The 2025 NFL Season definitely brought some shocking finishes, as the playoff field was definitely not something that teams expected. Well, this could absolutely spill into the 2026 campaign, as some of the worst teams in the NFL actually got better this offseason, and some of the better teams might be prime for a regression.
This is the beauty of the NFL, as it seems like there is more parity present in this league than in any other professional league. We're going to make some playoff predictions for the 2026 season, but if the predictions end up being way off, it honestly would not be a surprise.
Let's put our best foot forward here and get underway with some playoff predictions for the 2026 NFL Season.
Complete NFL Playoff Predictions for 2026 as draft approaches
AFC Playoff Predictions
1. Houston Texans
Houston began the year 0-3 and actually finished 12-5, so it's not like this team doesn't have what it takes to be the best in the AFC. Now that the Texans have finally given CJ Stroud a strong offensive line, things could really skyrocket for this team.
2. Denver Broncos
The Broncos adding Jaylen Waddle was the missing piece on offense, and this roster was and is already one of the two or three best in the NFL. With Bo Nix finally having a no. 1 weapon and many of the same faces returning, Denver is still primed to be among the best.
3. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo saw the Patriots benefit from a massively easy schedule in 2025, but that won't be the case in 2026. The Bills have remade the defense a bit, brought in a ton of new coaches, and added a very capable no. 1 receiver in DJ Moore to the picture. This team will return to the top of the division.
4. Baltimore Ravens
Simply put, better player health will go a long way for the Ravens, and not only could that very well happen, but hiring a new coaching staff led by Jesse Minter could also be the necessary change that this team needs to win the AFC North. They would have won it back in 2025 had the team not dealt with so many injuries.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville won 13 games last year but will take a slight step back in 2026, still being good enough to sneak into the playoffs as a top Wild Card team. Jacksonville saw Travis Etienne and Devin Lloyd walk out the door, and those two losses alone are going to be huge.
6. New England Patriots
New England's schedule is going to get a lot harder in 2026, but this team still does have superstars at quarterback, head coach, and at offensive coordinator.
7. Cincinnati Bengals
There is just no way the Bengals miss the playoffs for a fourth year in a row, right? They've got the formula for an elite offense and simply just need to field an average defense. A path to 10 wins has to be doable.
NFC Playoff Predictions
1. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams nearly had the top NFC seed locked up in 2025, but they collapsed down the stretch and settled into a Wild Card spot. With the Rams having already filled huge needs in the secondary, they'll win the NFC West and earn that top seed.
2. Detroit Lions
Detroit's roster, you could argue, is the best in the NFC. With the Lions, health was a huge part of why they missed the playoffs, and teams just simply do not remain highly injured like this year over year. A healthier team, elite offense, and a defense that has enough talent will be plenty good enough to win the NFC North.
3. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas sports one of the best offenses and group of playmakers in the NFL, and the defense has already seen a lot of positive change. With the NFC East filled with dysfunctional messes, it could be Dallas' year, as they feel like the most complete team in the division right now.
4. New Orleans Saints
There is a chance that Saints quarterback Tyler Shough ends up being the best quarterback in the NFC South this coming season. With how well the Saints ended things, coupled with the underrated defense and the change they've already made on offense, the NFC South will be theirs for the taking.
5. Seattle Seahawks
Seattle is going to be too good to not make the playoffs in 2026, but with the Rams winning the NFC West in our predictions, Seattle could end up winning 12 games but be forced to go on the road in the playoffs.
6. Green Bay Packers
The Packers have been a Wild Card teams for years now, and once again, it feels like that's where we'll be at for 2026. Green Bay hasn't made any sort of move this offseason to indicate that they'll take that next step, and this coaching staff has proven they're incapable of that, too.
7. San Francisco 49ers
There will be multiple 'good' teams that miss the playoffs in the NFC, and with how well-coached the 49ers are, and the fact that they won 12 games last year, makes it hard for me to predict that they don't get in. San Francisco has also improved the roster this offseason and will have key players coming back from injury.
Wild Card Round
AFC
(7) Cincinnati Bengals @ (2) Denver Broncos
Cincinnati getting back into the playoffs would feel right, but the Broncos are an overwhelming team when playing at home. The Bengals offense wouldn't be able to handle the high-flying Broncos pass rush in this contest.
(6) New England Patriots @ (3) Buffalo Bills
New England is still going to be a competent team, but Buffalo has advanced past the Wild Card Round for years now. For the Bills, we're to the point where they probably just want to fast-forward into the Divisional Round.
(5) Jacksonville Jaguars @ (4) Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore is going to be a juggernaut with a healthier team, and Minter does feel like someone who is going to find instant success as a head coach. The Ravens fend off the Jaguars in our playoff predictions, as the Jags roster just is not quite there yet.
NFC
(7) San Francisco 49ers @ (2) Detroit Lions
San Francisco, under Kyle Shanahan, have been stellar in the playoffs, but the Lions boast some of the most talent in the NFL. This could be a year for Detroit to get back on track a bit, as the Lions high-powered offense would be too much for the Niners defense to handle.
(6) Green Bay Packers @ (3) Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay and Dallas would surely make for a fun playoff game, but the Cowboys truly have more things going for them right now, as new defensive coordinator Christian Parker is a Vic Fangio disciple and is going to have this unit good enough to help out the offense and get Dallas deep into the postseason.
(5) Seattle Seahawks @ (4) New Orleans Saints
This is one of those matchups where you could argue that the NFL Playoff seeding format rules are simply not good. The Saints would host the Seahawks in our predictions, but while the Saints are building something notable, this team would get throttled by Seattle's defense and would simply get overwhelmed. Seattle would win this game by halftime.
Divisional Round
AFC
(4) Baltimore Ravens @ (1) Houston Texans
It would be hard to pick against the Ravens in this one, as in each of the last three seasons, the Texans have gotten to the Divisional Round, but have not been able to advance past that. Lamar Jackson, who will be an MVP candidate in 2026, overwhelms the Houston defense in this one.
(3) Buffalo Bills @ (2) Denver Broncos
A rematch of an amazingly entertaining Divisional Round game in 2025, the Broncos would again be in a position to beat the Bills, as Buffalo does have a ton of new coaches, including first year head coach, Joe Brady. The Broncos have also made the more impactful additions this offseason and would have a roster advantage.
NFC
(5) Seattle Seahawks @ (1) Los Angeles Rams
Seattle and Los Angeles would meet in the Divisional Round in our playoff predictions for 2026, and I am just riding the Rams here, as I believe they have covered up their main roster weaknesses, and when General Manager Les Snead can 'sense' that his team is close, he goes all-out, so the Rams are going to emerge as the league's best team in 2026 and will continue this deep playoff run.
(3) Dallas Cowboys @ (2) Detroit Lions
This would be a fun game featuring two high-end offenses, but the Cowboys have kind of become a laughingstock across the NFL when the playoffs roll around, and while they could make a deep run this year, the Lions would be favored at home and are, as of now, and will be a better team in 2026.
Conference Championship Round
AFC
(4) Baltimore Ravens @ (2) Denver Broncos
The Broncos would host the AFC Championship Game for a second year in a row, but Denver is capable of this. They have the best roster in the conference and a quarterback who is now primed to break out once again thanks to the team adding Jaylen Waddle. In what could be a high-scoring game, Denver wins.
NFC
(2) Detroit Lions @ (1) Los Angeles Rams
This would be a fun game, as these two franchises swapped starting quarterbacks way back in 2021. It's worked out well for both, but the Rams did win it all in that season. Los Angeles, once again, would be better than their opponent, and the Rams do have more substantive playoff experience. The Rams win this one and take care of business at home.
Super Bowl
Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Rams
It would be very interesting to see the two conference championship losers from 2025 meeting in Super Bowl LXI in the calendar year 2027. This would be the Rams home stadium as well, as the Super Bowl will be played in SoFi.
And it would be hard to pick against the Rams. You could argue that Los Angeles and Denver have the two strongest rosters in the NFL, but you'd look at the quarterback matchup here and give the nod to the Rams at the moment.
But given how clutch the Broncos were in 2025, you almost wonder if more of the same would be presenet in 2026. When considering a million factors, which would be normal for the Super Bowl, most would eventually land on the Rams as being the winner.