NFL playoff bracket 2026: Updated schedule, TV channels, scores for AFC and NFC games

NFL playoff bracket 2026: Updated schedule, TV channels, scores for AFC and NFC games originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2025 NFL regular season is coming to a close, which means it is now time to turn attention to the NFL postseason.

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Fourteen teams will clinch a playoff spot and compete for the chance to play in Super Bowl 60, and this year's tournament will be wide open. As usual, the field will be made up of seven AFC teams and seven NFC teams and only two teams will earn a bye during the first round.

With the Kansas City Chiefs missing the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, every team that makes the playoffs will see this as a prime opportunity to take advantage of their absence. However, the lack of a clear-cut top team will make this year's playoffs even more interesting.

Here is a breakdown of the entire NFL bracket, including start times, TV networks and matchups.

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NFL playoff bracket 2026

Wild-card round

AFC

1. (BYE)
2. TBD vs. 7. TBD
3. TBD vs. 6. TBD
4. TBD vs. 5. TBD

NFC

1. (BYE)
2. TBD vs. 7. TBD
3. TBD vs. 6. TBD
4. TBD vs. 5. TBD

Divisional round

AFC

1. TBD vs. TBD
TBD vs. TBD

NFC

1. TBD vs. TBD
TBD vs. TBD

Championship round

AFC

TBD vs. TBD

NFC

TBD vs. TBD

Super Bowl

TBD vs. TBD

NFL Playoff schedule 2026

Wild-card round

Saturday, Jan. 10

Sunday, Jan. 11

Monday, Jan. 12

Divisional Round

Saturday, Jan. 17

Sunday, Jan. 18

Championship round

Sunday, Jan. 25

Super Bowl

Sunday, Feb. 8

TV channels, live streams for NFL playoff games

All the usual networks and streaming services will broadcast at least one playoff game this year. CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN and Amazon will all get a game in the wild-card round, with either CBS, Fox or NBC getting to broadcast two games in the first week.

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For the divisional round of the playoffs, CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN will all probably get one game apiece, while CBS and Fox will then get a game each for the conference championship round. Finally, NBC will close the season with the Super Bowl broadcast in February.

When do the NFL playoffs end 2026?

• Wild-card round: Jan. 10-12

• Divisional round: Jan. 17-18

• Conference championships: Jan. 25

• Super Bowl: Feb. 8

The NFL playoffs will begin on Jan. 10 and continue for the next three consecutive weeks. Then, after a week off, the season will wrap up on Sunday, Feb. 8 with Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, Ca.