Walt
* – Wildcard berth
Seattle finishes ahead of San Francisco in playoff seeding because of record versus common opponents.
Buffalo finishes ahead of Cincinnati in playoff seeding because of conference record.
Los Angeles Chargers finish ahead of Jacksonville in playoff seeding because of record versus common opponents.
Denver finishes ahead of New England in playoff seeding because of the head-to-head matchup.
NFC East |
Record |
NFC North |
Record |
NFC South |
Record |
NFC West |
Record |
11-6 |
12-5 |
9-8 |
15-2 |
||||
9-8 |
11-6 |
8-9 |
13-4 |
||||
8-9 |
8-9 |
7-10 |
13-4 |
||||
8-9 |
6-11 |
4-13 |
2-15 |
AFC East |
Record |
AFC North |
Record |
AFC South |
Record |
AFC West |
Record |
13-4 |
13-4 |
12-5 |
12-5 |
||||
10-7 |
11-6 |
9-8 |
10-7 |
||||
6-11 |
5-12 |
5-12 |
9-8 |
||||
2-15 |
3-14 |
4-13 |
3-14 |
2026 NFL Regular Season Results
Home team in CAPS
These were used to determine my projected records above when I compiled my 2026 NFL Season Previews individually.
Week 1:
Wednesday, Sept. 9
SEAHAWKS 27, Patriots 17
Thursday, Sept. 10
Rams 27, 49ers 20
Sunday, Sept. 13
Buccaneers 27, BENGALS 26
CHARGERS 38, Cardinals 17
Ravens 26, COLTS 23
EAGLES 27, Redskins 13
Cowboys 31, GIANTS 24
JAGUARS 24, Browns 16
LIONS 38, Saints 31
Bears 27, PANTHERS 24
RAIDERS 23, Dolphins 16
STEELERS 23, Falcons 20
TEXANS 20, Bills 17
Jets 20, TITANS 16
VIKINGS 34, Packers 21
Monday, Sept. 14
CHIEFS 20, Broncos 17
Week 2:
Thursday, Sept. 17
BILLS 38, Lions 31
Sunday, Sept. 20
49ERS 38, Dolphins 31
Vikings 31, BEARS 27
Jaguars 34, BRONCOS 20
BUCCANEERS 23, Browns 17
Seahawks 38, CARDINALS 24
CHARGERS 34, Raiders 17
Colts 23, CHIEFS 20
Redskins 34, COWBOYS 31
Panthers 26, FALCONS 17
JETS 27, Packers 24
PATRIOTS 34, Steelers 17
RAVENS 27, Saints 23
TEXANS 24, Bengals 17
Eagles 37, TITANS 13
Monday, Sept. 21
RAMS 24, Giants 17
Week 3:
Thursday, Sept. 24
PACKERS 24, Falcons 17
Sunday, Sept. 27
Cowboys 34, Ravens 31
49ERS 36, Cardinals 23
BILLS 27, Chargers 24
Rams 31, BRONCOS 17
Panthers 17, BROWNS 13
Vikings 30, BUCCANEERS 24
Texans 17, COLTS 13
Chiefs 34, DOLPHINS 17
GIANTS 30, Titans 23
JAGUARS 24, Patriots 17
LIONS 34, Jets 23
Seahawks 31, REDSKINS 24
SAINTS 27, Raiders 20
Bengals 30, STEELERS 24
Monday, Sept. 28
Eagles 27, BEARS 24
Week 4:
Thursday, Oct. 1
BROWNS 20, Steelers 17
Sunday, Oct. 4
Redskins 26, Colts 22
Broncos 27, 49ERS 24
BEARS 28, Jets 17
BILLS 34, Patriots 27
BENGALS 27, Jaguars 24
BUCCANEERS 31, Packers 28
Rams 27, EAGLES 20
GIANTS 24, Cardinals 20
Lions 30, PANTHERS 17
Chiefs 27, RAIDERS 24
RAVENS 34, Titans 17
Chargers 23, SEAHAWKS 20
TEXANS 27, Cowboys 24
VIKINGS 38, Dolphins 17
Monday, Oct. 5
Falcons 27, SAINTS 26
Week 5:
Thursday, Oct. 8
COWBOYS 38, Buccaneers 34
Sunday, Oct. 11
Jaguars 23, Eagles 20
Lions 34, CARDINALS 23
CHARGERS 23, Broncos 20
Bengals 52, DOLPHINS 14
Ravens 34, FALCONS 17
JETS 20, Browns 17
Bears 38, PACKERS 31
PATRIOTS 31, Raiders 13
SAINTS 24, Vikings 22
49ers 23, SEAHAWKS 20
STEELERS 22, Colts 16
TITANS 19, Texans 17
Giants 36, REDSKINS 22
Monday, Oct. 12
RAMS 30, Bills 27
Week 6:
Thursday, Oct. 15
Seahawks 27, BRONCOS 24
Sunday, Oct. 18
Jaguars 26, Texans 17
Ravens 17, BROWNS 16
BUCCANEERS 27, Steelers 23
Chargers 27, CHIEFS 20
COLTS 29, Titans 22
Panthers 23, EAGLES 20
FALCONS 30, Bears 28
GIANTS 30, Saints 24
Cowboys 41, PACKERS 38
PATRIOTS 27, Jets 17
RAMS 34, Cardinals 24
Bills 38, RAIDERS 17
Monday, Oct. 19
49ERS 33, Redskins 20
Week 7:
Thursday, Oct. 22
BEARS 23, Patriots 19
Sunday, Oct. 25
Saints 30, Steelers 20
Bengals 31, RAVENS 27
Broncos 38, CARDINALS 17
49ers 30, FALCONS 24
JETS 23, Dolphins 16
LIONS 52, Packers 27
PANTHERS 24, Buccaneers 23
Rams 37, RAIDERS 23
SEAHAWKS 23, Chiefs 17
Giants 23, TEXANS 17
TITANS 20, Browns 18
VIKINGS 24, Colts 23
Monday, Oct. 26
EAGLES 31, Cowboys 24
Week 8:
Thursday, Oct. 29
PACKERS 28, Panthers 24
Sunday, Nov. 1
BENGALS 44, Titans 24
BILLS 38, Ravens 35
BRONCOS 23, Chiefs 20
Falcons 23, BUCCANEERS 22
Cardinals 34, COWBOYS 33
Patriots 30, DOLPHINS 13
JAGUARS 31, Colts 17
JETS 23, Raiders 22
LIONS 27, Vikings 20
RAMS 34, Chargers 24
REDSKINS 23, Eagles 20
STEELERS 19, Browns 17
Monday, Nov. 2
SEAHAWKS 38, Bears 34
Week 9:
Thursday, Nov. 5
RAVENS 26, Jaguars 19
Sunday, Nov. 8
Bengals 30, Falcons 27
49ERS 34, Raiders 23
BEARS 38, Buccaneers 31
CHARGERS 20, Texans 13
CHIEFS 38, Jets 17
COLTS 34, Cowboys 31
Lions 48, DOLPHINS 24
EAGLES 27, Giants 20
PANTHERS 17, Broncos 16
PATRIOTS 32, Packers 29
Rams 38, REDSKINS 21
SAINTS 20, Browns 13
SEAHAWKS 34, Cardinals 30
Monday, Nov. 9
Bills 30, VIKINGS 27
Week 10:
Thursday, Nov. 12
GIANTS 27, Redskins 24
Sunday, Nov. 15
Patriots 35, Lions 32
Steelers 30, BENGALS 27
BROWNS 16, Texans 15
Rams 41, CARDINALS 17
COLTS 26, Dolphins 23
COWBOYS 34, 49ers 31
Chiefs 26, FALCONS 17
Bills 28, JETS 27
PACKERS 24, Vikings 23
Seahawks 34, RAIDERS 17
SAINTS 26, Panthers 20
Jaguars 30, TITANS 24
Monday, Nov. 16
RAVENS 24, Chargers 17
Week 11:
Thursday, Nov. 19
TEXANS 23, Colts 19
Sunday, Nov. 22
49ers 24, Vikings 17
BEARS 31, Saints 24
BILLS 34, Dolphins 20
BRONCOS 27, Raiders 23
CHARGERS 31, Jets 17
CHIEFS 30, Cardinals 27
EAGLES 31, Steelers 23
COWBOYS 35, Titans 24
Jaguars 27, GIANTS 23
LIONS 34, Buccaneers 31
Ravens 29, PANTHERS 22
Monday, Nov. 23
Bengals 31, REDSKINS 28
Week 12:
Wednesday, Nov. 25
RAMS 27, Packers 13
Happy Thanksgiving!
COWBOYS 31, Eagles 28
Bears 34, LIONS 31
BILLS 27, Chiefs 17
Friday, Nov. 27
Broncos 23, STEELERS 20
Sunday, Nov. 29
Seahawks 33, 49ERS 27
BENGALS 36, Saints 24
BROWNS 17, Raiders 16
Redskins 38, CARDINALS 27
CHARGERS 20, Patriots 17
COLTS 32, Giants 29
DOLPHINS 23, Jets 20
JAGUARS 27, Titans 26
TEXANS 23, Ravens 20
Falcons 24, VIKINGS 23
Monday, Nov. 30
Panthers 31, BUCCANEERS 24
Week 13:
Thursday, Dec. 3
RAMS 38, Chiefs 31
Sunday, Dec. 6
BEARS 31, Jaguars 24
BRONCOS 38, Dolphins 17
Bengals 24, BROWNS 20
Chargers 31, BUCCANEERS 24
Eagles 26, CARDINALS 23
Lions 38, FALCONS 27
49ers 34, GIANTS 24
PATRIOTS 27, Bills 24
SAINTS 24, Packers 20
Texans 27, STEELERS 17
Redskins 30, TITANS 27
VIKINGS 24, Panthers 21
Monday, Dec. 7
SEAHAWKS 44, Cowboys 37
Week 14:
Thursday, Dec. 10
PATRIOTS 23, Vikings 17
Sunday, Dec. 13
49ERS 24, Rams 23
BENGALS 27, Chiefs 23
Falcons 24, BROWNS 17
Bears 44, DOLPHINS 24
EAGLES 34, Colts 21
Broncos 31, JETS 17
LIONS 52, Titans 27
PACKERS 38, Bills 31
PANTHERS 17, Saints 16
Chargers 26, RAIDERS 24
Buccaneers 27, RAVENS 24
REDSKINS 17, Texans 13
SEAHAWKS 27, Giants 24
Monday, Dec. 14
JAGUARS 34, Steelers 17
Week 15:
Thursday, Dec. 17
49ERS 31, Chargers 24
Saturday, Dec. 19
BILLS 37, Bears 30
EAGLES 23, Seahawks 20
Sunday, Dec. 20
Saints 30, BUCCANEERS 27
CARDINALS 23, Jets 22
GIANTS 23, Browns 17
Dolphins 34, PACKERS 31
Bengals 34, PANTHERS 27
Broncos 27, RAIDERS 24
RAMS 38, Cowboys 27
REDSKINS 41, Falcons 24
STEELERS 23, Ravens 20
TEXANS 16, Jaguars 13
TITANS 26, Colts 23
VIKINGS 28, Lions 27
Monday, Dec. 21
CHIEFS 38, Patriots 34
Week 16:
Thursday, Dec. 24
EAGLES 23, Texans 16
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Packers 34, BEARS 31
Bills 34, BRONCOS 27
Rams 30, SEAHAWKS 27
Sunday, Dec. 27
49ers 27, CHIEFS 23
Bengals 38, COLTS 24
COWBOYS 34, Jaguars 31
Chargers 44, DOLPHINS 13
Buccaneers 26, FALCONS 20
JETS 26, Patriots 23
RAVENS 27, Browns 23
Panthers 31, STEELERS 17
RAIDERS 24, Titans 20
SAINTS 30, Cardinals 24
Redskins 29, VIKINGS 27
Monday, Dec. 28
LIONS 41, Giants 27
Week 17:
Thursday, Dec. 31
Ravens 30, BENGALS 27
Saturday, Jan. 2
Sunday, Jan. 3
49ERS 27, Eagles 21
BEARS 34, Lions 24
Colts 17, BROWNS 16
Rams 26, BUCCANEERS 23
Raiders 30, CARDINALS 27
Chiefs 23, CHARGERS 20
Giants 31, COWBOYS 27
Bills 37, DOLPHINS 17
Saints 31, FALCONS 17
Vikings 22, JETS 16
Seahawks 26, PANTHERS 20
Broncos 24, PATRIOTS 23
JAGUARS 29, Redskins 27
TITANS 31, Steelers 28
Monday, Jan. 4
PACKERS 17, Texans 13
Week 18:
Sunday, Jan. 10
BENGALS 27, Browns 20
BILLS 33, Jets 16
Chargers 27, BRONCOS 23
49ers 38, CARDINALS 27
CHIEFS 31, Raiders 28
Jaguars 24, COLTS 23
Eagles 27, GIANTS 24
Lions 27, PACKERS 24
PANTHERS 27, Falcons 16
PATRIOTS 45, Dolphins 17
Seahawks 34, RAMS 31
RAVENS 38, Steelers 31
Cowboys 27, REDSKINS 17
Buccaneers 24, SAINTS 23
TEXANS 30, Titans 17
Bears 26, VIKINGS 20
2026 NFL Playoff Predictions – Wildcard Round
7. Chicago Bears (11-6) at 2. Detroit Lions (12-5)
This might be the best two-seven matchup in NFL history, given that both teams involved are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Both have dynamic offenses, and Ben Johnson’s presence could give Chicago a leg up in this battle. However, the ultimate difference could prove to be Chicago’s poor pass rush. Jared Goff will be kept clean all game, while Caleb Williams will see some pressure from Aidan Hutchinson.
Lions 27, Bears 24
6. San Francisco 49ers (13-4) at 3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
This is a rematch of last year’s wild card-round game. The Eagles entered the contest as the favorite, but ultimately lost to an injury-ravaged 49ers team. Most of the blame went on A.J. Brown, who dropped three passes in the defeat. Brown is no longer on the team, but then again, it’s unlikely that the 49ers will be so bogged down by injuries. San Francisco is the better team and will win this game as a result.
49ers 23, Eagles 19
5. Seattle Seahawks (13-4) at 4. New Orleans Saints (9-8)
This is another playoff rematch, but the original took place long ago, back when the Pete Carroll era initially began in Seattle. The Seahawks hosted the heavily favored Saints, but were able to triumph on the back of Marshawn Lynch and his legendary “Beast Quake” touchdown run. Sixteen years later, could there finally be a reversal? Perhaps it’ll be Travis Etienne whose run registers on the Richter scale, with the upstart Saints vanquishing the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Saints 41, Seahawks 36
7. New England Patriots (10-7) at 2. Cincinnati Bengals (13-4)
This is another great two-seven game, although the Patriots are probably the weakest of the four teams involved in these two contests. That may sound odd, given that the Patriots were recently in the Super Bowl, but their record last year was enhanced by a very easy schedule, and their playoff wins were a byproduct of opposing offenses being absolutely dreadful. That is not the case with the Bengals, who will be able to take advantage of New England’s defensive deficiencies.
Bengals 38, Patriots 27
6. Denver Broncos (10-7) at 3. Los Angeles Chargers (12-5)
Will Justin Herbert finally win a playoff game? This is the matchup for him to accomplish that feat, given that he’s owned the Broncos when he and his team have been mostly healthy. The Broncos’ strength, their pass rush, will be neutralized by the Chargers’ two elite tackles. Herbert won’t have a problem scoring, while Bo Nix won’t be able to keep up.
Chargers 31, Broncos 23
5. Baltimore Ravens (11-6) at 4. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-5)
The Ravens would be one of the top Super Bowl contenders if they didn’t have glaring issues with the interior of their offensive line. The Jaguars have talent on their defensive front, so they should be able to take advantage of this liability. Their athletic edge players, meanwhile, will be able to contain Lamar Jackson for the most part. Trevor Lawrence will advance to the second round this time.
Jaguars 26, Ravens 20
2026 NFL Playoff Predictions – Divisional Round
6. San Francisco 49ers (13-4) at 1. Los Angeles Rams (15-2)
The 49ers and Rams opened their seasons in Australia, and now will one go home following the third battle between these teams. The Rams have owned the 49ers of late, taking four of the previous five meetings, and the one loss was in overtime when Los Angeles looked unprepared to play. While the 49ers have one of the very few tackles who can neutralize Myles Garrett, their defense won’t be able to hold up against Matthew Stafford and company.
Rams 34, 49ers 24
4. New Orleans Saints (9-8) at 2. Detroit Lions (12-5)
When the Seahawks upset the Saints, they battled an NFC North team in the second round as double-digit underdogs. Many thought they’d have a chance against the Bears, but it was an ugly, lopsided affair. The Saints won’t stand much of a chance against this Detroit behemoth.
Lions 35, Saints 24
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-5) at 1. Buffalo Bills (13-4)
The Bills and Jaguars met in the opening round of the playoffs last year in what was a showdown between the top two teams in the AFC. The Bills prevailed at the very end in a thriller. The difference in this matchup is that these teams will be battling in Buffalo’s frigid environment. This is obviously not ideal for a team from Florida. The Bills should be able to vanquish the Jaguars again.
Bills 27, Jaguars 23
3. Los Angeles Chargers (12-5) at 2. Cincinnati Bengals (13-4)
Here’s another playoff matchup between a warm-weather team playing in the freezing cold. The Chargers are a great team with Super Bowl aspirations, but they better achieve home-field advantage, or they could get caught playing in Cincinnati or Buffalo. The Chargers would have a chance if Jesse Minter were still coaching their defense, but their new coordinator may not be able to figure out how to contain Joe Burrow and the rest of Cincinnati’s offense. And if this ends up being a reenactment of the Freezer Bowl, where the Bengals defeated the Chargers 27-7 in minus-55 weather, forget about it.
Bengals 34, Chargers 21
2026 NFL Playoff Predictions – Championship Sunday
2. Detroit Lions (12-5) at 1. Los Angeles Rams (15-2)
This is Jared Goff’s chance to get the ultimate revenge. His team discarded him in favor of Matthew Stafford, but he can now end the Rams’ chances of winning a Super Bowl before this Los Angeles team breaks up and goes with Ty Simpson in the post-Sean McVay era. As mentioned in the previous round, the 49ers have one of the few players who can handle Myles Garrett. The Lions have one as well with Penei Sewell. The Rams are the best team in the NFL, but they have their flaws. They had struggles in short yardage last year, and their special teams unit was an abomination. The Lions are better in both areas, so they could upset the Rams.
Lions 27, Rams 24
2. Cincinnati Bengals (13-4) at 1. Buffalo Bills (13-4)
This is yet another playoff rematch. The Bengals went into Buffalo a few years ago and dismantled the Bills. For whatever reason, Josh Allen hasn’t been able to get over the hump in the playoffs. Perhaps that will change this year, but of the two quarterbacks in this matchup, Joe Burrow has been way more clutch. Burrow happens to possess two terrific receivers who can take advantage of Buffalo’s secondary. It’s also unclear if the Bills will be able to stop the run after they were so poor against it last season.
Bengals 34, Bills 31
2026 NFL Playoff Predictions – Super Bowl LXI at Los Angeles
Detroit Lions (12-5) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (13-4)
It’s the Year of the Cat! The Lions and Bengals both failed to qualify for the playoffs last year, but there’s reason to believe that they’ll both have a good chance to make a deep run in this upcoming postseason. That’s what recent history suggests, anyway.
The two participants in the Super Bowl last year, the Patriots and Seahawks, both played against every team in the NFC South during the regular season. The two teams from the previous Super Bowl, the Eagles and Chiefs, both played against every team in the NFC South as well. It should come as no surprise that these teams had so much success, given that they were able to rack up easy wins and earn a high playoff seed as a result. Both the NFC North and the AFC North battle the NFC South this year. The Lions, Bears, Vikings, Packers, Bengals, Ravens, Steelers, and Browns (yeah, right) all qualify as potential Super Bowl participants, based on this criteria. And of those eight teams, the Bengals and Lions both arguably rate as being the best.
If this is the Year of the Cat, who then will prevail? Both are great teams and can certainly win, but there’s a major difference between the two quarterbacks. Both are extremely talented, former No. 1 picks. However, Jared Goff struggled in his only Super Bowl and even forgot his own snap count on one play. Burrow, conversely, was terrific in his sole Super Bowl, albeit in a loss. He’s been extremely clutch in the playoffs, and there’s no reason to think that will change.
Bengals 31, Lions 27
