2025-26 NFL Playoffs: Schedule, Scores, and Seeding Format
The 2025-26 NFL Playoffs are set to showcase intense matchups as teams vie for a shot at the Super Bowl. Fourteen teams, seven from each conference, entered the postseason with hopes of securing their place in the championship game.
NFL Playoff Format
The playoffs operate on a single-elimination basis. The structure is as follows:
- Four division champions from each conference earn playoff spots and are seeded No. 1 to No. 4 based on their seasonal records.
- Three additional teams from each conference, known as wild cards, qualify with the best records and are seeded No. 5 to No. 7.
It’s important to note that even if a wild-card team has a better record than a division winner, they will be assigned a lower seed. The top seed in each conference enjoys a first-round bye and hosts all subsequent playoff games.
Playoff Structure and Schedule
The playoff bracket does not reseed between rounds. The matchups in the wild-card round are organized as follows:
- No. 2 vs. No. 7
- No. 3 vs. No. 6
- No. 4 vs. No. 5
Higher seeds host the lower seeds, and the winners progress to the divisional round. The conference championships and the Super Bowl then follow, with Super Bowl 60 scheduled at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Upcoming NFL Playoff Dates
- Wild-card Round: January 10-12
- Divisional Round: January 17-18
- Conference Championships: January 25
- Super Bowl 60: February 8, at Levi’s Stadium
Current Playoff Teams
The following teams are competing in the 2025-26 NFL Playoffs:
AFC Teams
- Denver Broncos: 14-3
- New England Patriots: 14-3
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 13-4
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-7
- Houston Texans: 12-5
- Buffalo Bills: 12-5
- Los Angeles Chargers: 11-6
NFC Teams
- Seattle Seahawks: 14-3
- Chicago Bears: 11-6
- Philadelphia Eagles: 11-6
- Carolina Panthers: 8-9
- Los Angeles Rams: 12-5
- San Francisco 49ers: 12-5
- Green Bay Packers: 9-7-1
As the playoffs progress, the competition intensifies, setting the stage for thrilling performances and unforgettable moments leading up to Super Bowl 60. For more updates and detailed coverage, stay tuned to El-Balad.
