The Race
Seven teams per conference make the playoffs: four division winners and three wild cards.
If the playoffs started today · 2026
AFC
- 1KC Chiefs5-1first-round bye
- 2BUF Bills5-1vs7CIN Bengals4-2
- 3CLE Browns5-2vs6PIT Steelers5-2
- 4JAX Jaguars4-2vs5DEN Broncos5-2
Division leaders: 1 West · 2 East · 3 North · 4 South. Seeds 5 to 7 are wild cards; the higher seed hosts.
Chasing (games behind Bengals, the 7 seed)
NE Patriots 4-3 · ½ back
BAL Ravens 4-3 · ½ back
LV Raiders 3-4 · 1½ back
NYJ Jets 2-5 · 2½ back
NFC
- 1MIN Vikings6-0first-round bye
- 2SF 49ers6-1vs7GB Packers5-3
- 3NYG Giants4-2-1vs6DET Lions4-2
- 4CAR Panthers3-4vs5CHI Bears5-2
Division leaders: 1 North · 2 West · 3 East · 4 South. Seeds 5 to 7 are wild cards; the higher seed hosts.
Chasing (games behind Packers, the 7 seed)
SEA Seahawks 4-3 · ½ back
ATL Falcons 3-4 · 1½ back
LA Rams 3-4 · 1½ back
DAL Cowboys 3-4 · 1½ back
Divisions
AFC East
| Team | W-L | Pct | GB | Div | Strk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BUF Bills | 5-1 | .833 | - | 0-1 | W2 |
| 2 | NE Patriots | 4-3 | .571 | 1.5 | 2-0 | L1 |
| 3 | NYJ Jets | 2-5 | .286 | 3.5 | 0-2 | L2 |
| 4 | MIA Dolphins | 1-5 | .167 | 4 | 1-0 | W1 |
AFC North
| Team | W-L | Pct | GB | Div | Strk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLE Browns | 5-2 | .714 | - | 2-0 | W2 |
| 2 | PIT Steelers | 5-2 | .714 | - | 1-1 | W3 |
| 3 | CIN Bengals | 4-2 | .667 | 0.5 | 1-1 | W2 |
| 4 | BAL Ravens | 4-3 | .571 | 1 | 0-2 | L2 |
AFC South
| Team | W-L | Pct | GB | Div | Strk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JAX Jaguars | 4-2 | .667 | - | 0-1 | L1 |
| 2 | IND Colts | 2-5 | .286 | 2.5 | 1-1 | L3 |
| 3 | HOU Texans | 2-5 | .286 | 2.5 | 2-1 | L1 |
| 4 | TEN Titans | 1-6 | .143 | 3.5 | 1-1 | L1 |
AFC West
| Team | W-L | Pct | GB | Div | Strk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KC Chiefs | 5-1 | .833 | - | 3-0 | L1 |
| 2 | DEN Broncos | 5-2 | .714 | 0.5 | 1-1 | W3 |
| 3 | LV Raiders | 3-4 | .429 | 2.5 | 1-1 | L4 |
| 4 | LAC Chargers | 0-6 | .000 | 5 | 0-3 | L6 |
NFC East
| Team | W-L | Pct | GB | Div | Strk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYG Giants | 4-2-1 | .643 | - | 1-0-1 | W1 |
| 2 | DAL Cowboys | 3-4 | .429 | 1.5 | 2-1 | W1 |
| 3 | PHI Eagles | 2-5 | .286 | 2.5 | 1-1 | L5 |
| 4 | WAS Commanders | 1-4-1 | .250 | 2.5 | 0-2-1 | L1 |
NFC North
| Team | W-L | Pct | GB | Div | Strk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MIN Vikings | 6-0 | 1.000 | - | 2-0 | W6 |
| 2 | CHI Bears | 5-2 | .714 | 1.5 | 0-2 | W2 |
| 3 | DET Lions | 4-2 | .667 | 2 | 1-0 | W2 |
| 4 | GB Packers | 5-3 | .625 | 2 | 1-2 | W1 |
NFC South
| Team | W-L | Pct | GB | Div | Strk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CAR Panthers | 3-4 | .429 | - | 1-1 | L2 |
| 2 | ATL Falcons | 3-4 | .429 | - | 1-1 | W1 |
| 3 | TB Buccaneers | 2-5 | .286 | 1 | 1-0 | W1 |
| 4 | NO Saints | 2-5 | .286 | 1 | 0-1 | L1 |
NFC West
| Team | W-L | Pct | GB | Div | Strk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SF 49ers | 6-1 | .857 | - | 3-0 | L1 |
| 2 | SEA Seahawks | 4-3 | .571 | 2 | 1-1 | W1 |
| 3 | LA Rams | 3-4 | .429 | 3 | 0-2 | W1 |
| 4 | ARI Cardinals | 2-5 | .286 | 4 | 1-2 | L1 |
Standings from ESPN, checked several times a day (last ). Seeds follow each league's tiebreakers as ESPN applies them. This week's games