The dust hasn't even settled from Wild Card Weekend and honestly, the NFL looks completely different than it did ten days ago. If you were holding a ticket for the Philadelphia Eagles to repeat as Super Bowl champs, I’m sorry. They’re gone. If you thought the Kansas City Chiefs were inevitable? They didn't even make the dance this year. It’s wild. We are officially in the Divisional Round as of today, January 17, 2026, and the bracket has been whittled down to eight teams.
The football standings for the playoffs are no longer about regular-season records or who had the best point differential in October. It’s about survival. Today, we’ve got a double-header that starts in the thin air of Denver and ends with a bloodbath in the Pacific Northwest.
The AFC Gauntlet: Bo Nix vs. The Superhero
The Denver Broncos are the top dogs. They finished 14-3, secured the No. 1 seed, and spent last week watching everyone else beat each other up from the comfort of their couches. But their "reward" for being the best in the AFC is a date with Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
Buffalo is the No. 6 seed, but don't let that number fool you. They just went into Jacksonville and snatched a 27-24 win away from the Jaguars. Josh Allen is playing like a man possessed. He leads the league in postseason touchdowns since he entered the NFL, and right now, he looks like the only person capable of crashing the party in Denver.
Bo Nix has been steady. Maybe even great. But this is the Divisional Round. It’s different. The Broncos and Bills kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET today on CBS. The winner gets a trip to the AFC Championship, likely against the New England Patriots or the Houston Texans. Speaking of Houston, C.J. Stroud and the Texans looked terrifying while dismantling the Steelers 30-6. They travel to Foxborough tomorrow, but for now, all eyes are on Mile High.
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NFC West Civil War in Seattle
If you like hard-hitting, "I actually hate you" football, the 8 p.m. ET game on Fox is for you. The San Francisco 49ers are heading to Seattle.
The Seahawks are the No. 1 seed in the NFC (14-3), and they’ve been dominant. Mike Macdonald has that defense playing like the "Legion of Boom" 2.0. They allowed 13 total points over their last two regular-season games. Think about that. That's barely two touchdowns in 120 minutes of professional football.
But the 49ers are the ultimate "bracket buster" right now. As the No. 6 seed, they just walked into Philadelphia and knocked out the defending champions 23-19. Brock Purdy isn't flashy, but he wins. This is a divisional rivalry where the teams already split their regular-season series. The Seahawks are favored, sure, but the Niners have this weird habit of playing their best when everyone counts them out.
The Rest of the Bracket: Sunday’s Chaos
Tomorrow isn't exactly a day off. We’ve got the Los Angeles Rams traveling to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears. The Bears are the story of the year in many ways. They were trailing Green Bay 21-3 at halftime in the Wild Card round. People were leaving the stadium. Then, Caleb Williams and that offense exploded for 25 points in the fourth quarter. They won 31-27.
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Now they have to deal with Matthew Stafford. The Rams are the No. 5 seed and just survived a 34-31 shootout against the Panthers. Vegas actually likes the Rams (+320) more than the Bears (+1600) to win the whole thing, which tells you everything you need to know about how much respect people have for Sean McVay in January.
Then you have the Patriots. They just suffocated the Chargers 16-3. It wasn't pretty. It was typical New England. They’ll host the Texans tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET.
Why the College Football Playoff is Lurking
It’s not just the pros. The football standings for the playoffs on the collegiate side are reaching a fever pitch too. On Monday, January 19, we have the National Championship. It’s No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 10 Miami.
Indiana is 15-0. They’ve been beating teams by 30 points in the playoffs. Miami is the lowest seed to ever make the final, having won three straight as an underdog. If you’re a football fan, this 72-hour stretch is basically your Christmas.
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Realities of the Current Standings
It’s easy to look at a bracket and see lines and seeds. But the reality of the football standings for the playoffs is more about health.
- The Seahawks are the healthiest team left, which is why they are +270 favorites.
- The Bills have a "run defense" problem, ranking near the bottom of the remaining teams in yards per carry allowed.
- The Texans have the hottest quarterback-receiver duo in Stroud and Nico Collins.
- The Bears are riding a wave of emotion that usually crashes or carries a team to the Super Bowl.
Actionable Insights for the Divisional Round
If you’re trying to make sense of where these standings go next, keep these three things in mind:
Watch the Home Field Advantage
Seattle and Denver are notoriously difficult places to play in January. The "12s" in Seattle and the altitude in Denver are real factors that don't show up on a stat sheet but absolutely wreck opposing communication.
The "Hot Hand" vs. The "Bye Week"
Historically, the No. 1 seeds (Broncos and Seahawks) have a huge advantage because of the rest. However, teams like the Bills and Texans have "game speed" rhythm right now. Watch the first quarter of the Denver/Buffalo game; if Denver looks sluggish, the upset is on.
Don't Ignore the Underdogs
Miami in the CFP and the 49ers in the NFL have proven that seeding is just a suggestion this year. Both teams are playing with "house money" and taking risks that higher seeds sometimes shy away from.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close eye on the injury reports for the Rams and Texans before Sunday's kickoff. If Matthew Stafford's thumb or C.J. Stroud's offensive line shows any weakness, the path to the Super Bowl in Santa Clara opens up significantly for the home favorites. Check the weather forecasts for Chicago as well; a frozen Soldier Field favors the Bears' ground game over the Rams' indoor-refined passing attack.