PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers didn’t just play; he delivered a vintage performance when the lights were brightest. Rodgers hit Calvin Austin III for a 26-yard touchdown with 55 seconds remaining to secure a 26-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, clinching the AFC North for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The stadium shook as Baltimore kicker Tyler Loop’s 44-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right as time expired, officially locking in the 14-team field for the 2026 NFL Playoffs.
The Denver Broncos (14-3) secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed following a 19-3 dismantling of the Los Angeles Chargers. Bo Nix and the Denver defense have turned the Mile High City into a fortress, ending the Kansas City Chiefs’ nine-year divisional dominance. Denver will watch from home next week as the following Wild Card matchups take place:
The Seattle Seahawks (14-3) punched their ticket to a first-round bye on Saturday night by stifling the San Francisco 49ers in a 13-3 defensive masterclass. Seattle’s “Legion of Boom 2.0” has conceded just 18.1 points per game this season, the league’s second-best mark. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers (8-9) defied the odds to win the NFC South, becoming the first sub-.500 team to host a playoff game in years.
No. 8 gave it his all. pic.twitter.com/i0MWWgECc8
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2026
| Matchup | Date/Time | Network |
|---|---|---|
| (5) L.A. Rams at (4) Carolina Panthers | Sat, Jan. 10 / 4:30 PM | FOX |
| (7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Chicago Bears | Sat, Jan. 10 / 8:00 PM | Prime Video |
| (6) Buffalo Bills at (3) Jacksonville Jaguars | Sun, Jan. 11 / 1:00 PM | CBS |
| (6) S.F. 49ers at (3) Philadelphia Eagles | Sun, Jan. 11 / 4:30 PM | FOX |
| (7) L.A. Chargers at (2) New England Patriots | Sun, Jan. 11 / 8:00 PM | NBC |
| (5) Houston Texans at (4) Pittsburgh Steelers | Mon, Jan. 12 / 8:00 PM | ESPN/ABC |
“It’s pretty emotional,” said Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers following the win. “I’m thankful for these guys. We’ve fought through a lot this year, and to clinch it like this in front of our fans—it’s been an absolute blessing to be here.”
For the first time in years, the Kansas City Chiefs will be watching the postseason from the couch. The 2026 bracket represents a massive shift in power. With rookie-led contenders like the Broncos and Jaguars holding high seeds, and veterans like Rodgers and Matthew Stafford looking for one last run, the road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is wide open. The 49ers, once the NFC favorites, now face a grueling road trip to Philadelphia a rematch of the 2022 NFC Championship game that neither side has forgotten.
Read More:- NFL Playoff Bracket 2026: Steelers Clinch AFC North; Mahomes and Chiefs Eliminated from Postseason
