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2026 Nfl Playoff Picks And Predictions Nfl Playoff

Bonisiwe Shabane
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2026 nfl playoff picks and predictions nfl playoff

December still says regular season, but the standings already smell like January, and NFL Playoff Predictions 2026 starts with that truth. Denver owns the conference lead at 12 and 2, and the entire AFC keeps circling one question: who forces the Broncos to play a full four quarters in the cold. A bartender flips RedZone on mute and you can still hear the groans. Fans count wins on their fingers, then count tie breakers like they are reading legal fine print. That is the part nobody admits out loud: once two teams share a record, the conversation turns to head to head, division record, then conference record, then common games, then strength of victory. Seattle and the Rams drag the NFC West into a three team puzzle, because San Francisco refuses to go away.

Tampa Bay and Carolina share the same 7 and 7 mark in the NFC South, which turns every Sunday into a referendum. So yes, the calendar reads mid December. The math reads Wild Card Weekend. Denver leads the AFC West and already locked up a playoff berth, while New England controls the AFC East at 11 and 3 and Jacksonville owns the AFC South at 10 and 4. Pittsburgh leads the AFC North at 8 and 6, which tells you how chaotic that division has been. We're only three games into Week 17, but we've already seen some significant developments that impact the NFL playoff picture.

While Thursday's opener between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders was largely meaningless, the day's two other contests were playoff-relevant. The Detroit Lions were officially eliminated from playoff contention with their loss against the rival Minnesota Vikings. The Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the nightcap to maintain a grip on the AFC's No. 1 seed. Here's a look at where every playoff hopeful stands, what could transpire over the weekend, and some predictions for the 2025-26 postseason bracket. .css-1582m2i{margin:0;font:inherit;font-weight:700;}Division Leaders

With Week 17 approaching, the playoff race is shaping up across both conferences. Based on the current standings, here’s how the AFC and NFC playoff brackets would look if the season ended today – including first-round matchups, potential upsets, and Super Bowl predictions. If the playoffs started today, fans would be treated to elite quarterback matchups, hostile road environments, and multiple upset opportunities. While nothing is locked in yet, the current standings suggest a postseason filled with balance, depth, and unpredictability-exactly what makes the NFL playoffs must-watch football. The NFL Playoffs are back in 2026 with a full lineup of exciting matchups. Fans across the country are getting ready for the biggest weeks in football.

This year’s playoff format sticks to the 14-team setup. Seven teams from each conference will compete for a spot in Super Bowl LX. This guide gives you everything you need to know. You’ll find key playoff dates, the full schedule by round, the current playoff bracket, and how the format works. We also cover projected matchups and which teams are expected to stand out this year. Stay updated with the latest playoff picture as the road to Santa Clara begins.

The NFL regular season ends on Sunday, January 4, 2026. Right after that, the playoff race begins. Here are the important dates: Each round is packed with action and sets the stage for the next. The road to the Super Bowl moves fast. Fans and teams must stay ready.

Jamie is an experienced content writer specializing in iGaming and sports betting. Jamie has previously covered sport for the likes of ESPN, AOL and MSN,… Alexandra is a Senior Content Editor at Techopedia with 10+ years of experience in covering tech, finance, crypto, igaming, and esports. Previously, Alex served as… The NFL regular season is nearing its conclusion, which means that the playoffs will soon be under way and it will not be long until fans are celebrating the arrival of the Super Bowl. NFL betting becomes very popular at this time of the year, so for anyone wondering how NFL playoffs work, read on for our full guide to the NFL playoffs 2026.

NFL playoffs 2026 will work in a slightly different way to previous seasons because the postseason has been expanded to include two more teams. The 2025-26 NFL playoffs begin on January 10, 2026. Three Wild card games will be played in each conference. Wild card games are scheduled on Jan 10-12. Divisional games will be played on Jan 17-18. Winners will be advanced to play the Conference Championship game on Jan 25.

The Super Bowl LX is scheduled for Feb 8, 2026. NBC Network will be showing the NFL’s biggest event at 6:30 PM ET at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA. We have the top 7 teams of 16 from the AFC Conference and the top 7 teams of 16 from the NFC Conference, who clinched the NFL postseason games. Here are the latest playoff scenarios listed below if the season ends today. No. 1 seed has a byeNo.

2 seed hosts No. 7 seedNo. 3 seed hosts No. 6 seedNo. 4 seed hosts No. 5 seed

The No. 1 seed hosts the lowest remaining seed.The second-highest remaining seed hosts the second-lowest remaining seed. Divisional round winners (higher seed hosts) The 2025 NFL regular season is entering its final weeks, and teams are beginning to secure playoff berths and even division titles. Ten teams have clinched playoff berths. So far in the AFC it's the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills.

In the NFC, the playoff teams are the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles. Only the Eagles have clinched their division, but more are expected to claim their respective division titles in Week 17. There are four more playoff spots up for grabs; two more teams from each conference will join the fray before we set our playoff field. The final two weeks of the season kick off with a tripleheader of games on Christmas. The outcomes will provide more clarity for the playoff picture. The NFL playoffs will begin in three weeks, and while there are still four playoff spots up for grabs, here's an early look at some predictions and picks for who will win the AFC,...

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