NFL Playoff Picture 2026, Latest Super Bowl Bracket and AFC, NFC Scenarios

The first 17 weeks of the NFL season decided a lot.

They did not, however, complete the playoff picture in its entirety.

In fact, only the Green Bay Packers know for certain where they'll start the postseason (as the NFC's No. 7 seed). Everything else is up for grabs, although 12 of the 14 playoff participants are at least identified (everyone but the division champs in the AFC North and NFC South).

It'll be a busy weekend of playoff jostling, in other words, and things could look dramatically different by this time next week. We'll get into all the various how's while running through the latest playoff picture.

AFC Standings, Scenarios

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Division Leaders

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

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

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

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

The Broncos haven't secured the No. 1 seed quite yet, but they're in prime position to do so on Sunday. All they need is a home win over a Chargers team resting its regulars to claim it. If Denver loses, though, New England could take the spot with a home win over Miami. If both the Broncos and Patriots lose, the Jaguars could jump to No. 1 with a home win over the Titans.

Speaking of Jacksonville, it only needs a triumph over Tennessee to claim the AFC South title. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, hosts Baltimore on Sunday night in a winner-takes-the-AFC-North-Crown potential classic.

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)

The Texans still have a shot at the AFC South crown, but they need both a home win over the Colts and a Jaguars' loss to the Titans.

The Chargers and Bills, meanwhile, could finish anywhere between the Nos. 5 and 7 seeds. They'd both need help to move up, though. For L.A., it could climb to No. 5 with a win over Denver and a Houston loss. Buffalo would need a win over the Jets and losses by both Houston and L.A. to get that high.

In the Hunt

9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

The Ravens' playoff path is simple. Claim a road win over the Steelers on Sunday night, and they'll take the AFC North title and the conference's No. 4 seed. Fall short in that spot, though, and Baltimore's season will be extinguished.

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)

NFC Standings, Scenarios

AP Photo

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)

The Seahawks control their own destiny. Knock off the 49ers on the road Saturday night, and they'll be rewarded with the NFC West title, the No. 1 seed in the conference, a first-round bye and home-field advantage for their side of the bracket.

If Seattle loses, though, it will drop down to the No. 5 seed.

The Bears, who host the Lions, can claim the No. 2 seed with a win. If Chicago loses and Philadelphia beats Washington, then the Eagles will be second.

The Panthers are NFC South champions and the No. 4 seed with a road win over the Buccaneers on Saturday. Carolina could also back into a division title with a loss to Tampa Bay and an Atlanta win over New Orleans.

Wild-Card Race

5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)

6. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)

If the 49ers stop the Seahawks on Saturday night, they'll never have to leave their home stadium again—even if they advance all the way to Super Bowl LX. With a loss, though, San Francisco could fall all the way to No. 6 if the Rams beat the Cardinals.

L.A., as you may have inferred already, needs both a win over Arizona and a San Francisco loss to climb to No. 5.

Green Bay is locked into the No. 7 seed.

In The Hunt

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

It seemed like the Bucs would need only a win over the Panthers to take the NFC South title, but the Falcons' upset of the Rams on Monday changed that. Now, Tampa Bay needs both a win over Carolina and an Atlanta loss to New Orleans to take the division. Otherwise, it's the Panthers winning the division, and the Bucs being sent packing.

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)