After fans were treated to an incredible Wild Card Weekend with countless quality playoff games, the AFC and NFC’s No. 1 seeds join the party during the Divisional Round of the 2026 NFL playoffs following their first-round bye.
Let’s break down the postseason bracket, the Conference Championships schedule, and recap the Divisional Round matchups as teams try to advance to Super Bowl 60.
2026 NFL Playoff Bracket As Conference Championships Near
Here is the graphic for how the NFL playoff bracket shapes up as the Divisional Round unfolds:
NFL Conference Championships Matchups and Schedule
The Denver Broncos kicked things off for the Divisional Round, taking on the Buffalo Bills. While they needed overtime to get the job done, the top-ranked defense in PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric forced five turnovers and ended the Bills’ Super Bowl hopes.
With the New England Patriots dispatching the Houston Texans with ease, head coach Mike Vrabel and company head to Mile High Stadium to take on a Broncos squad without starting QB Bo Nix. While Denver’s defense will prove challenging, New England did just take down the NFL’s No. 2-ranked defense according to DEFi.
The Seattle Seahawks also showed off why they clinched the NFC’s No. 1 seed, pummeling the San Francisco 49ers to the tune of 41-6. A dominant defensive performance, along with a solid outing from quarterback Sam Darnold and running back Kenneth Walker III, saw the Seahawks advance to the NFC Championship with ease.
After a back-and-forth affair highlighted by strong defensive outings from both teams, the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears would end the Divisional Round weekend as they started, with an overtime showdown. While the Rams emerged victorious, ending the Bears’ late-game magic, they’ll need a better offensive showing to take down the Seahawks’ third-ranked defense, according to DEFi.
Conference Championships (Sunday, Jan. 25)
- AFC Championship: New England Patriots at Denver Broncos
- Time: 3 p.m. EST
- Channel: CBS
- NFC Championship: Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks
- Time: 6:30 p.m. EST
- Channel: FOX
NFC Playoff Seeds and Standings
- Seattle Seahawks (14-3)
- Chicago Bears (11-6) – Eliminated
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) -Eliminated
- Carolina Panthers (8-9) – Eliminated
- Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5) – Eliminated
- Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) – Eliminated
AFC Playoff Seeds and Standings
- Denver Broncos (14-3)
- New England Patriots (14-3)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) – Eliminated
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) – Eliminated
- Houston Texans (12-5) – Eliminated
- Buffalo Bills (12-5) -Eliminated
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) – Eliminated
Remaining 2026 NFL Playoffs Schedule
Super Bowl 60 (Feb. 8, 2026)
- Location: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California
- Time: 6:30 p.m. EST
- Channel: NBC
2026 NFL Divisional Round Results
Denver Broncos Defeated Buffalo Bills 33-30
What looked like a blowout in the first half by the Broncos turned into yet another top-tier NFL playoff game, as the AFC’s No. 1 seed defeated the Bills in overtime.
While both teams opened the game with scoring drives, the Bills took a 7-3 lead, only for the Broncos to score their first touchdown thanks to a fumble by Buffalo RB James Cook, giving them a 10-7 lead.
ON TO THE NEXT. pic.twitter.com/XAuAaEhLzU
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) January 18, 2026
The Bills would tie things up at 10 apiece, but another touchdown drive from quarterback Bo Nix and the Broncos’ offense gave them a lead just before the end of the second quarter. With 16 seconds remaining in the first half, Allen attempted to make a play, only to fumble, allowing the Broncos to kick a 50-yard field goal to extend the lead to 20-10 before heading into the locker room.
Only facing a 10-point deficit, the Bills had an opportunity to get back into the game by getting the ball to start the second half; however, Allen would be strip-sacked, fumbling for the second time in three plays. While Buffalo held them out of the end zone, Denver would extend the lead to 23-10.
While it seemed like the Bills were down for the count, Allen and the Bills’ offense fought back, scoring a touchdown on the following drive and another at the start of the fourth quarter to take a 24-23 lead. Nix would lead the Broncos on another touchdown drive, but left Allen and the Bills 55 seconds, in which the reigning NFL MVP drove Buffalo down the field to set Matt Prater up for a game-tying 50-yard field goal.
MORE: 2026 7-Round NFL Mock Draft
With the game in overtime, the Broncos got the ball first, and after an 11-yard pass on the first overtime play, they would go three-and-out on the next set of downs. While Allen and the Bills had a bit more success, their drive stalled, ending in a spectacular interception by cornerback Ja’Quan McMillan.
Nix and the offense looked much better on the next drive, moving down the field thanks to a couple of defensive pass interference calls to kick the game-winning field goal. With the 33-30 overtime victory in the books, the Broncos turn to the AFC Championship, where their No. 1-ranked defense will face either one of PFSN’s top-ranked offenses in the New England Patriots or PFSN’s No. 2-ranked defense in the Houston Texans.
However, after the postgame news regarding Nix’s broken ankle and impending surgery, Denver will be in panic mode this week, looking for a replacement under center.
Seattle Seahawks Defeated San Francisco 49ers 41-6
From the start of the game, it looked like the 49ers were in for a long night after Seahawks WR Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff 95 yards to the house to take a 7-0 lead in just 13 seconds. They would continue to build upon that lead, scoring 10 more points in the first quarter to put San Francisco in a 17-0 hole.
RASHID SHAHEED 95-YARD KICKOFF RETURN TO START THE GAME.
SFvsSEA on FOX/FOX One
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/buR0WrfA6x— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026
Two 49ers field goals in the second quarter started to chip away, but another touchdown from Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III saw Seattle take a 24-6 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Seahawks wouldn’t take their foot off the pedal as Walker would score two more touchdowns in the second half as Seattle destroyed San Francisco 41-6.
While the Seahawks offense was firing on all cylinders, it was thanks to a dominating performance from the third-ranked defense in PFSN’s Defense Impact metric. Seattle did not allow a single 49ers rusher to gain more than 40 yards and forced three turnovers, including two from quarterback Brock Purdy.
Over the last 12 quarters, the Seahawks have allowed opponents to score 19 points. After splitting the season series with the Los Angeles Rams, they could be primed for a third matchup after taking on the 49ers for a third time in the Divisional Round. However, head coach Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears will do their best to make it a No. 1 vs. No. 2 seed affair in the NFC.
New England Patriots Defeated Houston Texans 28-16
While the Bills and Broncos kicked off the weekend with a tight contest, the next two matchups were not all that close, with the Seahawks imposing their will and the Patriots taking care of the Texans despite their impressive defensive unit. While Sunday’s matchup got off to a slow start, the defenses would be the stars of the show at Gillette Stadium.
After cornerback Carlton Davis intercepted Houston QB C.J. Stroud in the first quarter, the Patriots’ defense would pick him off three more times in the second quarter, including one returned for a touchdown, as New England got out to a 21-10 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.
PLAYOFF PICK SIX @MarcusJonesocho!!
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/7doYGSUycj
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 18, 2026
Things wouldn’t get any better for the Texans in the second half as a fumble from rookie RB Woody Marks would bring their turnover total to five, and they could only kick two field goals to end the game with 16 points. While the Patriots struggled a bit in the third quarter, a gorgeous touchdown strike from Maye to wide receiver Kayshon Boutte would extend the lead to 28-16, putting the game out of reach.
Surprisingly, the Patriots’ defense was the one acting like the top-ranked unit, shutting the Texans’ offense down completely and giving the offense plenty of extra opportunities to figure things out against one of the NFL’s top defenses. They’ll go up against No. 1 next week, but with backup Jarret Stidham under center, can the Patriots force him into mistakes and give themselves extra possessions in the AFC Championship game?
Los Angeles Rams Defeated Chicago Bears 20-17
After two one-sided matchups, the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears treated fans to a nail-biter to end the Divisional Round matchups in the 2026 NFL playoffs. The Rams took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, and the Bears responded with a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at seven apiece.
They would stay tied for most of the game as the offenses on both sides struggled to maintain consistency, with the defenses shutting down both offenses until the fourth quarter. While the Rams took a lead early in the fourth, the Bears did what they do best in 2025: mount a late comeback to tie the game at 17-all with 18 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
While the Rams would go three-and-out on the opening possession of overtime, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams would throw his third interception of the night on Chicago’s ensuing drive. Despite starting on their 22-yard line, the Rams were able to drive to the Bears’ 24-yard line on their second possession in the extra period before kicking a field goal to win the game 20-17.
MEVIS CALLS GAME!!
📺 @SNFonNBC | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/szkHCvt86T
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 19, 2026
While the Rams were able to secure the Divisional Round win, they will go against PFSN’s third-ranked defense, according to DEFi, in the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams split the season series with the Seahawks, but will need a better showing from their top-ranked offense as they’ve been the weak link so far this postseason.
