NFL Playoff Schedule 2026, AFC, NFC Postseason Bracket Dates and TV Schedule

The NFL regular season wraps up Sunday, headlined by an AFC North title game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.

That is hardly the only thing at stake on a jam-packed Sunday, with playoff seeding, including the top spot in the AFC, still to be determined.

What is the current playoff picture, which teams have the inside track in their respective conferences, and which match-ups may thrill fans in the first week of the 2026 postseason?

Find out in this preview.

Playoff Schedule

AP Photo

Wild Card Round

Saturday, January 10 through Monday, January 12

Divisional Round

Saturday, January 17 and Sunday, January 18

Conference Championship Round

Sunday, January 25

Super Bowl LX

Sunday, February 8

NFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. *-Seattle Seahawks (14-3, NFC West; odds to make Super Bowl +370)

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

3. z-Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, NFC East; +950)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9, NFC South; +15000)

The Seahawks rode a seemingly impenetrable defense to a 13-3 victory over the 49ers Saturday night, earning the NFC's top seed and guaranteeing a first-round bye. Darnold was efficient, completing 20 of 26 passes for 198 yards. At the same time, the defense completely shut down San Francisco, limiting Christian McCaffrey to 23 yards rushing on eight carries and looking like the potential difference-maker in the upcoming playoffs.

Wild Card Teams

5. x-San Francisco 49ers (12-5; +2200)

6. y-Los Angeles Rams (11-5; +450)

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

The Rams have an opportunity to improve upon their current place in the NFC rankings Sunday with a win at home against an Arizona Cardinals team looking to wrap up another hapless season. A victory will catapult them past the 49ers and set them up for a first-round match-up against the NFC South winner.

In the Hunt

Carolina Panthers (8-9; +20000)

The Panthers fumbled away a chance to win their division Saturday, botching a flea flicker attempt and giving the Buccaneers life entering the final Sunday of the season. Carolina can still win the division, though, if the Saints continue their recent string of success and knock off the Atlanta Falcons.

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)

* -indicates clinched first round bye

x-indicates clinched playoffs

y-indicates Wild Card clinched

z-indicates division clinched

AFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. z-Denver Broncos (AFC West, 13-3; +750)

2. z-New England Patriots (AFC East, 13-3; +950)

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

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

Entering the final Sunday of the regular season, Denver, New England, and Jacksonville can all still claim the top seed in the AFC. The Broncos will do so with a win, while the Patriots can claim it with a win and a Denver loss. The Jaguars will earn the first-round bye with losses by the Pats and Broncos. That all three are still alive for that coveted spot reflects the strength of competition at the top of the conference.

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)

Houston can still claim the AFC South title with a Jacksonville loss to the Titans and a victory over the Colts, who will be starting quarterback Riley Leonard. The Texans are giving up the fewest points and yards per game in 2025 and are a dark horse candidate to watch entering the playoffs, especially with quarterback CJ Stroud playing better down the stretch.

In the Hunt

Baltimore Ravens (8-8; +2000)

The Ravens will battle the Steelers in the final regular season game of the year, with the AFC North crown on the line. Neither team has played consistently enough to be a legitimate threat in the postseason but one would be hard-pressed to imagine a scenario where a Super Bowl-hopeful team would be excited by the prospect of facing a Lamar Jackson-led team in the playoffs.

If the Ravens get in, because of their ability to run the ball and dominate time of possession as a result, they could cause damage if they can get by their division rivals, who they lost to by just five points on December 7.

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