Who's in the NFL playoffs 2026? Updated standings, bracket, matchups for AFC and NFC

There is only one week left in the 2025 NFL regular season, and it is the first pro football action of 2026. 

Fourteen teams between the AFC and NFC will make the playoffs, and 12 of the spots have already been determined. There are two spots still up for grabs in the final week of the regular season, and both are divisional spots with the winners making the playoffs as the respective No. 4 seed in their conferences. 

There is still plenty of movement that can happen around the league. Only one team has been locked into a playoff spot with the Green Bay Packers earning the No. 7 seed for the NFC. We know that the No. 4 seed in the AFC will be either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens and the No. 4 seed in the NFC will be either the Carolina Panthers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Outside of those, the NFL playoff bracket has a lot of solidifying to do in the final week. 

Here is an updated look at the standings, bracket and matchups for the 2026 NFL playoffs for both the AFC and NFC. 

MORE WEEK 18 NFL:

• NFL power rankings for Week 18
• NFL Week 18 picks, predictions
• NFL Week 18 picks against the spread

NFL playoff bracket 2026

Here is a current look at the playoff bracket.

AFC

1. Denver Broncos (BYE)
2. New England Patriots vs. 7. Buffalo Bills
3. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. 6. Los Angeles Chargers 
4. Pittsburgh Steelers/Baltimore Ravens vs. 5. Houston Texans

NFC

1. Seattle Seahawks (BYE)
2. Chicago Bears vs. 7. Green Bay Packers
3. Philadelphia Eagles vs. 6. Los Angeles Rams
4. Carolina Panthers/Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. 5. San Francisco 49ers

MORE: Is Tom Brady dating Alix Earle?

Who's in the NFL playoffs 2026?

AFC standings

In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

Eliminated: Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders. 

NFC standings

In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

Eliminated: Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants.

MORE: Why did Packers claim CB Trevon Diggs?

AFC playoff matchups

1. Denver Broncos (BYE)

2. New England Patriots vs. 7. Buffalo Bills

The Patriots and the Bills are projected to match up for the third time this season. They split their season series. New England won the first game in Week 5, 23-20, while Buffalo won the Week 14 rematch, 35-31. In each game, the road team won, and the Bills would be on the road for this game. 

3. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. 6. Los Angeles Chargers

These teams matched up in Week 11 of the regular season. The game was held in Jacksonville, and the Jaguars dominated 35-6. Jacksonville's run game took over as Bhayshul Tuten ran for 74 yards and a score while Travis Etienne had 73 yards and two touchdowns. 

4. Pittsburgh Steelers/Baltimore Ravens vs. 5. Houston Texans

Houston played Baltimore back in Week 5. The game was on the road for the Texans, but they took care of business as the Ravens were without Lamar Jackson and the Houston defense terrorized Cooper Rush. The Texans won 44-10 with quarterback C.J. Stroud throwing four touchdowns. Houston will go on the road for this matchup, regardless of who wins Week 18's "Sunday Night Football," and the AFC North, between the Steelers and the Ravens. 

MORE: Ranking the 19 greatest Steelers players of all time

NFC playoff matchups

1. Seattle Seahawks (BYE)

2. Chicago Bears vs. 7. Green Bay Packers

The Bears and Packers played twice during the regular season, with both games coming within three weeks. Green Bay won the first game in Chicago 28-21. The Bears got their revenge in Week 16 with a 22-16 victory in overtime. In the rematch, Chicago was trailing 16-9 at the two-minute warning and won in overtime after quarterback Caleb Williams hit DJ Moore for a 46-yard score. 

3. Philadelphia Eagles vs. 6. Los Angeles Rams

The Eagles and Rams met in Week 3 of the season. Philadelphia won at home 33-26. Quarterback Jalen Hurts had three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. A.J. Brown led the Eagles' receivers with 109 yards and a touchdown. Puka Nacua didn't find the endzone for the Rams but finished with 112 yards on 11 receptions. The Eagles did need a blocked field goal at the end of the game to pull off the victory, though. 

4. Carolina Panthers/Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. 5. San Francisco 49ers

This matchup has a lot of variability heading into the weekend. The Panthers and Buccaneers play each other, and if the Panthers win, they win the division and the No. 4 seed. If Carolina loses, then the Panthers need the Atlanta Falcons to beat the New Orleans Saints, and then Carolina would make the playoffs based on the tiebreaker. The Buccaneers need to beat the Panthers and need the Saints to win to make the playoffs. 

The 49ers enter the weekend still in the mix for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, which would give them a first-round bye. San Francisco needs to beat the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night and it will be the No. 1 seed. The 49ers beat the Panthers during the regular season, but lost to the Buccaneers. 

MORE: Updated 2026 NFL Draft order heading into Week 18

NFL playoff schedule 2026

Wild-card round

Saturday, Jan. 10

Sunday, Jan. 11

Monday, Jan. 12

Divisional round

Saturday, Jan. 17 

Sunday, Jan. 18

Conference Championship round

Sunday, Jan. 25

Super Bowl

Sunday, Feb. 8