The countdown to Super Bowl 60 has begun, and the teams in the NFL are ready to battle for the championship title.
For the 14 teams that have earned a spot in the playoffs, it’s a crucial time. Each game could be their last, and the stakes are incredibly high.
The Philadelphia Eagles, who won the championship last year, are back in the playoffs and want to win again. In the AFC, with the Kansas City Chiefs missing the playoffs after a successful run, new teams have a chance to shine.
All the teams are focused on reaching Santa Clara in February to compete for the Super Bowl 60 title.
Here’s what you need to know about the NFL playoffs, which start in January 2026.
Key Dates for the 2026 NFL Playoffs:
- Wild-Card Round: January 10-12
- Divisional Round: January 17-18
- Conference Championships: January 25
- Super Bowl 60: February 8
The playoffs start with the Wild-Card round on Saturday, January 10. There will be six games during this weekend, with two on Saturday, three on Sunday, and one on Monday night.
The Divisional Round follows the next weekend. The Conference Championship games will be on January 25, leading up to Super Bowl 60 on February 8.
Teams in the 2026 Playoff Bracket:
AFC
- Denver Broncos
- New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills
- Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Los Angeles Chargers
- Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Texans
NFC
- Seattle Seahawks
- Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers
- Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams
- Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks
2026 Playoff Schedule:
Wild-Card Round:
- Saturday, January 10: Games at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET
- Sunday, January 11: Games at 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. ET
- Monday, January 12: Game at 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)
Divisional Round:
- Saturday, January 17: Games at 4:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. ET
- Sunday, January 18: Games at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET
Conference Championships:
- Sunday, January 25: AFC Championship at 3 p.m. ET (CBS), NFC Championship at 6:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
Super Bowl 60:
- Sunday, February 8: Game at 6:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
How the NFL Playoffs Work:
The NFL playoffs include 14 teams, with seven from each conference (AFC and NFC).
The top team in each conference gets a bye during the Wild Card round. The division winners (seeds 2, 3, and 4) get to play their first playoff game at home. The remaining three teams in each conference are wild-card teams and must play their first game on the road.
In the Division Round, the top seed plays the lowest-seeded team that won its Wild Card game. The winners then move on to the Championship Round, which is also hosted by the higher-seeded team.
The two teams that win their respective Conference Championship games then compete in the Super Bowl.
Teams are seeded based on their win-loss record. If teams have the same record, the NFL uses a complex system to break ties.
Current Playoff Teams:
AFC
- Denver Broncos (13-3)
- New England Patriots (13-3)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- Houston Texans (11-5)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-5)
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 (9-6-1)
