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

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Jan 4, 2026 - 22:42

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Who's in the NFL playoffs 2026? Updated standings, bracket, matchups for AFC and NFC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It's almost time for playoff football.

Fourteen teams between the AFC and NFC will be in the NFL playoffs, and 12 of the spots were already determined before Week 18. There were two spots still up for grabs in the final week of the regular season, and both were divisional spots with the winners making the playoffs as the respective No. 4 seed in their conferences.

Coming into Week 18, just one team had been locked into a playoff spot with the Green Bay Packers earning the No. 7 seed for the NFC. Up for grabs entering the week was the No. 4 seed in the AFC between either the Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens, plus the No. 4 seed in the NFC between either the Carolina Panthers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Outside of those, the NFL playoff bracket had 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.

LIVE:Updated NFL playoff picture for Week 18

NFL playoff bracket 2026

Here is a current look at the playoff bracket.

AFC

1. Denver Broncos (BYE)
2. New England Patriots vs. 7. Los Angeles Chargers
3. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. 6. Buffalo Bills
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. San Francisco 49ers
4. Carolina Panthers vs. 5. Los Angeles Rams

MORE: Is Tom Brady dating Alix Earle?

Who's in the NFL playoffs 2026?

AFC standings

Seed	Team	Record
1	Denver Broncos	14-3
2	New England Patriots	14-3
3	Jacksonville Jaguars	13-4
4	Pittsburgh Steelers	9-7
5	Houston Texans	12-5
6	Buffalo Bills	12-5
7	Los Angeles Chargers	11-6

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

Seed	Team	Record
1	Seattle Seahawks	14-3
2	Chicago Bears	11-6
3	Philadelphia Eagles	11-6
4	Carolina Panthers	8-9
5	Los Angeles Rams	12-5
6	San Francisco 49ers	12-5
7	Green Bay Packers	9-7-1

Eliminated: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 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. Los Angeles Chargers

The Patriots and the Chargers will meet in the first round of the playoffs, but they did not meet in the regular season. Drake Maye and Justin Herbert will go head-to-head in Foxsboro.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. 6. Buffalo Bills

The Jaguars will host the Bills over Wild Card Weekend, as Josh Allen seeks to begin a long-awaited Super Bowl run, while Trevor Lawrence looks to make some noise after a successful 2025 season. Jacksonville and Buffalo didn't play this season.

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. San Francisco 49ers

The Eagles and 49ers did not play in the regular season. As Philadelphia continues its quest for a second-straight Super Bowl, San Francisco is seeking to make a run behind Brock Purdy.

4. Carolina Panthers vs. 5. Los Angeles Rams

While the Buccaneers beat the Panthers in their Week 18 matchup, because the Falcons beat the Saints, the Panthers still claimed the NFC South's title in 2025. That came with the No. 4 seed, as the tiebreaker favored Carolina.

The Rams were in the mix for the overall No. 1 seed in the NFC through the late season, but instead fell to the No. 5 spot. Matthew Stafford and company will be traveled to Carolina for Wild Card Weekend.

MORE: Updated 2026 NFL Draft order

NFL playoff schedule 2026

Wild-card round

Saturday, Jan. 10

Matchup	Location	Time (ET)	Channel
No. 5 Los Angeles Rams vs. No. 4 Carolina Panthers	Carolina	4:30 p.m.	Fox
No. 7 Green Bay Packers vs. No. 2 Chicago Bears	Chicago	8 p.m.	Prime Video

Sunday, Jan. 11

Matchup	Location	Time (ET)	Channel
No. 6 Buffalo Bills vs. No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars	Jacksonville	1 p.m.	CBS
No. 6 San Francisco 49ers vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles	Philadelphia	4:30 p.m.	Fox
No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers vs. No. 2 New England Patriots	New England	8 p.m.	NBC