The playoffs are being entered by the Bears as a true Super Bowl contender, having backed up their remarkable 2025 season with an even more impressive 2026. The 14-team playoff bracket would appear as follows if the eight divisions follow the projected standings outlined above.
Bracket for the NFL Playoffs
While the Steelers were perennial contenders under Mike Tomlin (and Mike McCarthy has a glowing record when his quarterback stays healthy), this is a non-zero possibility. The Baltimore Ravens rally to reclaim the AFC North title, but the standout result is the Pittsburgh Steelers finishing at the bottom of the table with only five wins. The similarly stacked NFC North also hockey betting tips promises to be an intriguing battle for dominance — as just 0.2 wins separate the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Detroit Lions. We also get data on how often that team earns which seed and the number of simulations in which they are selecting at different points in the 2027 NFL Draft. Taken from PFSN’s Football Playoff Meter — the FPM simulates the season 100,000 times and provides average win-loss records. The 2026 NFL schedule release was the final piece of the puzzle towards projecting the upcoming season.
High point: Weeks 1-5.
- A strong start would do wonders for this franchise.
- The Buffalo Bills get back on top of their division, with the Patriots winning six fewer games in this simulation than they did in 2025.
- Aaron Rodgers has yet to commit to the team for 2026 — and even if he does, the Steelers’ schedule is not pretty.
- The model then analyzes every matchup of the regular season and gives each team a predicted win percentage across its games.
- In a tight AFC South battle, the Tennessee Titans narrowly miss out on a playoff spot with eight wins, while the Indianapolis Colts fall short for the sixth straight year.
Although the conflict between AI and humans has not yet reached T2 levels, it is evident that computers are gaining a lead. Whether you view quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams positively or negatively is debated on “GMFB. PFSN’s tool for predicting the 2026 NFL Season and Playoffs enables you to explore various weekly scenarios and observe how each scenario alters the NFL playoff landscape.
Still — there is a chance for this team to get hot under Schottenheimer, a former wunderkind who got plenty of seasoning before finally taking his first turn at a head-coaching gig. The Cowboys close the season with games against divisional foes, the Commanders and Giants. If the Green Bay Packers were to be eliminated in the Wild Card round, the Jets could potentially end up with three top-20 picks in the 2027 draft.
Oh — my gosh — could you imagine if Dan Campbell and the Lions are the only thing standing in the way of the Bears claiming a No. 2 seed in the playoffs? That’s not to say the team can’t get better this season. The Commanders embarrassed the top-seeded Lions in the playoffs last year; it was pretty bad for the boys in Honolulu Blue. The Eagles are going back to the playoffs — and perhaps all the way back to the Super Bowl. Adding Azeez Ojulari was a pretty nice move, and I like what this team did in the draft, continuing to stock great players.
Peak moment: Week 1 against the Giants.
Each of us has independently analyzed the complete schedule, team by team and week by week, forecasting the winners for opening weekend, Thanksgiving Day, every season finale, and all matches in between. Six teams with 11 or more victories make up a competitive NFC playoff bracket, while Bijan Robinson and Drake London make their debut in the NFL postseason. Following the three teams that achieved eight wins in 2025, the NFC South standings appear clearer this time. The leading teams in the NFC are surrounded by significantly more optimism (with seven expected to achieve at least 9.5 victories), unlike just three in the AFC. It’s crucial to acknowledge that projected ties are included in the regular-season simulations; thus, the expected win-loss records for all teams may not total precisely 17 games. I believed the Cardinals’ offense would be steadier this season (which is why I was taken aback when I predicted them to lose five out of their last seven games), similar to last year.
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, each NFC team has a potential first-time Pro Bowler; however, I must treat McCarthy as a rookie, which necessitates considering potential challenges that might limit his team’s immediate potential.
Peak moments: Weeks 4 and 5.
I found this quite challenging since the game will occur in December when the Packers typically perform at their best and will be held in Green Bay. I really struggled with this decision, but I am leaning toward Washington. Jayden Daniels achieved one of the finest rookie seasons for an NFL quarterback since Cam Newton. Starting with games against the Commanders (Cowboys), and Chiefs presents a challenging beginning.
