2026 NFL Playoff Picture: Who’s in and out?

The top 14 of the NFL’s 32 teams will qualify for the 2026 NFL playoffs, with seven teams advancing from each conference (AFC and NFC). Under the current playoff format, which has not changed, the No. 1 seed in each conference earns a first-round bye and home-field advantage. The remaining 12 teams compete in the Wild Card round, with seeds 2 through 7 determined by overall win–loss–tie records. In the Wild Card matchups, the second seed hosts the seventh seed, the third seed hosts the sixth seed, and the fourth seed hosts the fifth seed.

2026 AFC playoff picture if the season ended today after Week 15

1. Denver Broncos (12-2) (West winner)
2. New England Patriots (11-3) (East winner)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4) (South winner)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) (North winner)
5. LA Chargers (10-4)
6. Buffalo Bills (10-4)
7. Houston Texans (9-5)

In the hunt

1. Indianapolis Colts (8-6)
2. Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
3. Miami Dolphins (6-7)

2026 NFC playoff picture if the season ended today after Week 15

1. LA Rams (11-3) (West winner)
2. Chicago Bears (10-4) (North winner)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) (East winner)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) (South winner)
5. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
7. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)

In the hunt

1. Detroit Lions (8-6)
2. Carolina Panthers (7-7)
3. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)

Super Bowl LX

Date: February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California. CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video will be televising the playoffs, and NBC for Super Bowl LX.