2026 NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round Preview and Predictions

(12-5) Buffalo Bills (6) @ (1) Denver Broncos (14-3)

The opening game in the Divisional Round of the 2026 NFL Playoffs sees the Number 6 seed Buffalo Bills head to Mile High to take on the AFC’s Number 1 seed, the Denver Broncos! The Denver Broncos enter this game off the back of a Bye, and they’re aiming to win their first Playoff game since 2016 (where they went on and won Super Bowl 50)! As for Buffalo, they earned themselves a great win in Jacksonville against The Jaguars last time out, and they’re set for their 6th-straight Divisional Round appearance! In the end, I am going to say that the Buffalo Bills will come out on top here! This is a really difficult game to predict in my opinion because both teams have quality, but I can see The Bills just about edging it (just like they did last weekend)!

(12-5) San Francisco 49ers (6) @ (1) Seattle Seahawks (14-3)

After facing each other for the right to be the NFC’s Number 1 seed just two weeks ago, the San Francisco 49ers are out for revenge as they take on a well-rested Seattle Seahawks! The Seattle Seahawks enter the weekend off the back of 7-straight wins and a Bye, and they’re aiming to win at this stage of the Playoffs for the first time since 2015! As for San Francisco, they managed to stun the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field last time out, and they’re hoping to return to the NFC Championship for the 5th time in 7 seasons! In the end, I feel like I have to say that Seattle will win this game! The Seahawks are one of the two best teams in the league for me, if not the absolute best, so they deserve to be heavy favourites for this one against an injury-filled 49ers! However, on that, don’t count The Niners out just yet; they keep proving people wrong!

(12-5) Houston Texans (5) @ (2) New England Patriots (14-3)

Perhaps the best game of the weekend is set to take place in New England as the 14-3 Patriots host the 12-5 Houston Texans! The New England Patriots ended up as comfortable winners over the Los Angeles Chargers last time out, and they’ve managed to win all of their last 8 Divisional Round matches! As for Houston, they smashed the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 on the final Monday Night Football of the season, and they’re trying to win at this stage of the Playoffs for the first time in their history! In the end, I’m going with Houston over New England! The Texans have been the team that has had me the most hyped this season; they’re the best team left for me, and their defense has a very good chance of destroying Drake Maye and The Patriots! Speaking of Drake Maye, this really is a massive moment in his young career!

(12-5) Los Angeles Rams (5) @ (2) Chicago Bears (11-6)

The final game on the best weekend of Football sees the Chicago Bears host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football! The Chicago Bears somehow managed to overturn a 21-point deficit to stun the Green Bay Packers last Saturday Night, and they’re looking to return to the NFC Championship for the first time since 2011! As for LA, they got over the line in Carolina against The Panthers last time out, and they’ve managed to make the Super Bowl in each of the last 4 seasons when they’ve won in the Divisional Round! In the end, I expect the LA Rams to win this game! Out of all of the results, this is the one I’m most confident about because The Bears weren’t great last week, whilst The Rams are very strong!