Whos Left In The NFL: The Surprising Reality of the 2026 Playoff Bracket

Wait. Stop checking the old brackets. If you’re looking at who is actually still standing right now, things just got incredibly weird. We are officially in the thick of the 2026 Divisional Round, and by the time you finish your coffee, the list of whos left in the nfl might shrink again.

Honestly, nobody saw this version of the postseason coming.

The Saturday games just wrapped up, and they were a total "Tale of Two Cities" situation. In Denver, we saw an absolute heart-stopper that went into overtime. In Seattle? A complete and utter bloodbath. If you missed the scores, here is the current reality: The Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks have already punched their tickets to the Conference Championships.

But there’s a massive catch.

Denver won, but they might have lost their soul in the process. Bo Nix, the guy who basically carried that offense all year, is out. Broken ankle. It happened on the final series against the Buffalo Bills. So while Denver is technically "left" in the playoffs, they’re moving forward with Jarrett Stidham. Let that sink in for a second.

The Official List: Whos Left In The NFL Right Now

As of this morning, Sunday, January 18, 2026, there are exactly six teams still alive. By tonight, that number will be four.

Here is the breakdown of the survivors and the people currently fighting for their lives:

The Teams Already In The Final Four:

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• Seattle Seahawks (NFC): They didn't just win; they demolished the 49ers 41-6. Sam Darnold—yes, that Sam Darnold—is one game away from a Super Bowl.
• Denver Broncos (AFC): They took down the Bills 33-30 in an OT thriller. They have the home-field advantage for the AFC Championship, but no starting quarterback.

The Teams Playing Today (Sunday, Jan 18):

• Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud is heading into the freezer of Foxborough.
• New England Patriots: Drake Maye has the Pats looking like the dynasty days again.
• Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford is the "old man" left in a sea of young guns.
• Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams is trying to bring a trophy back to Soldier Field for the first time in forever.

Why the AFC Side Is Total Chaos

It’s hard to overstate how much the Bo Nix injury changes the math for whos left in the nfl.

Denver earned the #1 seed. They get to stay home. But playing a championship game with a backup quarterback is a nightmare scenario. Sean Payton is out here telling the media that Stidham is a capable starter, but we all know the vibe is different now.

On the other side of the AFC bracket, you have the Texans and the Patriots. This game kicks off at 3 p.m. ET today on ABC/ESPN.

The Texans are coming off a dominant 30-6 win over the Steelers in the Wild Card round. Their defense is playing like they’re possessed. They sacked Aaron Rodgers four times in that game (who was playing for the Steelers in a weird twist of fate). Meanwhile, the Patriots basically suffocated the Chargers, winning 16-3.

If New England wins today, they host the AFC Championship because of the seeding. If Houston wins, they have to travel to Denver. Either way, the winner of the Texans-Patriots game is probably going to be the betting favorite to make the Super Bowl, simply because Denver is so banged up.

The NFC Power Shift: Seattle Is For Real

If you want to know whos left in the nfl that actually looks like a juggernaut, it’s the Seahawks.

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Saturday night was a statement. Rashid Shaheed took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. Kenneth Walker III ran for three scores. The "Dark Side" defense, as they're calling it now, held Brock Purdy to 140 yards.

The 49ers were missing George Kittle and Fred Warner, and it showed. It was 7-0 after thirteen seconds. It was over by halftime.

Now, Seattle just waits. They get to sit on their couches tonight and watch the Rams and the Bears beat each other up. That game is the nightcap at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

The Bears are the #2 seed, but weirdly enough, they’re home underdogs today. Matthew Stafford and the Rams have this "we’ve been here before" energy that makes people nervous. Caleb Williams has been spectacular, but the playoffs are a different beast.

The Eliminated: Who Already Went Home?

Sometimes it helps to look at the "graveyard" to realize how hard it is to stay on the list of whos left in the nfl.

Wild Card weekend was a meat grinder. The Green Bay Packers almost pulled off the upset in Chicago but fell 31-27. The Philadelphia Eagles—last year’s darlings—got bounced by the 49ers 23-19.

The biggest shock? Probably the Jaguars. They were the #3 seed and lost at home to the Bills 27-24. Then the Bills went to Denver and lost in overtime. It’s a brutal cycle.

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Here’s a quick look at the teams that are officially done:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (Lost to Bills)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (Crushed by Texans)
3. Los Angeles Chargers (Shut down by Patriots)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (Lost to 49ers)
5. Carolina Panthers (Lost a shootout to the Rams)
6. Green Bay Packers (Lost to Bears)
7. Buffalo Bills (Lost in OT to Broncos)
8. San Francisco 49ers (Blown out by Seahawks)

What Happens Next?

The bracket is tightening. By tonight, we will have our two matchups for Championship Sunday (January 25).

If you are tracking whos left in the nfl for betting purposes or just to plan your watch party, keep an eye on the injury reports for the Rams and Bears today. Soldier Field is expecting some "weather," which usually favors the team that can run the ball and avoid the back-breaking turnover.

The Seahawks are the only team that looks truly healthy and dominant right now. Everyone else is nursing a major wound or facing a rookie quarterback transition.

Next Steps for the Divisional Round:

• Watch the Texans vs. Patriots at 3:00 PM ET today to see who gets to face the quarterback-less Broncos.
• Tune into Rams vs. Bears at 6:30 PM ET to find out who has to travel to the "Loud House" in Seattle next week.
• Check the injury status of Christian McCaffrey and Charles Cross; McCaffrey’s stinger looked bad, and Cross’s foot injury could be a problem for Seattle’s pass protection moving forward.

The road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is down to the final few. Pay attention, because by tomorrow morning, two more teams will be packing their lockers.