The final week (Week 18) of the 2025-2026 NFL season delivered one of the most dramatic conclusions in recent memory. Key moments included the Seattle Seahawks defeating the San Francisco 49ers to claim the NFC West title and secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC. In the AFC, the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled off a thrilling 26-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football, winning the AFC North crown and eliminating their rivals in the process. The biggest shock came with the Kansas City Chiefs — the defending champions — missing the playoffs entirely for the first time in years, underlining the incredible parity and unpredictability of this season.

Here are the 14 teams that qualified for the playoffs, listed by conference and final seeding:

AFC Denver Broncos (14-3) – first-round bye 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 Seattle Seahawks (14-3) – first-round bye 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)

These seeds were determined by regular-season records and standard tiebreakers, such as strength of schedule. Wild Card Weekend matchups are now set, kicking off on Saturday, January 10, 2026:

AFC New England Patriots (2) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (7) Jacksonville Jaguars (3) vs. Buffalo Bills (6) Pittsburgh Steelers (4) vs. Houston Texans (5)

NFC Chicago Bears (2) vs. Green Bay Packers (7) – a classic division rivalry Philadelphia Eagles (3) vs. San Francisco 49ers (6) Carolina Panthers (4) vs. Los Angeles Rams (5)

The Broncos and Seahawks receive byes and advance directly to the Divisional Round.

Compared to the 2024-2025 season, six new teams have entered the playoff field this year — a clear sign of the league’s constant turnover. The newcomers or returnees are the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC, and the Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers in the NFC. Meanwhile, several familiar names from last year’s postseason — including the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, and Washington Commanders — did not qualify this time. With only eight repeat teams overall, this season highlights how injuries, rebuilds, and fierce competition can reshape the landscape.

The absence of both the Baltimore Ravens and the Kansas City Chiefs stands out as a historic shift. The Chiefs had been a postseason staple throughout Patrick Mahomes’ era, making their exit especially notable. This opens the door for underdog stories, such as the Carolina Panthers advancing with a losing record (8-9) or the Jaguars returning strongly after a rebuild. The league’s balance is evident: the AFC, in particular, saw even greater change among its playoff qualifiers.

With the regular season complete, the 2026 NFL Draft order for non-playoff teams is locked in. The Las Vegas Raiders secured the No. 1 overall pick after finishing with one of the league’s worst records (3-14), winning the tiebreaker (strength of schedule) over other teams at the same mark. This top selection gives Las Vegas a prime opportunity to draft a high-impact player — most likely a quarterback or elite edge rusher — when the draft takes place in April 2026.

The 2025-2026 NFL season has been full of surprises, rising contenders, and fallen giants. Now the real drama begins: the playoffs promise intense matchups, renewed rivalries, and plenty of potential upsets on the road to Super Bowl LX! 🏈