The dust hasn't even settled from Wild Card Weekend, and honestly, the NFL landscape looks like a hurricane just blew through it. If you were looking for a predictable path to Santa Clara, you're out of luck. The defending champion Eagles are gone. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs didn't even make the dance this year. We are officially in the "anything can happen" era of the 2025-26 postseason, and everyone is asking the same question: who is going to play in the Super Bowl on February 8?
Right now, we have eight teams left. Eight teams with a pulse. Some of them, like the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, have been sitting at home with their feet up, watching the chaos unfold. Others, like the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans, just survived absolute dogfights to keep their seasons alive.
It’s a weird year. There’s no clear-cut "Death Star" team that everyone is terrified of. Instead, we have a bunch of hungry rosters, young quarterbacks playing like veterans, and a few old heads trying to squeeze out one last trophy.
The AFC Gauntlet: Can Anyone Stop Denver or the Pats?
The AFC is a mess, but in a fun way. You have the Denver Broncos sitting at the #1 seed. They went 14-3, which is basically a miracle given where that franchise was a couple of years ago. They’re rested. They’re at home. But their reward for that top seed is a date with the Buffalo Bills this Saturday, January 17.
Josh Allen just did "Josh Allen things" in a 27-24 win over the Jaguars. He’s playing like a man possessed. If you're betting on who is going to play in the Super Bowl, ignoring a hot Buffalo team is a massive mistake. The Bills are actually favored by 1.5 points heading into Denver, which tells you exactly what Vegas thinks of that "#1 seed" label.
Then you have the New England Patriots. Drake Maye just won his first career playoff game, a 16-3 defensive masterclass against the Chargers. It wasn't pretty. It was, however, vintage New England. They host the Houston Texans on Sunday, January 18.
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The Texans are scary. CJ Stroud and that defense just absolutely dismantled the Steelers 30-6. Houston’s defensive line, led by Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, looks like it could eat a brick wall. If they can rattle Maye early, the "Pats Dynasty 2.0" talk might get silenced real quick.
AFC Divisional Matchups
- Saturday, Jan 17: (6) Buffalo Bills at (1) Denver Broncos | 4:30 PM ET on CBS
- Sunday, Jan 18: (5) Houston Texans at (2) New England Patriots | 3:00 PM ET on ESPN/ABC
The NFC Chaos: Seattle’s Throne vs. The Comeback Kids
Over in the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks are the team to beat. They’re the +270 favorites to win it all right now. Why? Because Lumen Field in January is a nightmare for visitors, and the Seahawks clinched the #1 seed by beating the 49ers in Week 18.
But guess who’s coming back to Seattle this weekend? Those same 49ers. Brock Purdy and San Francisco just knocked out the Eagles in a 23-19 slugfest. It’s a bitter divisional rivalry. The Seahawks are favored by 7, but the 49ers have the "nothing to lose" energy that makes them dangerous.
The other side of the bracket features the Chicago Bears. Let’s talk about that for a second. The Bears were down 21-3 at halftime against the Packers. People were literally turning off their TVs. Then Caleb Williams exploded for 25 points in the fourth quarter. It was a 31-27 miracle.
The Bears haven't won a playoff game in 16 years until now, and they get to host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Matthew Stafford is still doing his thing, leading the Rams to a 34-31 win over Carolina. This game is basically going to be a shootout. If you like offense, this is your Super Bowl before the actual Super Bowl.
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NFC Divisional Matchups
- Saturday, Jan 17: (6) San Francisco 49ers at (1) Seattle Seahawks | 8:00 PM ET on FOX
- Sunday, Jan 18: (5) LA Rams at (2) Chicago Bears | 6:30 PM ET on NBC
The Road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara
Super Bowl LX is heading to Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on February 8, 2026. If the 49ers actually make it, they’d be playing a home game for the Lombardi Trophy. Imagine the ticket prices for that.
NBC is handling the broadcast, with Bad Bunny already confirmed for the halftime show. Charlie Puth is doing the anthem. It’s going to be a spectacle. But for the players, it’s about the two Sundays between now and then.
When people ask who is going to play in the Super Bowl, the smart money is currently looking at a Seahawks vs. Patriots or Seahawks vs. Bills matchup. Seattle has the easiest path because of that home-field advantage. In the AFC, it feels like a total toss-up between the Bills’ explosiveness and the Patriots’ disciplined defense.
Current Vegas Odds to Win Super Bowl LX
- Seattle Seahawks: +270
- Los Angeles Rams: +320
- New England Patriots: +600
- Buffalo Bills: +650
- Denver Broncos: +700
- Houston Texans: +850
- Chicago Bears: +1600
- San Francisco 49ers: +1900
Why the "Favorites" Might Be Fraudulent
Don't trust the seeds. Historically, the divisional round is where the home teams win about 70% of the time, but this season has been anything but historical.
The Broncos' 14-3 record looks great on paper, but they struggled against elite pass rushes down the stretch. Buffalo has exactly that. The Bears have momentum, but their defense is porous. Can Caleb Williams really outduel Matthew Stafford in a high-stakes playoff environment?
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The Texans are the "dark horse" everyone should be watching. They have no pressure. CJ Stroud plays with a level of calm that is honestly unnerving. If they get past New England, they could easily represent the AFC.
Planning for the Big Game
If you're actually planning to head to Santa Clara, start looking at flights now. Levi’s Stadium is about 40 miles south of San Francisco. Most fans stay in San Jose to be closer to the action. The "Super Bowl Experience" will be at the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco, so you'll be doing some driving regardless.
If you are following the bracket to see who is going to play in the Super Bowl, mark January 25 on your calendar. That is Championship Sunday.
- AFC Championship: 3:00 PM ET on CBS
- NFC Championship: 6:30 PM ET on FOX
The winners of those two games are your Super Bowl LX participants. No more guesses, no more "what-ifs."
To get the most out of the upcoming divisional weekend, keep an eye on the injury reports for the Seahawks’ secondary and the Bills’ offensive line. These are the "boring" details that actually decide who moves on. Watch the line movement on the Bears-Rams game too; if it swings toward LA, it means the "sharps" think Chicago's comeback was a fluke.
Keep your schedule clear for Saturday and Sunday. We are about to find out exactly who has the grit to make it to Santa Clara.