NFL Playoffs 2026 Known AFC, NFC Schedule and Updated Bracket Scenarios

Week 17 of the NFL season is in the books, which means in just one short week, we'll know which 14 teams will be headed to the NFL postseason and who they'll face when they get there. 

For now, ahead of Week 18, 12 of those 14 playoff spots have been locked up. In what can only be described as the NFL schedule makers' dream, four teams will battle for the final two spots, one in each conference, in two head-to-head, divisional matchups in Week 18. 

In the AFC, the 9-7 Pittsburgh Steelers and the 8-8 Baltimore Ravens will square up for the AFC North crown. The winner advances to the postseason; the loser watches from home. 

In the NFC, it's a similar, though less dramatic, story. The Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will duke it out for the division crown and thus, the final playoff berth in the conference. But it is not an elimination game. 

More on that, as well as the rest of the AFC and NFC playoff picture and what is still on the line in Week 18, below.

AFC Playoff Picture

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Division Leaders

1. Denver Broncos (13-3; clinched AFC West)

2. New England Patriots (13-3; AFC East)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4; clinched playoff berth)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

Wild-Card Race

5. Houston Texans (11-5; clinched playoff berth)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5; clinched playoff berth)

7. Buffalo Bills (11-5; clinched playoff berth)

On the Bubble

9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

Eliminated

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-8)

10. Miami Dolphins (7-9)

11. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

12. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

13. Cleveland Browns (4-12)

14. Tennessee Titans (3-13)

15. New York Jets (3-13)

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)

The winner-take-all battle between the Steelers and Ravens for the AFC North title is the most exciting game on deck in the conference for Week 18, but theirs is not the only division up for grabs. 

The Jaguars and Texans have both punched their tickets to the postseason. However, neither has yet claimed the AFC South. Jacksonville controls its own destiny: a win over the Titans in Week 18 secures the division. But if the Jaguars lose, the Texans can then take the division with a win over the Colts. 

As in the NFC, the No. 1 seed is still up for grabs in the AFC. It's the Broncos' so long as they beat the Chargers in Week 18. However, if they lose, the Patriots can snatch the No. 1 seed by beating the Dolphins. As for the No. 1 seed, the Broncos will claim that with a win over the Chargers in Week 18. 

But wait, there's more! If New England and Denver both lose, Jacksonville can claim the No. 1 seed with a win over Tennessee.

NFC Playoff Picture

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Division Leaders

1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3; clinched playoff berth)

2. Chicago Bears (11-5; clinched NFC North)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5; clinched NFC East)

4. Carolina Panthers (8-8)

Wild-Card Race

5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4; clinched playoff berth)

6. Los Angeles Rams (11-5; clinched playoff berth)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1; clinched playoff berth)

On the Bubble

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

Eliminated

8. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

9. Detroit Lions (8-8)

10. Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)

12. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (6-10)

14. Washington Commanders (4-12)

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-13)

16. New York Giants (3-13)

As previously mentioned, though Panthers-Bucs is a high-stakes game, it's not an elimination one. If the Atlanta Falcons, after defeating the Los Angeles Rams in Week 17, win their final game against the New Orleans Saints, then the Panthers will win the division, win or lose to the Bucs. Even if Tampa Bay defeats Carolina in Week 18, if Atlanta wins, all three teams would be tied at 8-9, and Carolina owns the tiebreaker.

As for the all-important No. 1 seed, it, along with the NFC West title, will go to whichever team wins the division rivalry matchup between the Seahawks and 49ers on Saturday night. 

The Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed. However, the Eagles and Bears will be duking it out for the No. 2 seed. The Rams, after losing to the Falcons on MNF, are locked into the fifth or sixth seed regardless of what happens in Week 18. 

NFL Playoff Schedule

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January 10-12: Wild-card round
January 17-18: Divisional round
January 25: AFC and NFC championship games
February 8: Super Bowl LX (in Santa Clara, California)

Game times and matchups TBD following Week 18