The road to the Super Bowl is nearly paved.
The final Sunday of the NFL’s regular season began with three division titles, two playoff spots and a bye up for grabs.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens compete in a win-and-in game during Sunday Night Football on NBC and Peacock. The winning team secures the AFC North division title and a playoff spot.
Another essential win-and-in game played out Sunday afternoon between two teams long eliminated from playoff contention. The result of the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints determined whether the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Carolina Panthers would win the NFC South division and head to the postseason. The Falcons’ 19-17 win created a three-way tie of 8-9 teams atop the division, giving the tiebreaker and the playoff berth to the Panthers.
The Jaguars wrapped up the AFC South title with a rout of the Tennessee Titans, making the second-place Houston Texans a wild-card team.
The Denver Broncos can lock up the No. 1 seed with a win over a Los Angeles Chargers team expected to rest many starters. If the Broncos lose, the New England Patriots can claim the top spot with a win over the Miami Dolphins. If both the Broncos and Patriots lose, the Jaguars take the No. 1 seed.
Here’s everything to know so far…
Who’s going to the NFL playoffs?
AFC
- New England Patriots (AFC East champions)
- Denver Broncos (AFC West champions)
- Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens (AFC North champions)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South champions)
- Houston Texans (wild card)
- Buffalo Bills (wild card)
- Los Angeles Chargers (wild card)
NFC
How do the NFL playoffs work?
Seven teams from each conference make the playoffs. The four division winners in each conference are ranked No. 1 to No. 4 by regular-season record followed by the three wild-card teams ranked by regular-season record.
Who gets a bye in the NFL playoffs?
The top seed in each conference gets a bye to the Divisional Round. In the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks secured the top seed on Saturday with a 13-3 win over the 49ers.
The Broncos can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC on Sunday with a win over the Chargers. A loss opens the door for the Patriots or Jaguars to take the top spot.
What’s the AFC playoff bracket?
Here’s the full AFC bracket:
1. TBD
2. TBD
3. TBD
4. Steelers or Ravens
5. Texans
6. TBD
7. TBD
What’s the NFC playoff bracket?
Here’s a look at the NFC bracket:
1. Seahawks
2. TBD
3. TBD
4. Panthers
5. TBD
6. TBD
7. Packers
When do the NFL playoffs start?
The NFL postseason opens with Super Wild Card Weekend from Saturday, Jan. 10, to Monday, Jan. 12. There will be two Saturday games, three Sunday games and one Monday game.
What’s the NFL playoff schedule?
Here’s a look at the Super Wild Card Weekend schedule:
Saturday, Jan. 10
Sunday, Jan. 11
- TBD vs. TBD
- TBD vs. TBD
- TBD vs. TBD
Monday, Jan. 12
The Divisional Round is set for Saturday, Jan 17, to Sunday, Jan. 18, followed by the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Does the NFL reseed in the playoffs?
Yes, the NFL reseeds in the playoffs. That means the Seahawks and the AFC’s top-seed will face the lowest-seeded teams left in their respective conferences following the opening round.
When is the Super Bowl 2026?
The AFC and NFC champions will square off in Super Bowl LX on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Where is the Super Bowl 2026?
Super Bowl LX will be played at Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, in Santa Clara, California.
What channel is the Super Bowl on?
Super Bowl LX will be broadcasted on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
Great Job Mike Gavin & the Team @ NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth for sharing this story.
