NFL playoff bracket: Current updates as Divisional Round teams are finalized

NFL Playoffs Kick Off with Exciting Wild Card Round

The 2026 NFL Playoffs have officially started, and the Wild Card Round has brought plenty of drama. On Saturday, the Rams initially took a strong lead against the Panthers but ultimately clinched a thrilling last-minute victory. Similarly, the Bears managed to orchestrate a comeback from a 21-3 deficit, sealing their win in the final moments as well.

This weekend, the Broncos and Seahawks will enjoy a break, waiting to see which three teams will move on from the wild-card round. Interestingly, the NFL will reseed the teams for the divisional round, meaning the matchups won’t be determined until after these games conclude. Denver and Seattle will host the lowest remaining seeds from the AFC and NFC, while the mid-ranked seeds from each conference will face off against teams from the other division.

We’ll keep you updated as the weekend progresses and the brackets become finalized. By the end of the 49ers-Eagles game on Sunday, we’ll know the NFC divisional round bracket. One of the AFC matchups is already set, with the final one determined on Monday after the Steelers-Texans clash.

To give you a sense of the current playoff picture in the AFC, here’s how the bracket looks:

1. Denver Broncos (14-3) vs. TBD

2. New England Patriots (14-3) vs. 7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) vs. 6. Buffalo Bills (12-5)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) vs. 5. Houston Texans (12-5)

The Rams kicked off their playoff journey with a spirited comeback win over the Panthers. They took an early 14-0 lead but then saw Carolina narrow the gap. The Panthers even managed to snag a four-point lead with just under three minutes left, but the Rams weren’t ready to give up. Matthew Stafford led a decisive drive that ended with Colby Parkinson catching the winning touchdown with just 38 seconds on the clock.

The Bears, on the other hand, found themselves trailing the Packers 21-3 at halftime, looking like they might exit the playoffs early. After struggling into the third quarter without a touchdown, they managed two field goals which brought them within 12 points in the fourth. At 10:08 remaining, they eventually found the end zone. However, the Packers responded, extending their lead to 11 points with 6:36 left. In a familiar pattern for the Bears this season, Caleb Williams guided the team to two touchdown drives, finishing the game with a nail-biting 31-27 win.

For a better understanding of the current NFC playoff layout, here’s the bracket:

1st place Seattle Seahawks vs. 5th place Los Angeles Rams or 6th place San Francisco 49ers

2nd place Chicago Bears vs. 3rd place Philadelphia Eagles or 5th place Los Angeles Rams

Final Score: Chicago Bears 31 – Green Bay Packers 27

Matchup: Philadelphia Eagles vs. San Francisco 49ers

Final Score: Los Angeles Rams 34 – Carolina Panthers 31