The 2025-2026 regular season has officially concluded with a chaotic Week 18 that reshuffled the postseason picture until the final whistle. The NFL playoff bracket 2026 is now locked in, setting the stage for a Wild Card Weekend defined by historic rivalries and unprecedented betting lines. After the Pittsburgh Steelers clinched the AFC North with a clutch victory over the Baltimore Ravens, the field of 14 teams is set. From the Packers renewing hostilities with the Bears to a battle of young quarterbacks in Jacksonville, this postseason promises high-stakes drama from the opening kickoff.

NFC Wild Card Matchups: Old Rivals and New Contenders

The NFC side of the bracket features one of the league's most storied rivalries taking center stage in prime time, alongside a battle between two teams that took very different paths to the postseason.

Packers vs. Bears: A Soldier Field Showdown

In a fitting capstone to the Wild Card Weekend schedule, the Green Bay Packers (No. 7 seed) will travel to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears (No. 2 seed) on Saturday, January 10 at 8:00 p.m. ET. This matchup marks the third postseason meeting between these historic franchises. The Bears, led by their dynamic young offense, secured the No. 2 seed and the NFC North crown, while Green Bay fought through a late-season slump to grab the final playoff spot. Betting markets opened with the Bears as slight 1.5-point home favorites, reflecting the tight nature of this divisional clash.

Rams vs. Panthers: The Upset Special?

Action kicks off Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. ET with the Los Angeles Rams (No. 5) visiting the Carolina Panthers (No. 4). Despite being the lower seed, the Rams opened as massive 10-point road favorites—a rarity in NFL playoff history. The Panthers, who won the NFC South with a sub-.500 record, will look to play spoiler against a battle-tested Rams squad led by Matthew Stafford. This game will be broadcast on FOX, setting the tone for the weekend.

49ers vs. Eagles: Heavyweights Collide

On Sunday, January 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET, the San Francisco 49ers head east to face the Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations and now meet in a win-or-go-home scenario. The Eagles opened as 3.5-point favorites at Lincoln Financial Field, with the over/under set at 46.5 points.

AFC Wild Card Matchups: Road Warriors Emerged

The AFC bracket is headlined by strong road teams, with oddsmakers favoring the visitors in multiple matchups—a testament to the depth of the conference this year.

Bills vs. Jaguars: Duel in Duval

The Bills vs Jaguars Wild Card matchup is set for Sunday, January 11 at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS. In a surprising twist for a No. 3 vs. No. 6 game, the visiting Buffalo Bills opened as 1.5-point favorites against the hosting Jacksonville Jaguars. While Jacksonville enters the playoffs on an eight-game winning streak behind a resurgent offense, oddsmakers are respecting Josh Allen and Buffalo's playoff pedigree. This contest has the highest projected total of the weekend at 51.5 points, suggesting a potential shootout in Florida.

Steelers vs. Texans: Monday Night Finale

Wild Card Weekend concludes on Monday, January 12 at 8:15 p.m. ET with the Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Houston Texans. Despite the Steelers' home-field advantage at Acrisure Stadium, the NFL playoff betting odds favor the road team. The Texans opened as 3-point favorites, with their stout defense expected to challenge Pittsburgh's offense. This will be the first postseason meeting between the two franchises, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the Monday night broadcast on ESPN/ABC.

Chargers vs. Patriots: Sunday Night Lights

Rounding out the AFC slate, the Los Angeles Chargers visit the New England Patriots on Sunday night at 8:00 p.m. ET on NBC. The Patriots, securing the No. 2 seed with a 14-win season, are 3.5-point home favorites against a Chargers team that has proven dangerous offensively.

NFL Postseason Predictions 2026 & Betting Insights

This year's NFL postseason predictions 2026 are complicated by a unique trend: road favorites. It is highly unusual for three road teams (Rams, Bills, Texans) to be favored during Wild Card Weekend. This speaks to the parity of the league and the specific vulnerabilities of some division winners.

  • Best Bet to Watch: The Rams (-10) have the largest spread of the weekend. While 10 points is a lot to cover in the playoffs, the disparity between Los Angeles' offense and Carolina's defense is statistically significant.
  • Upset Alert: The Packers vs Bears playoffs matchup is essentially a toss-up. While Chicago is favored, Green Bay's familiarity with their division rival makes the +1.5 spread tempting for underdog bettors.
  • Total Play: The Bills-Jaguars Over 51.5 is attracting early money, as both offenses have shown the ability to score quickly in bunches.

With the bracket set and the lines moving, the road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara has officially begun. Whether you are backing the heavy road favorites or looking for home dogs to feast, this weekend promises to deliver the unpredictable excitement that defines the NFL playoffs.