NFL Playoff Picture 2026, AFC, NFC Wild-Card Bracket Scenarios & Week 18 Predictions

Erik BeastonJan 3, 2026

The 2026 NFL Playoff Picture will be determined in Week 18.

Conference titles will be clinched, playoff positioning will be confirmed, and teams clinging to their postseason lives will either overcome the odds and play another week or see their efforts amount to nothing, eliminated from contention and forced to wait another year to compete for the Lombardi Trophy.

The action kicks off Saturday, with the NFC South and West titles on the line, as well as the conference's top seed.

Sunday, the AFC South and North crowns will be determined, as well as the fourth seed in the conference.

Where do things stand entering the final week of regular season play and what are the predictions for the Week 18 slate? Find out in this preview.

NFC Playoff Bracket

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AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. x-Seattle Seahawks (13-3, NFC West; odds to make Super Bowl +475)

2. z-Chicago Bears (11-5, NFC North; +2200)

3. z-Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, NFC East; +1000)

4. Carolina Panthers (8-8, NFC South; +12000)

The Seahawks and 49ers will battle Saturday for the No. 1 overall seed and NFC West crown in one of the biggest games of the year. A win for Mike McDonald's team, on the road at San Francisco, will secure them the top seed and home field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.

The Chicago Bears will secure the second seed with a win, or if they end the season with the same record as the Eagles, as they win the tiebreaker following their head-to-head victory.

For the Panthers, it is a win and they are in. If they beat Tampa Bay Saturday, they win the NFC South and earn the fourth seed in the playoffs.

Wild Card Teams

5. x-San Francisco 49ers (12-4; +900)

6. y-Los Angeles Rams (11-5; +550)

7. y-Green Bay Packers (9-6-1; +2200)

The 49ers can complete an unlikely path to the top seed in the NFC and win the West division by defeating the Seahawks Saturday. After losing two of the best defensive players in the league in Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, and missing Brock Purdy for several weeks, it would be the culmination of one of the great stories of this season.

The Rams can move up to the fifth seed if they beat Arizona in Week 18 and the 49ers lose to the Seahawks.

The Packers remain in the seventh seed regardless of the outcome of Sunday's games.

In the Hunt

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9; +15000)

The Buccaneers can win the NFC South and the fourth seed with a victory over Carolina and a loss by the Atlanta Falcons to the New Orleans Saints.

Eliminated

Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

Detroit Lions (8-8)

Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)

Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

New Orleans Saints (6-10)

Washington Commanders (4-12)

Arizona Cardinals (3-13)

New York Giants (3-13)

x-indicates clinched playoffs

y-indicates Wild Card clinched

z-indicates division clinched

AFC Playoff Bracket

2 of 3

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. z-Denver Broncos (AFC West, 13-3; +700)

2. z-New England Patriots (AFC East, 13-3; +850)

3. x-Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South, 12-4; +1300)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North, 9-7; +10000)

For the Broncos, a win nets them the No. 1 seed in the AFC. A Denver tie and New England loss, or New England loss and Jacksonville loss or tie, will also earn Sean Payton's team home field advantage.

The Patriots can jump the Broncos with a win or tie and Denver loss.

The Jaguars are not out of the hunt for the No. 1 seed, either. A victory and losses by New England and Denver would give them the top spot, a surprising outcome given modest expectations for the team entering the 2025 season.

The Steelers will host the Ravens in a game for the AFC North and a win will earn them the division title and the fourth seed, both of which could have been secured with a win over Cleveland in Week 17.

Wild Card Teams

5. x-Houston Texans (11-5; +1400)

6. y-Los Angeles Chargers (11-5; +2800)

7. y-Buffalo Bills (11-5; +1100)

The Texans will secure the AFC South with a win and a Jaguars loss.

The Chargers and Bills have both clinched Wild Card spots after losing their respective games against Denver and Philadelphia in Week 17.

In the Hunt

Baltimore Ravens (8-8; +2000)

The Ravens can complete a comeback for the ages by winning the AFC North and clinching the fourth seed with a win over the Steelers. This, after overcoming injury to Lamar Jackson and a leaky defense earlier in the season.

Eliminated

Indianapolis Colts (8-8)

Miami Dolphins (7-9)

Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

Cleveland Browns (4-12)

Tennessee Titans (3-13)

New York Jets (3-13)

Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)

x-indicates clinched playoffs

y-indicates Wild Card clinched

z-indicates division clinched