If you’re looking for a simple answer to who is the number 1 team in the NFL, the 14-3 Seattle Seahawks have essentially ended that debate for most people. They didn't just stumble into the top spot; they demolished the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 in the Divisional Round yesterday. It was brutal.
But football is never just about the record on paper, is it?
We’ve got a weird situation in 2026. The Denver Broncos technically hold the number 1 seed in the AFC with an identical 14-3 record, but they just lost their starting quarterback, Bo Nix, to a broken ankle during an overtime nail-biter against Buffalo. So, are they still the "best"? Probably not.
The Seahawks are the undisputed kings (for now)
Right now, Seattle is playing a brand of football that feels like a throwback to the "Legion of Boom" days, but with a modern twist. Mike Macdonald has that defense playing out of its mind. They just held a high-powered Niners offense to two field goals. Total. In a playoff game.
Genuinely, it’s hard to find a hole in this roster. They finished the regular season with a +191 point differential. That’s not just winning; that’s bullying people.
Why Seattle keeps winning
It isn't just one guy. It's the fact that they can beat you three different ways:
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- The Ground Game: They utilized a physical rushing attack in Week 18 to tilt the field.
- Defensive Suffocation: They held San Francisco to 173 total yards in the season finale.
- The Home Field: Lumen Field is back to being a nightmare for visitors, as we saw on Saturday.
What about the AFC?
Honestly, the AFC is a mess, and I mean that in the most entertaining way possible. For months, everyone was looking at the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos as the "co-favorites."
New England is sitting at 14-3 and just took care of the Chargers in the Wild Card round. They’re playing the Houston Texans today. If Drake Maye plays like he did in the second half of the season, the Patriots have a real claim to that number 1 spot. They actually went 8-0 on the road this year. That’s absurd. Think about how hard it is to go undefeated away from home in this league.
Then you have Denver. They have the top seed, they have the home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but the Bo Nix injury changes everything. Jarrett Stidham is the guy now. Can you really call a team led by a backup the "number 1 team" when they're about to face a buzzsaw in the Conference Championship? Most analysts at FOX Sports and NFL.com have already bumped them down to 3rd or 4th in the power rankings because of the injury.
The "Real" Number 1 vs. the Statistical Number 1
If you ask a betting shark in Vegas, they’ll tell you the Seahawks are the favorites to win Super Bowl LX. The odds moved to +135 after the Saturday games.
But if you value "momentum," keep an eye on the Houston Texans. They entered the playoffs on a massive winning streak—nine games, to be exact. They just crushed the Steelers 30-6. While they are only the number 5 seed because of how the divisions shook out, many experts think they are playing the most complete football in the AFC right now.
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A quick look at the top contenders as of January 18, 2026:
Seattle Seahawks (14-3): The current heavyweight. They have the best defense in the league and a balanced offense. They are hosting the NFC Championship next week against either the Rams or the Bears.
New England Patriots (14-3): The road warriors. Drake Maye has turned into a superstar, and their defense, led by interim coordinator Zak Kuhr, is playing way above its pay grade.
Houston Texans (12-5): The "hottest" team. Don't let the record fool you. They haven't lost a game since mid-November. They are the definition of a "trap" team for the higher seeds.
Denver Broncos (14-3): The wounded leader. They have the 1st seed but the lowest confidence level of the top teams due to the quarterback situation.
The Super Bowl LIX hangover
You might be wondering what happened to the Philadelphia Eagles, who won the Super Bowl last year. They’re still good, but they fell to the 49ers in the Wild Card round. It just goes to show how fast the "number 1" title can vanish.
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One week you're the defending champ, and the next you're watching the Divisional Round from your couch.
Verdict: Who takes the crown?
If we are talking about who is the number 1 team in the NFL at this exact second—January 18, 2026—it is the Seattle Seahawks. They have the health, the home field, and the most dominant recent performance.
However, today’s games between the Texans/Patriots and Rams/Bears could shift that narrative instantly. If the Patriots win by 30 points today, the conversation changes. That’s the beauty of the playoffs.
To stay ahead of the curve, you should be tracking the point spreads for the Conference Championships which will be released tonight. If the Seahawks open as more than a 6-point favorite against their next opponent, it’s a clear signal from the professional bettors that the gap between them and the rest of the field is widening. Keep an eye on the injury report for the Patriots today as well; any hit to their offensive line could derail their "road warrior" status heading into the AFC title game.