Give Me The NFL Football Standings: What Really Happened This Season

The regular season is finally in the books, and honestly, if you predicted this bracket back in August, you’re either a liar or a time traveler. We’ve seen established dynasties crumble—looking at you, Kansas City—and some serious "wait, they're actually good?" stories from teams like the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos.

Forget the noise for a second. If you're shouting, give me the nfl football standings so I can see who is actually playing this weekend, you've come to the right place. We just wrapped up a Wild Card weekend that was, frankly, a bit of a bloodbath for the home teams.

The AFC Landscape: Denver’s Resurgence and the Patriots' New Era

The AFC ended the regular season with a tie at the very top. Both the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots finished with identical 14-3 records. Because of the tiebreaker rules that make everyone's head spin, Denver secured the No. 1 seed. They’ve been sitting at home eating snacks while the rest of the conference beat each other up.

Final AFC Regular Season Standings (The Heavy Hitters)

1. Denver Broncos (14-3) - Clinched AFC West & No. 1 Seed
2. New England Patriots (14-3) - Clinched AFC East
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) - Clinched AFC South
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) - Clinched AFC North
5. Houston Texans (12-5) - Wild Card
6. Buffalo Bills (12-5) - Wild Card
7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) - Wild Card

It’s wild to see the Kansas City Chiefs at 6-11. Basically, the AFC West flipped upside down. While Patrick Mahomes struggled with a lack of consistent weapons, Bo Nix and the Broncos defense turned Empower Field at Mile High into a house of horrors for visiting teams.

What Happened in the Wild Card Round?

The "Wild Card" name lived up to the hype. The Houston Texans went into Pittsburgh and absolutely dismantled the Steelers 30-6. C.J. Stroud looked like a ten-year vet, while the Steelers' offense looked like it was stuck in 1994.

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Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills pulled off a stunner in Jacksonville. They edged out the Jaguars 27-24 in a game that came down to the final possession. Josh Allen did Josh Allen things—running over linebackers and throwing darts. The Patriots handled their business at home against the Chargers, winning 16-3 in a defensive masterclass.

The NFC Situation: Seattle Rules the West

The NFC was a bit more top-heavy. The Seattle Seahawks finished 14-3, largely thanks to a defense that led the league in almost every meaningful category. They’re the team nobody wants to play right now.

Final NFC Regular Season Standings

1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3) - Clinched NFC West & No. 1 Seed
2. Chicago Bears (11-6) - Clinched NFC North
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) - Clinched NFC East
4. Carolina Panthers (8-9) - Clinched NFC South
5. Los Angeles Rams (12-5) - Wild Card
6. San Francisco 49ers (12-5) - Wild Card
7. Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) - Wild Card

Yes, you read that right. The Carolina Panthers won the NFC South with a losing record. It’s the kind of thing that makes people want to change the playoff rules, but hey, a win is a win. They hosted a playoff game they probably shouldn't have and, predictably, lost a nail-biter to the Los Angeles Rams (34-31).

NFC Wild Card Results

The San Francisco 49ers proved why they’re the most dangerous No. 6 seed in history by going into Philly and knocking off the Eagles 23-19. It was a physical, ugly game, just the way Kyle Shanahan likes it. Also, the Chicago Bears barely survived a late surge from the Packers, winning 31-27 at a freezing Soldier Field.

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Why the Standings Look This Way

If you’re wondering why the records seem a bit different than years past, it’s the parity. The middle of the pack is gone. You're either an elite contender or you're looking at top-ten draft picks.

Take the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders, both finishing 3-14. They were out of it by November. On the flip side, the gap between the No. 2 and No. 6 seeds in both conferences was almost non-existent. One fumble or one missed field goal in Week 14 is the only reason the 49ers were traveling to Philadelphia instead of hosting a game.

Who is Still Standing?

As we head into the Divisional Round, the field has been trimmed to the "Elite Eight." Here is how the matchups look for this coming weekend:

AFC Matchups

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• Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (Saturday, Jan 17)
• Houston Texans at New England Patriots (Sunday, Jan 18)

NFC Matchups

• San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (Saturday, Jan 17)
• Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (Sunday, Jan 18)

The Seahawks vs. 49ers game is the one everyone is circling. They’ve already played twice this year, and while Seattle won the division, these teams genuinely seem to hate each other. Expect a lot of yellow flags and a lot of trash talk.

Actionable Insights for the Divisional Round

If you’re looking to make sense of these standings for your playoff pool or just to sound smart at the bar, keep these three things in mind:

1. Home field matters more in Denver and Seattle. The altitude in Colorado and the noise in Washington are real factors. Don't underestimate the 12th man or the thin air when the 4th quarter rolls around.
2. The "Hot Team" Theory. The Bills and Texans are playing better football right now than they were in October. Sometimes a 12-5 team that won four straight to end the year is more dangerous than a 14-3 team that's been coasting.
3. Watch the injury reports for the No. 1 seeds. The Broncos and Seahawks have had two weeks to get healthy. If their star pass rushers are back at 100%, it’s going to be a long day for Josh Allen and Brock Purdy.

Check the kickoff times because the Saturday triple-headers are gone, and we're into the serious business now. The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is getting very short.

To get ready for the weekend, make sure to double-check the weather forecasts for Denver and Chicago, as sub-zero temperatures are expected to play a massive role in the ground game and kicking accuracy. Focus on teams with top-10 rushing defenses, as these divisional matchups historically favor the sturdier front sevens when the weather turns. Be sure to lock in your viewing plans early, as the Sunday night window in Chicago is already trending toward record-breaking viewership numbers.