The NFL playoff picture for 2026 is becoming clearer after an exciting Wild Card Weekend. Sunday's games wrapped up the initial round, and now the divisional round matchups are essentially locked in place. Fans already know which teams will face off, the dates for the games, and the general time windows. However, the league is still holding back on announcing the precise kickoff times and television assignments. This information will only be released after Monday night's final wild-card game concludes.
Confirmed Divisional Round Matchups
Based on reports from NFL.com and official team sources, the divisional round will feature some thrilling contests. The Seattle Seahawks are set to host the San Francisco 49ers. Over in the AFC, the Denver Broncos will welcome the Buffalo Bills to their home stadium. The Chicago Bears will face off against the Los Angeles Rams. Meanwhile, the New England Patriots are waiting to see who emerges victorious from the Monday night clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans.
Detailed Schedule for the 2026 NFL Playoffs
The playoff schedule provides a clear roadmap for the coming weeks. It all starts with the final wild-card game on Monday, January 12th. Following that, the divisional round takes center stage on Saturday and Sunday, January 17th and 18th. The conference championships are scheduled for Sunday, January 25th. The season culminates with Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8th.
Wild Card Finale and Divisional Round Details
Monday, January 12 (Wild Card Finale)
- Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET. The winner of this game advances to play the New England Patriots in the divisional round.
Saturday, January 17 (Divisional Round)
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos. The game will kick off at either 4:30 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. ET. The television network is still to be determined.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks. This matchup is also scheduled for either 4:30 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. ET, with the network assignment pending.
Sunday, January 18 (Divisional Round)
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears. The start time is set for either 3:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. ET. The broadcasting channel has not been finalized.
- Steelers/Texans winner at New England Patriots. This game will also be played at either 3:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. ET, awaiting network confirmation.
Championship Sunday and Super Bowl LX
The road to the Super Bowl continues with the conference championship games. On Sunday, January 25th, the AFC Championship will air on CBS at 3:00 p.m. ET. The NFC Championship follows on Fox at 6:30 p.m. ET.
The grand finale, Super Bowl LX, is scheduled for Sunday, February 8th. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The game will be held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Finalizing the Playoff Structure
In summary, the core schedule is now firm. Four divisional games are slated for January 17th and 18th. The two conference title games will happen on January 25th. Super Bowl LX concludes the season on February 8th in Santa Clara. The only remaining uncertainties involve the exact kickoff order and television networks for the divisional weekend games. Additionally, the final AFC seeding depends on the outcome of the Texans versus Steelers matchup on Monday night.
