The regular season is over. Honestly, the way the monday night football standings finally shook out was nothing short of a fever dream for anyone who actually watched the 2025-26 cycle. We just wrapped up a Wild Card Monday that saw the Houston Texans absolutely dismantle the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6, putting a violent exclamation point on what was a weird, messy, and high-stakes year for primetime football.
If you're checking the board right now, you're seeing the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks sitting pretty at the top. They’ve earned the rest. Everybody else? They're either playing for their lives or cleaning out lockers.
The Final AFC Standings After Monday Night
The AFC North literally came down to the final seconds of the regular season, with Pittsburgh sneaking in as the No. 4 seed after a 26-24 win over Baltimore. But that's where the magic ran out. When they stepped onto the field for the Monday night playoff finale, the monday night football standings didn't care about their grit. Houston, riding a nine-game winning streak, proved that momentum is a terrifying drug.
Here is how the AFC hierarchy looks as of January 14, 2026:
The Denver Broncos (14-3) are your kings of the hill. They locked up the No. 1 seed and the lone first-round bye. It’s wild to think Bo Nix is leading a top seed, but the defense has been a buzzsaw. New England (14-3) finished right behind them, essentially a coin flip for the top spot that Denver won via tiebreakers. Jacksonville (13-4) took the No. 3 slot after a dominant run, followed by the Steelers at No. 4.
The Wild Card spots went to Houston (12-5), Buffalo (12-5), and the Chargers (11-6).
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Think about that for a second. You have a 12-win Buffalo team playing as a 6-seed. That tells you everything you need to know about the depth of the AFC this year. One bad Monday night in October probably cost the Bills a home playoff game.
AFC Table Breakout
- Denver Broncos (14-3): Secured the bye.
- New England Patriots (14-3): Division winners, looking like a juggernaut.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4): The South is officially theirs.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7): North winners, but just got bounced by Houston.
- Houston Texans (12-5): The hottest team in football right now.
- Buffalo Bills (12-5): Dangerous as a road underdog.
- LA Chargers (11-6): Squeaked in but nursing some major injuries.
NFC Standings and the Monday Night Hangover
Over in the NFC, things got even weirder. Seattle basically "broke" the conference. By suffocating the 49ers in the final weeks, the Seahawks (14-3) ensured that the road to Super Bowl LX goes through the Pacific Northwest.
The Chicago Bears (11-6) are the surprise No. 2 seed. Caleb Williams has had his "rookie" moments, but you can't argue with 11 wins and a division title. They took a loss to Detroit in the finale, but thanks to the Eagles (11-6) stumbling against the Commanders, Chicago kept their spot.
The most controversial part of the monday night football standings has to be the Carolina Panthers. They are an 8-9 playoff team. Yeah, you read that right. They won the NFC South with a losing record because the Falcons and Saints simply couldn't get out of their own way.
NFC Power Structure
- Seattle Seahawks (14-3): Clinched the No. 1 seed and a week off.
- Chicago Bears (11-6): Won the North, hosting the Packers next.
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-6): Defending champs starting on a shaky note.
- Carolina Panthers (8-9): The "Cinderella" nobody expected (or maybe wanted).
- LA Rams (12-5): Clearly better than their seed suggests.
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5): Plagued by injuries but still terrifying.
- Green Bay Packers (9-7-1): That tie against Dallas back in September actually saved their season.
Why Monday Results Mattered So Much
Monday games aren't just about the spectacle; they were the primary "seeding shifters" this season. Look at the Week 16 matchup where the Rams lost to the Falcons on Monday night. At the time, it felt like a fluke. In the end? That single loss pushed the Rams into a road wild-card game instead of a home start.
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The monday night football standings also reflected a massive shift in how we view the "Elite." Kansas City is gone. They finished 6-11. The Chiefs’ dynasty didn’t just fade; it cratered. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid are watching the playoffs from the couch, which is a sentence I didn't think I'd be writing in 2026.
What to Watch Moving Forward
If you're tracking the movement of these teams, the Divisional Round is where the rubber meets the road. Seattle is waiting for the winner of the 49ers-Eagles clash. If the Niners win, we get a rematch of the Week 18 bloodbath.
In the AFC, Houston's blowout win on Monday night sends them into a collision course with the higher seeds. Most experts, including guys like Tom Blair and Eric Edholm, are pointing to the Texans as the "bracket busters." They don't turn the ball over. Woody Marks has emerged as a legitimate feature back. When you combine that with C.J. Stroud’s poise, you have a team that could legitimately win in Denver or New England.
Actionable Insights for the Divisional Round:
- Monitor Injury Reports: The 49ers are essentially playing with a skeleton crew in the secondary. If you're looking at the spread, check if their starters return before betting against Seattle.
- Home Field Advantage: Seattle and Denver have the most hostile environments in the league. The "one-score win" luck of the Broncos will be tested against a battle-tested Bills squad.
- The Rest Factor: Historically, the No. 1 seeds have a massive advantage, but the Texans played on Monday and have a short week. Watch for "leg fatigue" in the fourth quarter of their next game.
The road to Santa Clara is narrowing. We’ve seen the giants fall and the underdogs rise. The final monday night football standings told us a story of a league in transition, and honestly, the playoffs are better for it.
Next Steps for Your Playoff Tracking:
- Check the official NFL Divisional Round schedule for kickoff times this Saturday and Sunday.
- Verify the status of Bo Nix’s lingering ankle issue, as Denver’s No. 1 seed hinges entirely on his mobility.
- Review the head-to-head tiebreakers if you are still confused about why 12-win Houston is seeded below 10-win Pittsburgh.