NFL · 17 minutes ago

Predicting the 14-Team NFL Playoff Field Going Into Week 7

Joe Cervenka

Host · Writer

You Tell Us! Which 14 Teams Make the Playoffs this Year?
Join the Great Playoff Debate: Who Makes the Field?

We've updated our full 14-team NFL playoff projections heading into Week 7, but now it's your turn to debate the board!
- NFC NORTH FIREPOWER: Can the unblemished Minnesota Vikings (5-0), the Chicago Bears (4-2), and the surging Green Bay Packers (4-2) all stay in the postseason field?
- PANTHERS ON THE RISE: Is Bryce Young and Carolina's #2 offense (404.4 YPG) ready to pull away with the NFC South?
- AFC WILDCARD BRAWL: Which road wildcard team, the Patriots (4-2), Ravens (4-2), or Broncos (4-2), has the best chance to make a deep playoff run?
Drop your hot takes and playoff bracket in the comments!
Projecting Every Playoff Seed for the 2026 Season
Road to Super Bowl LXI: Predicting the 14-Team NFL Playoff Field Heading Into Week 7

Six weeks of the 2026 NFL season are in the books, and October football is turning up the pressure across both conferences. Between high-stakes overtime finishes on Thursday night, a walk-off 49-yard field goal in London, Sunday night dominance at Lambeau Field, and Monday night grit in Santa Clara, the postseason picture is shifting rapidly.

Heading into Week 7, here is our updated projection for how the 14-team NFL playoff field will stack up come January.
7. Denver Broncos (4-2)
AFC Wildcard (No. 7 Seed)
- The Drivers: Bo Nix and the Broncos pulled off a thrilling 17-14 overtime victory over Seattle on Thursday night, sealed by a Ja'Quan McMillian interception and Wil Lutz's 53-yard game-winning field goal.
- Why They Snag Seed 7: Vance Joseph's defense is locking down opponents, allowing just 20.8 points per game while ranking among league leaders with 10 takeaways and a +4 turnover differential.
- The Outlook: Winning tough, low-scoring fourth quarters has the 4-2 Broncos holding down the final wildcard slot in the AFC bracket.
6. Baltimore Ravens (4-2)
AFC Wildcard (No. 6 Seed)
- The Drivers: Tyler Huntley (19/31, 165 YDS, 1 TD) and Derrick Henry (17 CAR, 58 YDS) battled in a defensive war on the road, dropping a tight 13-10 decision to Cleveland. Lamar Jackson should be back from injury to right the offense soon.
- Why They Snag Seed 6: Baltimore averages 367.7 total yards per game and 26.0 points per game, fueled by a power ground game churning out 151.5 rushing yards per game.
- The Outlook: Even after a defensive duel in the Dawg Pound, the Ravens' physical run attack and +2 turnover margin keep them safely in the postseason field.
5. New England Patriots (4-2)
AFC Wildcard (No. 5 Seed)
- The Drivers: Drake Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel picked up another divisional victory, handling the Jets 26-19 in Foxborough.
- Why They Snag Seed 5: The Patriots climb to the #5 seed behind a defense allowing just 18.8 points per game (5th in NFL) and an offense producing 374.2 total yards per game.
- The Outlook: With back-to-back division wins and top-five point suppression, New England is transforming into a legitimate AFC wildcard threat.
4. Cincinnati Bengals (3-2)
AFC North Champion
- The Drivers: Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and head coach Zac Taylor enjoyed a well-timed Week 6 bye sitting at 3-2.
- Why They Win the North: Cincinnati averages 342.8 total yards per game and 25.6 points per game, while their defense holds a positive +2 turnover differential (8 takeaways).
- The Outlook: Resting up during a chaotic Week 6 gives the Bengals the fresh legs needed to command a tightly packed AFC North race.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)
AFC South Champion
- The Drivers: Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars battled to the final whistle across the pond, coming up just short in a wild 34-31 London finish against Houston.
- Why They Hold Seed 3: Despite the setback, Jacksonville leads the AFC South while fielding the league's #3 scoring defense (17.3 points per game allowed, 104 total points) and giving up just 72.2 rushing yards per game.
- The Outlook: With an offense putting up 347.7 total yards per game and an elite run-stopping front, Liam Coen’s group maintains control of the South.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)
AFC West Champion
- The Drivers: Patrick Mahomes (23/30, 272 YDS), workhorse back Kenneth Walker III (19 CAR, 128 YDS, 2 TDs), and speedster Xavier Worthy (7 REC, 73 YDS) kept Kansas City undefeated with a 22-6 division win over the Chargers.
- Why They Win the West: Kansas City ranks #1 in the NFL in total offense (414.0 yards per game) while their defense allows just 16.6 points per game (2nd in NFL).
- The Outlook: Undefeated at 5-0 with a dominant +5 turnover differential, Andy Reid’s squad looks every bit like a championship heavyweight cruising toward an AFC West title.
1. Buffalo Bills (5-1)
AFC East Champion
- The Drivers: Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills survived an absolute barnburner in Las Vegas, outlasting the Raiders 33-30 behind James Cook III (22 CAR, 95 YDS, 1 TD).
- Why They Own the Top Seed: Buffalo paces the entire NFL in scoring offense at 32.8 points per game (197 total points), averaging 387.7 total yards per game.
- The Outlook: Holding the conference's best record at 5-1 and the league's top-scoring attack, Buffalo remains the team to beat for the AFC's lone first-round bye.
7. Green Bay Packers (4-2)
NFC Wildcard (No. 7 Seed)
- The Drivers: Jordan Love was dealing on Sunday Night Football (23/41, 276 YDS, 1 TD), finding wideout Matthew Golden for 104 yards and a score in a decisive 23-13 win over Dallas.
- Why They Snag Seed 7: The Packers crash the playoff field behind an opportunistic defense that leads the entire NFL with 11 takeaways (9 interceptions) and a +4 turnover differential, yielding just 20.8 points per game.
- The Outlook: Back-to-back dominant wins over division rivals and prime-time opponents make Green Bay a dangerous lower seed crashing the NFC bracket.
6. Seattle Seahawks (3-3)
NFC Wildcard (No. 6 Seed)
- The Drivers: Sam Darnold threw for 278 yards, feeding Jaxon Smith-Njigba for an electric 12 catches and 134 yards in a gritty 17-14 overtime loss to Denver.
- Why They Snag Seed 6: Seattle holds the #1 total defense in the NFL, allowing just 237.3 total yards per game and a league-best 141.3 passing yards per game.
- The Outlook: With an elite lockdown secondary and 11 takeaways on defense, the Seahawks have the foundation to remain a top wildcard threat in the NFC.
5. Chicago Bears (4-2)
NFC Wildcard (No. 5 Seed)
- The Drivers: Caleb Williams was surgical in Week 6 (30/36, 305 YDS, 1 TD), linking up with Luther Burden III (8 REC, 95 YDS) to roll past Atlanta 31-23 on the road.
- Why They Snag Seed 5: Chicago ranks fifth in total offense (388.3 yards per game) and boasts a ground attack pounding out 160.7 rushing yards per game, backed by a defense allowing 19.8 points per game (6th in NFL).
- The Outlook: Ben Johnson’s offense is finding its rhythm through the air and on the ground, making the 4-2 Bears a formidable postseason contender.
4. Dallas Cowboys (2-4)
NFC East Champion
- The Drivers: Javonte Williams punched in a touchdown on the ground (11 CAR, 41 YDS), but Dallas dropped a tough 23-13 Sunday Night Football contest to Green Bay.
- Why They Win the East: Despite sitting at 2-4, Dallas leads the NFC East with an offense generating 343.2 total yards per game (267.2 passing yards per game) and 25.2 points per game.
- The Outlook: If Dak Prescott and the Cowboys clean up red-zone finishing, their passing volume will carry them through a wide-open NFC East race. It may not even take a .500 record to win this division.
3. Carolina Panthers (3-2)
NFC South Champion
- The Drivers: Bryce Young was sharp through the air (20/39, 281 YDS, 2 TDs), Chuba Hubbard bulldozed for 120 yards and a score on 28 carries, and Jalen Coker grabbed 97 receiving yards in a 25-14 road victory over Philadelphia.
- Why They Take Seed 3: Dave Canales' squad jumps to the #3 seed as NFC South leaders, ranking #2 in the NFL in total offense (404.4 yards per game) and averaging 29.2 points per game.
- The Outlook: An explosive offense generating chunk plays at will makes Carolina the clear frontrunner to capture the NFC South crown.
2. Minnesota Vikings (5-0)
NFC North Champion
- The Drivers: Kyler Murray, Aaron Jones Sr., Justin Jefferson, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores rested up on their Week 6 bye, sitting undefeated at 5-0.
- Why They Take Seed 2: Minnesota boasts the undisputed #1 scoring defense in the entire NFL, surrendering a microscopic 12.8 points per game (64 total points allowed) and 259.8 total yards per game.
- The Outlook: With a league-best +6 turnover differential (10 takeaways) and an elite defense, the rested Vikings hold the #2 seed and full control of the NFC North.
1. San Francisco 49ers (6-0)
NFC West Champion
- The Drivers: Christian McCaffrey ran for 64 yards and two touchdowns (16 carries), while wideout Mike Evans hauled in 94 receiving yards on three catches as San Francisco held off Washington 23-17 on Monday Night Football. Evans did leave the game with an injury, so his health could come into play as the season goes on.
- Why They Own the Top Seed: The 49ers stand unblemished at 6-0, pairing the NFL's third-ranked scoring attack (29.5 points per game) with a defense allowing just 18.3 points per game (4th in NFL).
- The Outlook: Kyle Shanahan’s machine continues to win in multiple ways, standing as the undisputed frontrunner for home-field advantage throughout the NFC postseason.
You Tell Us! Which 14 Teams Make the Playoffs this Year?
Join the Great Playoff Debate: Who Makes the Field?

We've updated our full 14-team NFL playoff projections heading into Week 7, but now it's your turn to debate the board!
- NFC NORTH FIREPOWER: Can the unblemished Minnesota Vikings (5-0), the Chicago Bears (4-2), and the surging Green Bay Packers (4-2) all stay in the postseason field?
- PANTHERS ON THE RISE: Is Bryce Young and Carolina's #2 offense (404.4 YPG) ready to pull away with the NFC South?
- AFC WILDCARD BRAWL: Which road wildcard team, the Patriots (4-2), Ravens (4-2), or Broncos (4-2), has the best chance to make a deep playoff run?
Drop your hot takes and playoff bracket in the comments!
Projecting Every Playoff Seed for the 2026 Season
Road to Super Bowl LXI: Predicting the 14-Team NFL Playoff Field Heading Into Week 7

Six weeks of the 2026 NFL season are in the books, and October football is turning up the pressure across both conferences. Between high-stakes overtime finishes on Thursday night, a walk-off 49-yard field goal in London, Sunday night dominance at Lambeau Field, and Monday night grit in Santa Clara, the postseason picture is shifting rapidly.

Heading into Week 7, here is our updated projection for how the 14-team NFL playoff field will stack up come January.

Predicting the 14-Team NFL Playoff Field Going Into Week 7

Join the Great Playoff Debate: Who Makes the Field?

Road to Super Bowl LXI: Predicting the 14-Team NFL Playoff Field Heading Into Week 7

AFC Wildcard (No. 7 Seed)

AFC Wildcard (No. 6 Seed)

AFC Wildcard (No. 5 Seed)

AFC North Champion

AFC South Champion

AFC West Champion

AFC East Champion

NFC Wildcard (No. 7 Seed)

NFC Wildcard (No. 6 Seed)

NFC Wildcard (No. 5 Seed)

NFC East Champion

NFC South Champion

NFC North Champion

NFC West Champion

Join the Great Playoff Debate: Who Makes the Field?

Road to Super Bowl LXI: Predicting the 14-Team NFL Playoff Field Heading Into Week 7

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