NFL -- USA

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[Davey Crockett]

Detroit is eliminated, go to team now is the LA Rams, with former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford.

 

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[ghazi52]

NFL Playoff Picture 2026, AFC, NFC Wild-Card Bracket Scenarios & Week 18 Predictions​

Erik Beaston
Jan 3, 2026

The 2026 NFL Playoff Picture will be determined in Week 18.
Conference titles will be clinched, playoff positioning will be confirmed, and teams clinging to their postseason lives will either overcome the odds and play another week or see their efforts amount to nothing, eliminated from contention and forced to wait another year to compete for the Lombardi Trophy.

The action kicks off Saturday, with the NFC South and West titles on the line, as well as the conference's top seed.

Sunday, the AFC South and North crowns will be determined, as well as the fourth seed in the conference.

Where do things stand entering the final week of regular season play and what are the predictions for the Week 18 slate? Find out in this preview.

 

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NFC Playoff Bracket​

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AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. x-Seattle Seahawks (13-3, NFC West; odds to make Super Bowl +475)
2. z-Chicago Bears (11-5, NFC North; +2200)
3. z-Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, NFC East; +1000)
4. Carolina Panthers (8-8, NFC South; +12000)

The Seahawks and 49ers will battle Saturday for the No. 1 overall seed and NFC West crown in one of the biggest games of the year. A win for Mike McDonald's team, on the road at San Francisco, will secure them the top seed and home field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.

The Chicago Bears will secure the second seed with a win, or if they end the season with the same record as the Eagles, as they win the tiebreaker following their head-to-head victory.

For the Panthers, it is a win and they are in. If they beat Tampa Bay Saturday, they win the NFC South and earn the fourth seed in the playoffs.

 

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Wild Card Teams

5. x-San Francisco 49ers (12-4; +900)
6. y-Los Angeles Rams (11-5; +550)
7. y-Green Bay Packers (9-6-1; +2200)

The 49ers can complete an unlikely path to the top seed in the NFC and win the West division by defeating the Seahawks Saturday.

After losing two of the best defensive players in the league in Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, and missing Brock Purdy for several weeks, it would be the culmination of one of the great stories of this season.

The Rams can move up to the fifth seed if they beat Arizona in Week 18 and the 49ers lose to the Seahawks.

The Packers remain in the seventh seed regardless of the outcome of Sunday's games.

 

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In the Hunt

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9; +15000)

The Buccaneers can win the NFC South and the fourth seed with a victory over Carolina and a loss by the Atlanta Falcons to the New Orleans Saints.

Eliminated

Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
Detroit Lions (8-8)
Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)
Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
New Orleans Saints (6-10)
Washington Commanders (4-12)
Arizona Cardinals (3-13)
New York Giants (3-13)

 

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AFC Playoff Bracket​

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. z-Denver Broncos (AFC West, 13-3; +700)
2. z-New England Patriots (AFC East, 13-3; +850)
3. x-Jacksonville Jaguars (AFC South, 12-4; +1300)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North, 9-7; +10000)

For the Broncos, a win nets them the No. 1 seed in the AFC. A Denver tie and New England loss, or New England loss and Jacksonville loss or tie, will also earn Sean Payton's team home field advantage.

The Patriots can jump the Broncos with a win or tie and Denver loss.

The Jaguars are not out of the hunt for the No. 1 seed, either. A victory and losses by New England and Denver would give them the top spot, a surprising outcome given modest expectations for the team entering the 2025 season.

The Steelers will host the Ravens in a game for the AFC North and a win will earn them the division title and the fourth seed, both of which could have been secured with a win over Cleveland in Week 17.

 

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Wild Card Teams

5. x-Houston Texans (11-5; +1400)
6. y-Los Angeles Chargers (11-5; +2800)
7. y-Buffalo Bills (11-5; +1100)

The Texans will secure the AFC South with a win and a Jaguars loss.

The Chargers and Bills have both clinched Wild Card spots after losing their respective games against Denver and Philadelphia in Week 17.

In the Hunt

Baltimore Ravens (8-8; +2000)

The Ravens can complete a comeback for the ages by winning the AFC North and clinching the fourth seed with a win over the Steelers. This, after overcoming injury to Lamar Jackson and a leaky defense earlier in the season.

Eliminated
Indianapolis Colts (8-8)
Miami Dolphins (7-9)
Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)
Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
Cleveland Browns (4-12)
Tennessee Titans (3-13)
New York Jets (3-13)
Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)

 

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Week 18 Predictions​

AP Photo

Saturday, January 3

Carolina Panthers over Tampa Bay Buccaneers (win NFC South)
Seattle Seahawks over San Francisco 49ers (win NFC West)

Sunday, January 4

Houston Texans over Indianapolis Colts (clinch AFC fifth seed)
Cincinnati Bengals over Cleveland Browns
Atlanta Falcons over New Orleans Saints
Minnesota Vikings over Green Bay Packers
Jacksonville Jaguars over Tennessee Titans (clinch AFC third seed)
Dallas Cowboys over New York Giants
Los Angeles Rams over Arizona Cardinals (clinch NFC fifth seed)
Kansas City Chiefs over Las Vegas Raiders
Washington Commanders over Philadelphia Eagles
New England Patriots over Miami Dolphins (clinch AFC second seed)
Denver Broncos over Los Angeles Chargers (clinch AFC first seed)
Chicago Bears over Detroit Lions (clinch NFC second seed)
Buffalo Bills defeat New York Jets
Baltimore Ravens defeat Pittsburgh Steelers (clinch AFC North, fourth AFC seed)

 

[Davey Crockett]

Playoff Pick'em Elimination Round 2025​

All are welcome to play. This is elimination so pick carefully. If your pick loses so do you. Each week you can pick any team.

Tiebreakers

1. Who will win the coin toss in the Superbowl
2. Combined score of the Superbowl.
3. Who will be the Superbowl MVP

Saturday, Jan 10, 2026

NFC Wild Card Round
LA Rams vs. Carolina Bank of America Stadium Charlotte, NC 4:30pm ET FOX/FOX One

NFC Wild Card Round
Green Bay vs. Chicago Soldier Field Chicago, IL 8:00pm ET Prime Video

Sunday, Jan 11, 2026

AFC Wild Card Round
Buffalo vs. Jacksonville EverBank Stadium Jacksonville, FL 1:00pm ET CBS/Paramount+

NFC Wild Card Round
San Francisco vs. Philadelphia Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA 4:30pm ET FOX/FOX One

AFC Wild Card Round
LA Chargers vs. New England Gillette Stadium Foxborough, MA 8:00pm ET NBC/Peacock

Monday, Jan 12, 2026

AFC Wild Card Round
Houston vs. Pittsburgh Acrisure Stadium Pittsburgh, PA 8:00pm ET ESPN/ABC/ESPN+

 

[Davey Crockett]

1. NFC team wins SB coin toss.
2. 52 points
3. Matthew Stafford

This week's pick - L.A. Rams.

 

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[Davey Crockett]

View attachment 171381

LA Rams and former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford!

Green Bay for game two. Many in Upper Peninsula Michigan are Packer fans.

 

[Davey Crockett]