NFL Playoff Bracket 2026, Scenarios and Predictions for Postseason Picture

Four wins. Or maybe just three.

For the 14 fortunate NFL franchises still in the Super Bowl hunt, that's all that stands in the way of them and championship bliss. Four playoff victories—or three for the top seed in each conference—is still a tall task, but if the NFL campaign is a marathon, this is still the final stretch.

It's sprinting time now, though, and just one untimely stumble can send everything off-course. Who's built to thrive under these conditions? We're breaking out the crystal ball to find out, as we'll follow the updated playoff schedule with a postseason prediction for each conference.

NFL Playoff Schedule

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Wild-Card Round

Saturday, Jan. 10

Los Angeles Rams at Carolina Panthers, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX

Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 8 p.m. ET, Prime Video

Sunday, Jan. 11

Buffalo Bills at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX

Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock

Monday, Jan. 12

Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

Divisional Round

Saturday, Jan. 17

Teams TBD, 4:30 p.m. ET

Teams TBD, 8 p.m. ET

Sunday, Jan. 18

Teams TBD, 3 p.m. ET

Teams TBD, 6:30 p.m. ET

Conference Championships

Sunday, Jan. 25

AFC Championship, 3 p.m. ET, CBS

NFC Championship, 6:30 p.m. ET, FOX

Super Bowl LX

Sunday, Feb. 8

AFC champion vs. NFC champion, 6:30 p.m. ET, NBC

AFC Prediction: The Texans Win Multiple Games

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No NFL team enters the playoff party hotter than Houston, which comes in having won a league-best nine in a row. Since wobbling out to an 0-3 start, the Texans have gone 12-2 with their lone losses being single-score defeats at the hands of the two No. 1 seeds.

This defense is relentless and routinely squeezes the life out of the opposition. The Texans surrendered the fewest yards of anyone this season and allowed the second-fewest points. They're good at more than point-prevention, too, as this also happen to rank among the most disruptive defenses, tying for seventh in sacks while sitting third in takeaways.

They don't have to win games on the strength of their defense alone, though. This offense can be electric, too. The Texans put up at least 38 points in two of their final four games and cracked the 35-point mark two times earlier this season. The C.J. Stroud-Nico Collins connection is special, and they have other young playmakers in the passing game.

Houston should have more than enough to handle an inconsistent Pittsburgh team this weekend, and it would carry plenty of confidence into the Divisional Round regardless of matchup. If it's the Broncos, the Texans should feel like their defense is just as good, and their offense packs more punch. If it's the Patriots, they'll like their chances of their defensive line containing sophomore quarterback Drake Maye.

NFC Prediction: The Packers Knock Off the Bears

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While it's clearly less than ideal for Green Bay to carry a four-game losing streak into the playoffs, quarterback Jordan Love only started two of those contests and finished just one. He was upright for an eight-point road loss to the top-seeded Broncos, but exited early from the overtime loss to the Bears a week later—a game in which Green Bay carried a 10-point lead into the final five minutes.

There are no surprises between these NFC North rivals. In fact, this will be the third time they've locked horns since Dec. 7, a game in which Green Bay won by seven and again had a double-digit lead in the second half.

In other words, you should probably read nothing into the fact the Bears won two more games than the Packers this season. Green Bay actually posted the better point differential (plus-31 to plus-26).

Prior to the late skid and injury woes, Love had legitimate MVP buzz earlier this season. He has a number of capable pass-catchers at his disposal—three different Packers tallied six touchdown catches—and running back Josh Jacobs cleared 900 rushing yards with 14 total touchdowns (13 rushing, one receiving).

Not to mention, Green Bay has the better defense. The Packers allowed 55 fewer points this season.

There's a reason—or there are multiple reasons, actually—that oddsmakers favor the road team here.