If you're asking your phone to show me the standings for the nfl, you probably aren't just looking for a bunch of numbers. You’re trying to figure out who is actually playing this weekend and who already packed their bags for Cancun. It is mid-January 2026, and honestly, the regular season feels like a lifetime ago. We are officially in the "meat and potatoes" of the postseason—the Divisional Round.
The 2025-26 regular season wrapped up on January 4, and after a chaotic Wild Card weekend, the field has been cut from fourteen teams down to eight. If you missed the opening round, basically everyone with a home-field advantage (except for the Eagles and Jaguars) managed to survive, though a few of them barely escaped.
The AFC Landscape: Can Anyone Stop the Mile High Momentum?
The AFC standings finished in a dead heat at the top. Both the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots ended the year with 14-3 records. Denver took the top seed, giving rookie-turned-star Bo Nix a week off to rest. Meanwhile, the Patriots, led by Drake Maye, had to work for it. They just dismantled the Chargers 16-3 in a game that was about as exciting as watching paint dry, but a win is a win.
Here is how the AFC side of the bracket looks heading into the Divisional matchups:
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The Denver Broncos (1) are sitting pretty at 14-3. They host the Buffalo Bills (6) on Saturday afternoon. The Bills are the "scary" team right now. They finished 12-5 and just went into Jacksonville to knock off the Jaguars 27-24. Josh Allen is playing like a man possessed, and that Denver defense, while elite, hasn't seen a dual-threat like him in weeks.
On the other side, the New England Patriots (2) are hosting the Houston Texans (5) on Sunday. Houston is a weird case. They also finished 12-5 but had to play in the Wild Card round, where they absolutely embarrassed the Steelers 30-6. C.J. Stroud is no longer a "young" quarterback; he’s a surgeon. New England’s defense only gave up 3 points last week, but the Texans have way more weapons than the Chargers did.
The NFC Standings: Chaos in the West
The NFC was dominated by the West. It’s kinda ridiculous when you look at the final records. The Seattle Seahawks secured the No. 1 seed with a 14-3 record, but the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers both finished 12-5. Because of tiebreakers and divisional seeding, the Rams were actually the 5th seed despite having a better record than the 4th-seeded Panthers (who won the NFC South at 8-9).
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The 49ers just pulled off the gutsiest win of the playoffs so far, traveling to Philly and taking down the defending champion Eagles 23-19. Brock Purdy didn't put up massive stats, but he didn't turn the ball over, which is basically the only rule in January.
In the other NFC Wild Card game, the Chicago Bears (2) survived a scare from the Packers, winning 31-27. Caleb Williams had some "rookie" moments even in his second year, but he made the plays when they mattered. The Los Angeles Rams (5) also took care of business, ending the Carolina Panthers' Cinderella story with a 34-31 victory.
Upcoming NFC Divisional Games
- San Francisco 49ers (6) at Seattle Seahawks (1): This is the third time these rivals are meeting this year. Seattle took the most recent game in Week 18 to clinch the top seed. Mike Macdonald has that defense humming, but Kyle Shanahan with a healthy roster is a nightmare to gameplan against.
- Los Angeles Rams (5) at Chicago Bears (2): This one is in Chicago, and it is going to be cold. Matthew Stafford has the experience edge, but the Bears’ defense has been top-five since November.
What the Standings Actually Tell Us About the Super Bowl
When you look at the win-loss columns, it’s easy to think the 14-win teams are locks. But the NFL hasn't worked like that in years. The Seattle Seahawks are currently the favorites at +280 to win Super Bowl LX, mostly because they have home-field advantage through the finish line.
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The Denver Broncos are in a similar spot in the AFC, but there is a lot of skepticism around Bo Nix's ability to win a shootout if Josh Allen or Drake Maye gets hot. Statistically, the Rams are actually the most "complete" team according to DVOA, but playing on the road in Chicago and then potentially Seattle is a brutal path.
Key Takeaways for the Divisional Round
If you are following the bracket, keep these specific trends in mind. Home teams won three out of four games in the Wild Card round. The only "upset" by seeding was the 49ers over the Eagles, but most experts actually favored the Niners in that spot anyway.
- Watch the Injuries: New England's offensive line looked shaky late in the Chargers game. If they can’t protect Maye against the Texans’ pass rush, the No. 2 seed is in trouble.
- The Bye Week Factor: Seattle and Denver haven't played in two weeks. Sometimes that rest is great; sometimes teams come out flat and get punched in the mouth by a team like the Bills who already has their "playoff legs."
- The Weather: It’s January. Chicago and Foxborough are going to be miserable. Teams like the Rams and Texans, who play in domes or warm weather, have to prove they can handle the elements.
The road to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX is getting narrow. By Monday morning, we will be down to just four teams.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Injury Reports: Look specifically at the status of Christian McCaffrey (49ers) and the Broncos' secondary before Saturday's kickoff.
- Verify Kickoff Times: Saturday's double-header starts at 4:30 p.m. ET with Bills/Broncos, followed by 49ers/Seahawks at 8 p.m. ET.
- Monitor the Lines: If you're looking at the betting side, the Seahawks opened as 3.5-point favorites over the 49ers, which is a very slim margin for a No. 1 seed at home.