The 2026 NFL Playoffs formally known as the 2025–26 NFL postseason commenced on January 10, 2026, and will conclude with Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium located in Santa Clara, California. The playoffs consist of 14 teams seven from each conference (AFC and NFC) competing in a bracketed elimination format to decide who will contend for the league championship.
This season’s playoff lineup has been remarkable for unexpected outcomes, thrilling wild-card matchups, and the notable absence of traditional powerhouse teams such as the Kansas City Chiefs. Let’s get into more to know about the 2026 NFL Playoff Bracket, schedule, teams and many other things.
NFL Playoff Teams & Bracket 2026
AFC (American Football Conference)
The seven AFC Teams that qualified for the playoffs are:
- Denver Broncos – #1 seed, receiving a bye in the Wild Card round.
- New England Patriots – #2 seed
- Jacksonville Jaguars – #3 seed
- Pittsburgh Steelers – #4 seed
- Houston Texans – #5 seed
- Buffalo Bills – #6 seed
- Los Angeles Chargers – #7 seed
Wild Card matchups (AFC):
- Patriots vs. Chargers — Patriots emerged victorious (16–3).
- Bills vs. Jaguars — Bills triumphed (27–24).
- Steelers vs. Texans — scheduled for January 12.
Divisional Round AFC Matchups:
- Broncos (1) vs. Bills (6)
- Patriots (2) vs. winner of Steelers/Texans
NFC (National Football Conference)
The seven NFC Teams that secured their spots are:
- Seattle Seahawks – #1 seed (bye)
- Chicago Bears – #2 seed
- Philadelphia Eagles – #3 seed
- Carolina Panthers – #4 seed
- Los Angeles Rams – #5 seed
- San Francisco 49ers – #6 seed
- Green Bay Packers – #7 seed
Wild Card matchups (NFC):
- Rams vs. Panthers – Rams won (34–31).
- Bears vs. Packers – Bears won (31–27).
- 49ers vs. Eagles – 49ers won (23–19).
Divisional Round NFC Matchups:
- Seahawks (1) vs. 49ers (6)
- Bears (2) vs. Rams (5)
NFL Playoff Format & Structure
Playoff Format
The NFL postseason comprises:
- A total of 14 teams, with 7 representing each conference.
- The top seed in both the AFC and NFC receives a first-round bye, while seeds 2 through 7 compete in the Wild Card Round.
- It follows a single-elimination bracket – lose, and you are eliminated.
- Divisional Round: Conference Championships:- Super Bowl.
Schedule Overview
Below is the complete timeline:
- Wild Card Round: January 10–12, 2026
- Divisional Round: January 17–18, 2026
- Conference Championships: January 25, 2026
- Super Bowl LX: February 8, 2026 (Levi’s Stadium)
Wild Card Round Results
The Wild Card Round occurred over a span of three days:
Saturday, January 10
- Los Angeles Rams 34, Carolina Panthers 31 – A closely contested and thrilling match with the Rams narrowly defeating the Panthers.
- Chicago Bears 31, Green Bay Packers 27 – A fierce divisional rivalry culminated in a victory for the Bears.
Sunday, January 11
- Buffalo Bills 27, Jacksonville Jaguars 24 – The Bills progressed with a narrow win.
- San Francisco 49ers 23, Philadelphia Eagles 19 – A surprising victory against the reigning champions.
- New England Patriots 16, LA Chargers 3 – A robust defensive performance by the Patriots.
Monday, January 12
Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers – The concluding wild card game to determine the final divisional contender.
Divisional Round
January 17 –18
- The Divisional Round includes four significant matchups scheduled for the upcoming round:
Saturday, January 17
- Bills vs. Broncos – An AFC matchup where the Bills will visit the top-seeded Denver in a prominent game.
- 49ers vs. Seahawks – NFC West rivals clash, heightening the intensity of their rivalry.
Sunday, January 18
- Rams vs. Bears – An NFC contest between two robust franchises.
- Texans/Steelers Winner vs. Patriots – An AFC game that will determine which team advances to the conference title game.
