Updated Tuesday, November 10, 2026: here is the 2026 NFL playoff picture if the season ended today, current through Week 9. The No. 1 seed in each conference earns a first-round bye, the four division winners claim seeds 1 through 4, and the next three teams in each conference take the wild card spots at seeds 5 through 7.
See the whole road ahead on the printable 2026 NFL schedule grid (full season, one page).
AFC Playoff Picture
Here is the AFC seeding if the playoffs started today, through Week 9 of the 2026 season.
| Seed | Team | Record | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buffalo Bills | 7-1 | Division leader |
| 2 | Denver Broncos | 7-2 | Division leader |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6-2 | Division leader |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-2 | Division leader |
| 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | 6-2 | Wild card |
| 6 | Cincinnati Bengals | 6-2 | Wild card |
| 7 | New England Patriots | 5-4 | Wild card |
In the hunt: Cleveland Browns (5-4), Las Vegas Raiders (4-5), Baltimore Ravens (4-5).
AFC Wild Card Matchups
No. 1 Buffalo Bills earns the first-round bye. Wild Card round: No. 7 New England Patriots at No. 2 Denver Broncos, No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals at No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars, No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs at No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers.
NFC Playoff Picture
Here is the NFC seeding if the playoffs started today, through Week 9 of the 2026 season.
| Seed | Team | Record | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco 49ers | 7-1 | Division leader |
| 2 | Chicago Bears | 7-2 | Division leader |
| 3 | New York Giants | 5-2-1 | Division leader |
| 4 | Carolina Panthers | 3-5 | Division leader |
| 5 | Detroit Lions | 6-2 | Wild card |
| 6 | Minnesota Vikings | 6-2 | Wild card |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | 6-3 | Wild card |
In the hunt: Seattle Seahawks (5-4), Los Angeles Rams (5-4), Dallas Cowboys (4-5).
NFC Wild Card Matchups
No. 1 San Francisco 49ers earns the first-round bye. Wild Card round: No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Chicago Bears, No. 6 Minnesota Vikings at No. 3 New York Giants, No. 5 Detroit Lions at No. 4 Carolina Panthers.
Fill Out the Bracket Yourself
Want to print it and pencil in your own picks as the season plays out? Grab our blank printable NFL playoff bracket, or use the online bracket maker with its NFL preset to build and share a custom bracket in seconds.
How the NFL Playoff Format Works
Seven teams from each conference reach the playoffs: the four division winners are seeded 1 through 4 by record, and the three best non-division-winners are the wild cards at seeds 5 through 7. Only the No. 1 seed gets a bye through Wild Card Weekend. In the first round the No. 2 seed hosts No. 7, No. 3 hosts No. 6, and No. 4 hosts No. 5. The bracket reseeds after each round, so the top remaining seed always plays the lowest remaining seed. This early in the year the order is decided largely by tiebreakers, so expect plenty of movement week to week.
More 2026 NFL Resources
Track the races all season with the 2026 NFL standings and playoff picture, print the blank 2026-27 NFL playoff bracket, and build your own with the bracket maker.
