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2026 NFL Playoff Picture, Bracket, Schedule: Updated Standings During Week 18
Thirteen of the 14 playoff spots are set, with the final one coming tonight.
After the Seahawks won the NFC West and clinched the No. 1 seed on Saturday night, the Panthers and Jaguars clinched division titles on Sunday. The late-afternoon slate will determine seeding across both conferences, including the top spot in the AFC.
Here is where things stood entering the 4:25 p.m. ET slate of games on Sunday:
NFL Playoff Picture
AFC
- Denver Broncos (13-3)**
- New England Patriots (13-3)**
- Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)**
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- Houston Texans (12-5)*
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)*
- Buffalo Bills (11-5)*
In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
* Clinched playoffs
** Clinched division
[ 2026 Draft Order: Raiders Clinch No. 1 Overall Pick]
The Jaguars dominated the Titans on Sunday and clinched the AFC South in the process. The Texans also won late against the Colts, which cements them as the No. 5 seed in the conference. Houston will travel to face the winner of the AFC North in the Wild Card Round.
The No. 1 seed is up for grabs, but the Broncos are in control. If Denver beats the Chargers, who are starting Trey Lance at quarterback in place of the resting Justin Herbert, it will get the top spot. The Patriots, meanwhile, are at home against the Dolphins and would get the top seed if they win and the Broncos lose. If both Denver and New England lose, Jacksonville gets the No. 1 seed.
The regular season ends with a classic AFC North rivalry: Ravens vs. Steelers. The winner will be the No. 4 seed in the AFC, and Pittsburgh will advance if the game ends in a tie. Ravens star QB Lamar Jackson said on Thursday that he’s “100%” going to play.
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NFC
- Seattle Seahawks (14-3)**
- Chicago Bears (11-5)**
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)**
- Carolina Panthers (8-9)**
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5)*
- Los Angeles Rams (11-5)*
- Green Bay Packers (9-7-1)*
* Clinched playoffs
** Clinched division
[ Follow NFL Week 18 Live]
The Panthers are NFC South champions thanks to the Falcons' win over the Saints on Sunday. The Buccaneers beat Carolina on Saturday, but that created a tie at 8-9 atop the division. Then, the Falcons beat New Orleans to get to 8-9, as well. The Panthers won the tiebreaker between the three teams with a 3-1 record against Tampa Bay and Atlanta this season.
Carolina will host either the Rams or 49ers next weekend in the Wild Card Round. If the Rams beat the Cardinals at home on Sunday afternoon, they will travel to Charlotte next weekend. Otherwise, it will be San Francisco.
The No. 2 seed is firmly up for grabs, as well. If the Bears beat the Lions, the No. 2 spot is theirs. If Chicago loses and the Eagles beat the Commanders, then Philadelphia will move ahead of the Bears in the NFC standings.
The No. 2 seed will play the Packers on Wild Card Weekend, with Green Bay locked in as the No. 7 seed. The No. 3 seed will face either the Rams or 49ers.
NFL Playoff Bracket
This is updated heading into the late Sunday slate.
AFC
- (1) Broncos receive a bye
- (2) Patriots vs. (7) Bills
- (3) Jaguars vs. (6) Chargers
- (4) Steelers vs. (5) Texans
NFC
- (1) Seahawks receive a bye
- (2) Bears vs. (7) Packers
- (3) Eagles vs. (6) Rams
- (4) Panthers vs. (5) 49ers
[ NFL Playoff Format: How Does the Postseason Work?]
NFL Playoff Schedule
- January 10-12, 2026: Wild-card round
- January 17-18: Divisional round
- January 25: AFC and NFC championship games
- February 8: Super Bowl LX (in Santa Clara, California)
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