How many teams make the NFL playoffs? Updated standings for 2026 playoff bracket

How many teams make the NFL playoffs? Updated standings for 2026 playoff bracket originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2025 NFL regular season only has one week left. There are 32 teams in the league, but only 14 will make the postseason.

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Heading into the final week of the season, 12 of the playoff spots have been clinched. There are two still up for grabs, with both being for a division spot and the No. 4 seed in the bracket.

Even though 12 teams are already locked into the postseason, there is still plenty of movement that can occur where only one seed has been locked in.

Here is an updated look at how many teams make the NFL playoffs and the projected 2026 postseason bracket.

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How many teams make the NFL playoffs?

Fourteen teams of the 32 in the NFL will make the playoffs. Each conference will see seven teams enter the postseason, with the top four seeds in each bracket going to division winners. The No. 1 seed in each conference will earn home-field advantage until the Super Bowl and a first-round bye. The other division winners will host a wild-card game in the first round.

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AFC playoff picture

In the hunt: Ravens (8-8)

While six of the seven playoff spots in the AFC have been clinched, none of those teams are locked into a specific seed. The Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots have clinched their divisions and will be top-three seeds in the playoffs. Both, as well as the Jacksonville Jaguars, have a shot at the No. 1 seed in Week 18.

The last playoff spot in the AFC comes down to the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. They play in Week 18, and the winner will earn the AFC North division title and the No. 4 seed in the AFC.

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The Los Angeles Chargers and the Buffalo Bills are locked into wild-card spots but will hope to move up in the seeding.

How Broncos can clinch No. 1 seed

Denver has the easiest path to clinching the No. 1 seed. The Broncos need a win in Week 18 over the Los Angeles Chargers. Outside of that, Denver can clinch the top spot with a New England loss or a Patriots and Jaguars loss.

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How Patriots can clinch No. 1 seed

New England has a shot at the No. 1 seed, but they don't control their own destiny for it. The Patriots need a win and a Broncos loss or a tie.

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How Jaguars can clinch No. 1 seed

Jacksonville can clinch the No. 1 seed with a win and a Broncos and Patriots loss. Otherwise, their focus will be on clinching the AFC South to secure at least a top-three seed in the bracket.

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NFC playoff picture

In the hunt: Buccaneers (7-9)

The only seed that has been locked in entering Week 18 is the Green Bay Packers with the No. 7 seed. Other than that, there is plenty of movement that can happen within the conference.

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The Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers both have a shot at the NFC South. They play each other in Week 18, and if the Panthers win, they are in the postseason. If the Buccaneers win, it depends on what happens between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints for crucial tiebreakers.

The Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams have all clinched a playoff berth and are just playing in Week 18 for positioning.

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How 49ers can clinch No. 1 seed

The No. 1 seed in the NFL will come down to either the 49ers or the Seahawks. The way the schedule has unfolded, San Francisco and Los Angeles will play in Week 18. The winner will earn the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. All the 49ers have to do is win on Saturday night, and they will earn the No. 1 seed and the important first-round bye.

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How Seahawks can clinch No. 1 seed

The Seahawks have an easy case for earning the No. 1 seed. All they have to do is beat the 49ers in their Week 18 matchup on Saturday night. Seattle would then earn the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed for the NFC playoffs. A loss would have them be the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.

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