PITTSBURGH — The 2026 NFL playoff field is finally locked. In a gritty Sunday night showdown that felt like a throwback to the 90s, the Pittsburgh Steelers stifled the Baltimore Ravens 17-10. The win didn’t just earn Pittsburgh a ticket to the dance; it handed them the AFC North crown and officially sent the Baltimore Ravens home for the winter. With the regular season in the rearview mirror, the bracket is set for what experts call the most unpredictable postseason in a decade.
The Denver Broncos (15-2) capped off a dominant campaign by securing the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Their rise coincides with the stunning collapse of the Kansas City Chiefs, whose streak of playoff appearances ended this weekend. Denver earns the lone AFC bye, meaning the path to Super Bowl LX goes through the thin air of Mile High. The Wild Card matchups feature a mix of grizzled veterans and rising stars:
In the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks (14-3) claimed the top seed after a late-season surge. While Seattle rests, the rest of the conference prepares for a weekend of high-stakes rematches. The highlight of the slate is a historic battle between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers—their third meeting in just over a month.
.@CalvinAustinIII came through in the clutch 🙌 pic.twitter.com/CAGikgfet3
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2026
| Matchup | Time (ET) / Date | 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 |
“We knew the North was going to be a dogfight,” said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. “This group didn’t blink. We’re not just happy to be in the bracket; we’re here to make noise.”
“It’s a different feeling being on the outside looking in,” Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes told reporters after Sunday’s results went against them. “We’ll use this. It’s a long offseason, and it starts tonight.”
The absence of Kansas City changes the entire postseason math. For years, the AFC went through Arrowhead; now, the door is wide open for Trevor Lawrence or Drake Maye to seize the mantle. In the NFC, the Carolina Panthers represent a massive anomaly, hosting a playoff game with a 8-9 record. They face an L.A. Rams team that many consider the most dangerous “road dog” in the field. The journey to Levi’s Stadium starts Saturday.
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