1)
** Division champion
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The Seahawks clinched the No. 1 seed on Saturday night and will watch Wild Card Weekend from home.
The Bears lost to the Lions on Sunday, but they will remain the No. 2 seed in the NFC because the Eagles also lost to the Commanders. Chicago will host the Packers, with those division rivals meeting for the third time in the past month, while the Eagles will welcome the 49ers to Philadelphia.
The Rams beat the Cardinals on Sunday, which moved them above San Francisco in the standings. Los Angeles, for its efforts, will now face the NFC South-champion Carolina Panthers next weekend.
NFL Playoff Schedule
- January 10-12, 2026: Wild-card round
- January 17-18: Divisional round
- January 25: AFC and NFC championship games
- February 8: Super Bowl LX (in Santa Clara, California)
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