If you’ve been watching football lately, you know the vibe has shifted. The "West" isn't just a geographic tag anymore; it’s basically the power center of the entire NFL. Honestly, looking at the nfl west division standings right now feels like looking at a heavyweight boxing card where nobody wants to go down. We are currently sitting in the middle of January 2026, and the divisional round of the playoffs is literally happening today.
It's wild.
The Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos didn't just win their respective divisions; they locked up the No. 1 seeds in the NFC and AFC. That doesn't happen often. Usually, you have one powerhouse out West and maybe a scrappy wildcard team, but the 2025-2026 regular season turned into a total demolition derby where the Pacific and Mountain time zones just stopped losing.
The NFC West: A Three-Headed Monster
Let's be real: the NFC West was the best division in football this year. Period. People usually talk about the NFC North or the AFC North being "black and blue" divisions, but the West just put three teams into the divisional playoffs with double-digit wins.
Seattle finished on top at 14-3. Mike Macdonald has that defense playing like the "Legion of Boom" 2.0. They secured the top seed by beating San Francisco 13-3 in the final week of the season. That game was a total slugfest. It wasn't pretty, but it proved that Seattle's defensive front is probably the most terrifying unit left in the bracket.
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Current NFC West Standings (Final Regular Season):
- Seattle Seahawks: 14-3 (Division Winner, No. 1 Seed)
- Los Angeles Rams: 12-5 (Wild Card, No. 5 Seed)
- San Francisco 49ers: 12-5 (Wild Card, No. 6 Seed)
- Arizona Cardinals: 3-14 (Eliminated)
The Rams and 49ers both finishing 12-5 is kinda insane. The Rams actually had to go on the road for the Wild Card round and took down the Panthers in a 34-31 thriller. Meanwhile, the Niners—who have been plagued by injuries all year—somehow went into Philly and knocked off the Eagles 23-19.
Think about that.
Tonight, the 49ers are at Lumen Field to play the Seahawks again. It’s a rubber match. Seattle won the last one to take the division, but San Francisco won the first meeting of the year. This is what the nfl west division standings actually represent: a relentless cycle of three elite teams beating the living daylight out of each other until only one is left standing.
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The AFC West: A Changing of the Guard
Over in the AFC, the story is completely different but just as dramatic. For nearly a decade, we just assumed the Kansas City Chiefs would own the AFC West. That era feels like it’s officially over, or at least on a very serious hiatus. Patrick Mahomes dealt with a knee injury this year, and the Chiefs limped to a 6-11 finish.
The Denver Broncos, led by Sean Payton and a surging Bo Nix, took advantage of the power vacuum. They went 14-3. They actually started the season 1-2 and then rattled off an 11-game winning streak. You don't see that often in the modern NFL.
Current AFC West Standings (Final Regular Season):
- Denver Broncos: 14-3 (Division Winner, No. 1 Seed)
- Los Angeles Chargers: 11-6 (Wild Card - Eliminated)
- Kansas City Chiefs: 6-11 (Eliminated)
- Las Vegas Raiders: 3-14 (Eliminated)
The Chargers made the dance as a wildcard at 11-6, but they got handled by the Patriots 16-3 in the first round. Jim Harbaugh has them headed in the right direction, but they clearly weren't ready for the playoff atmosphere in Foxborough.
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So now, it’s all on Denver. They are hosting the Buffalo Bills today at Mile High. The Broncos' defense is ranked third in the league in points allowed, giving up only 18.3 per game. If Bo Nix can just keep the ball safe, Denver has a legitimate shot at Super Bowl LX, which, coincidentally, is being played at the 49ers' stadium in Santa Clara.
Why the West is Winning
A lot of analysts like to overcomplicate this, but it basically comes down to coaching and quarterback stability.
- Seattle: Sam Darnold found a second life under Mike Macdonald. He threw some picks (14 of them), but he also signed a $100 million deal because he finally looks like a franchise guy.
- Denver: Bo Nix led the league with seven game-winning drives. That’s poise you usually only see from veterans.
- Los Angeles: Sean McVay still has Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Having those two on the same field is basically a cheat code.
Looking Ahead: The Playoff Impact
Because of how the nfl west division standings shook out, the West has a massive home-field advantage through the rest of January. Seattle won't have to leave Washington unless they lose. Denver is playing in the thin air of Colorado.
The most fascinating part is the potential for an all-West Super Bowl. Can you imagine a Seahawks vs. Broncos rematch of Super Bowl 48? Or a Rams vs. Broncos showdown? The path is there. The "Best in the West" isn't just a slogan this year; it's a statistical reality.
If you're betting on the games today, watch the weather in Seattle. It's supposed to be a typical misty, loud night at Lumen Field. The 49ers are technically the underdogs as the No. 6 seed, but they’ve beaten the Seahawks once already this season.
What to do next:
If you want to track these games live, keep an eye on the injury reports for the Broncos-Bills game starting at 4:30 PM ET on CBS. If the Broncos' pass rush stays healthy, they are the favorites to reach the AFC Championship. For the night game, check if the Seahawks' secondary can hold up against the Niners' short passing game—that kickoff is at 8:15 PM ET on FOX.