NFL Playoff Bracket Predictions: Super Bowl Pick & Projected Scores Entering Divisional Round

With eight teams left in the postseason field, my NFL playoff bracket predictions project the winner for every game from the Divisional Round to Super Bowl 2026. In addition to our NFL Divisional Round predictions, I'm breaking down my projected scores and expert analysis for every matchup leading up to the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

🔮 2026 NFL playoff bracket predictions

Check out our free printable NFL playoff bracket for the full playoff schedule and more.

🏈 NFL Divisional Round picks

Bills vs. Broncos prediction

This has been dubbed as the "QB vs. team" matchup of the Divisional Round, which doesn't entirely feel fair for a Bills team that was predominantly fueled by its run game to move the ball throughout the regular season. It's also a slight to Broncos QB Bo Nix, who has the arm talent and play-caller in Sean Payton to take advantage of a Buffalo pass defense that has turned it on late but still lacks the firepower to trust on a weekly basis. This has one-possession game written all over it, and I like Denver at home.

Projected score: Broncos 23, Bills 21

49ers vs. Seahawks prediction

It isn't hard to imagine what we might see on Saturday night - these two teams just faced off in a critical winner-take-all game for the No. 1 seed in Week 18, and the Seahawks' defense completely dominated a 49ers offense that has since lost George Kittle (Achilles) and likely won't have the full-strength versions of tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) or receiver Ricky Pearsall (questionable). I'd take Seattle even if both sides were healthy, so this one truly isn't close in my view - especially with this rematch coming at Lumen Field.

Projected score: Seahawks 24, 49ers 13

Texans vs. Patriots prediction

These teams are effectively mirror images of each other: the Texans' defense is the most terrifying unit left in the postseason, and the Patriots' offense is led by one of the likely top two finalists in NFL MVP voting in Drake Maye. This game could be decided by the other side, though, with Houston's offense still looking like a liability last week and star receiver Nico Collins (concussion) seeming unlikely to play. New England's defense is competent enough to corral this snakebitten Texans attack, and I trust Maye to make enough plays offensively to crawl across the finish line.

Projected score: Patriots 20, Texans 17

Rams vs. Bears prediction

Two of the hottest quarterbacks in the planet face off in the Divisional Round with likely MVP winner Matthew Stafford standing opposite sophomore star Caleb Williams, who carried his team to an 18-point comeback in the wild-card round and seems poised to do it again this week. Here's the issue: this Rams defense has the profile of a top unit despite some late-season hiccups, while the Bears' defense excels at forcing turnovers and just about nothing else. That won't cut it against Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay.

Projected score: Rams 24, Bears 14

🏈 NFL Conference Championship picks

Broncos vs. Patriots prediction

Entering the first round, I expected the Jaguars to emerge from Wild Card Weekend and march all the way to the Super Bowl - a dream ended quickly by the Bills. If the Broncos can survive that test this week, I think this could end up being an even easier matchup against a New England team that, while explosive, plays right into the strengths of this Denver defense in so many ways. I don't love backing Bo Nix to make a deep run, but he won't need to make every play with the Broncos' defense and run game dialed in.

Projected score: Broncos 23, Patriots 17

Rams vs. Seahawks prediction

While this game would only be for a conference title, this feels like a title matchup between the two favorites by the latest Super Bowl odds. The Rams likely should have held on in that 1-point loss in Week 16, when the Seahawks rallied from down 16 in the fourth to win in overtime, but Seattle can say the same about a 2-point loss in Week 11 that saw Sam Darnold turn it over four times. These offenses are the best in football, but the Seahawks' defense has been the better unit over the final month of the season - give me the hotter side with home-field advantage and more ways to win.

Projected score: Seahawks 23, Rams 21

🏆 Super Bowl pick & score prediction

Seahawks vs. Broncos prediction

In some ways, these teams have taken a fairly similar path to this point led by elite defenses with an offensive attack built on running the ball and utilizing play action.

That's about where those similarities end, though. While Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II might be the best player on the field, the Seahawks' defense has been a more complete unit this season with better showings against some of the best offenses in the NFL. Their offense is also much more efficient than Denver's, which is heavily reliant on low-percentage throws and lacks the explosiveness of Seattle's rushing attack.

When you play defense as well as these two teams do, that create the environment for high variance and low margins for error. That's one reason why the Broncos have won so many one-possession games with comebacks in the second half. But the Seahawks are built to suffocate opponents who rely too heavily on dropback passes, and I just don't have enough faith in Denver's offense to survive the Mike Macdonald treatment.

Projected score: Seahawks 24, Broncos 16

📅 NFL playoff schedule 2026

See the latest NFL odds and our expert NFL picks for every playoff matchup.

NFL Divisional Round schedule

Saturday, Jan. 17

• Bills vs. Broncos, 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
• 49ers vs. Seahawks, 8 p.m. ET (FOX)

Sunday, Jan. 18

• Texans vs. Patriots, 3 p.m. ET (ABC/ESPN)
• Rams vs. Bears, 6:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

NFL Conference Championship schedule

Sunday, Jan. 25

• AFC Championship, 3 p.m. ET (CBS)
• NFC Championship, 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX)

Super Bowl 2026 schedule

Sunday, Feb. 8

• NFC vs. AFC, 6:30 p.m. ET (NBC)