Which Teams Are in the 2026 NFL Playoffs: Full List, Seeds, and Bracket Breakdown

This guide breaks down every team in the 2026 NFL Playoffs, explains how each club qualified, and outlines what their seed means as the road to the Super Bowl begins.

With the regular season complete and Week 18 delivering major swings in the standings, the 2026 NFL Playoffs field is officially set. Fourteen teams have qualified, division races have been decided, and the postseason bracket is now locked in as the league shifts to win-or-go-home football.

How Many Teams Make the NFL Playoffs?

The NFL sends 14 teams to the postseason each year:

7 teams from the AFC
7 teams from the NFC

Each conference includes:

4 division winners
3 wild-card teams

Only the No. 1 seed in each conference earns a first-round bye.

AFC Playoff Teams (Seeds 1–7)

AFC No. 1 Seed (Bye Week)

AFC No. 1 Seed: Clinched best record in the conference
- Earns a first-round bye
- Guaranteed home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs

AFC Wild Card Round Teams

No. 2 Seed – Division winner
No. 3 Seed – Division winner
No. 4 Seed – Division winner
No. 5 Seed – Wild card
No. 6 Seed – Wild card
No. 7 Seed – Wild card

Seeds 2–7 will compete during Wild Card Weekend, with higher seeds hosting.

NFC Playoff Teams (Seeds 1–7)

NFC No. 1 Seed (Bye Week)

Seattle Seahawks
- Clinched the NFC’s top seed
- Earned the conference’s lone bye
- Home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs

NFC Wild Card Round Teams

No. 2 Seed – Division winner
No. 3 Seed – Division winner
No. 4 Seed – Division winner
No. 5 Seed – Wild card
No. 6 Seed – Wild card
No. 7 Seed – Green Bay Packers

The NFC field was finalized only after multiple Week 18 games with playoff implications, particularly in division races.

Division Titles That Shaped the Bracket

Several playoff seeds came down to the final weekend of the regular season:

AFC North:
- Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
- Winner claimed the division title and a home playoff game
NFC South:
- Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints
- Winner secured the division and avoided the wild card route

These late-deciding races directly impacted seeding, matchups, and travel paths in the playoffs.

What the Seeds Mean

Understanding playoff seeding is critical once the postseason begins:

No. 1 seed: Bye + home-field advantage
Seeds 2–4: Division winners hosting Wild Card games
Seeds 5–7: Wild card teams playing on the road
Single elimination: Lose once, season ends
Reseeding: Highest remaining seed faces the lowest remaining seed each round

Because there is only one bye per conference, finishing first in the regular season carries more value than ever.

What Happens Next?

The playoffs begin with Wild Card Weekend (January 10–12, 2026):

Five games across Saturday, Sunday, and Monday
No second chances
Immediate elimination for losing teams

The remaining eight teams will advance to the Divisional Round, followed by Conference Championship Sunday, and finally Super Bowl LX in early February.

Why This Playoff Field Is Compelling

The 2026 playoff bracket reflects:

Strong division champions
Battle-tested wild-card teams
Multiple contenders entering with momentum
High stakes created by limited byes and reseeding

For fans, this combination produces unpredictable early rounds and heavyweight matchups as the field narrows.

Final Takeaway

The 2026 NFL Playoffs feature 14 teams, one bye per conference, and no margin for error. With seeding battles decided late and division titles settled in Week 18, the bracket is set for a postseason defined by urgency and pressure.

As Wild Card Weekend approaches, every team’s path is clear — but only one will survive to lift the Lombardi Trophy.