NFL Playoffs 2026 Predictions for AFC, NFC Bracket and Seeds

The NFL playoff party has nearly reached capacity.

There are still two tickets to be handed out to the respective winners of the AFC North and NFC South, but otherwise everyone who will be in attendance already knows they'll be there.

They just don't exactly know their manner of entry. Well, other than the Green Bay Packers, who are the league's only team locked into their postseason seeding entering Week 18. We'll break down everything to be decided during the upcoming, action-packed weekend before predicting how the final bracket will take shape.

AFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

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 first three seeds are probably cemented; the Broncos just can't act like they are. They still need to take care of business when the (Trey Lance-quarterbacked) Chargers come to town to lock up the No. 1 seed and all the advantages that come along with it.

Assuming Denver holds serve, New England then must do the same against Miami to secure the No. 2 seed. Without help, Jacksonville can't climb higher than the No. 3 seed, which would be claimed with a win over Tennessee.

The biggest drama in this tier sits at the No. 4 seed, where the Steelers currently reside. They technically control their own destiny, but the same is true of the Ravens, who visit Pittsburgh on Sunday night in a game that will decide the AFC North race.

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 could end this weekend with an AFC South title, but they'd need both a win over the Colts and a Jaguars' loss to make it happen. If the starter-sitting Chargers lose, the Bills could move up to No. 6 with a win over the Jets.

In the Hunt

9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

A rollercoaster campaign for the Ravens comes to a straightforward ending: Win and they're in the playoffs, lose and they're officially in offseason mode.

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 Playoff Picture

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)

On Saturday night, the Seahawks will carry their six-game winning streak into Santa Clara for a must-see matchup with the 49ers, who've also won six straight. It's the ultimate something's-gotta-give game, and the winner will emerge with the No. 1 seed, an opening-round bye and home-field advantage.

If the Bears beat the Lions, the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds won't change. But if they falter and the Eagles top the Commanders, then Philadelphia will finish second and Chicago would be third.

The Panthers have two potential paths to an NFC South title and the No. 4 seed. The first is a simple road win over the Buccaneers. The second involves losing that game but having Atlanta beat New Orleans, which would set up a three-team tie that the Panthers would take.

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 can stop the Seahawks, they won't have to leave their home stadium again, since it'll host Super Bowl LX. If they lose and the Rams beat the Cardinals, though, then L.A. would jump to No. 5 while San Francisco winds up No. 6.

The Packers will finish No. 7 regardless what happens with and around them this weekend.

In The Hunt

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

It felt like this would be a win-and-you're-in weekend for the Bucs, but the Falcons' win over the Rams on Monday decided otherwise. Now, Tampa Bay needs both a win over Carolina and an Atlanta loss to New Orleans to finish atop the division.

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)

Predicted Playoff Bracket

AP Photo

AFC

1. Denver Broncos

7. Los Angeles Chargers at 2. New England Patriots

6. Buffalo Bills at 3. Jacksonville Jaguars

5. Houston Texans at 4. Baltimore Ravens

NFC

1. San Francisco 49ers

7. Green Bay Packers at 2. Chicago Bears

6. Los Angeles Rams at 3. Philadelphia Eagles

5. Seattle Seahawks at 4. Carolina Panthers