The 2025-26 NFL Playoffs are nearly upon us, so in addition to my NFL Wildcard Weekend Picks, I like to predict how the entire bracket will play out.

Can Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles defend their Super Bowl 59 title? Will the San Francisco 49ers or Los Angeles Rams follow up on recent Super Bowl appearances? With Patrick Mahomes finally out of the way, could Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills win the AFC at last?

Or will the #1 seeded teams, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, with the advantages of homefield and an extra week of rest, win back-to-back games on their turf to advance to Super Bowl 60 in San Francisco?

Read on for my 2025-26 NFL Playoff Bracket and Super Bowl 60 Prediction, and if you’d like to debate or discuss any picks, join the conversation with @SakSports on Twitter/X, on Facebook, or by commenting directly on this post!

The 2025-26 NFL Bracket, which is re-seeded after the Wildcard Round. The #1 seed plays the lowest-seeded (7 being the lowest) team remaining in the Divisional Round. (Photo: Sporting News)

Wildcard Round

Wildcard Weekend Picks

To set up the rest of my bracket, make sure to check out my 2025-26 NFL Wildcard Weekend Picks that set up the Divisional Round matchups.

Divisional Round

AFC

(The Denver Post)

#6 Buffalo Bills at #1 Denver Broncos

This game could be the difference between Josh Allen winning his first Super Bowl or getting sent home early from the postseason. The Buffalo Bills of years past would likely beat this Denver Broncos team by a touchdown or more (Buffalo literally defeated the Broncos 31-7 last season) but Buffalo isn’t as well-rounded this year, and the Broncos have gotten much better.

On paper, Buffalo may still even be favored in this potential matchup. But with Bo Nix and the Broncos being 8-1 at home this season, and coming off a week’s rest, Denver may have the slight edge in this game.

Broncos win 20-17

#5 Houston Texans at #2 New England Patriots

Drake Maye and the New England Patriots have feasted on inferior competition all season long, but the Houston Texans defense is the real deal. C.J. Stroud doesn’t have to put up 30 points to win on the road and advance to the AFC Championship, he just has to keep the game in check and let his defense take care of the rest. The buck stops here for the Patriots, who still took a huge step forward this season.

Texans win 21-17

NFC

(NFL.com)

#5 Los Angeles Rams at #1 Seattle Seahawks

An epic NFC West rematch of one of the best games of the year could be the setup for another instant classic in the Divisional Round. The logic could go either way: the Seahawks did emerge victorious in the last matchup between these two teams, albeit by the skin of their teeth. On the other hand, can Seattle really replicate that performance and beat Matthew Stafford and the Rams again, given how close to 50-50 the matchup seems?

To make matters worse for Seattle, Sam Darnold was in a similar situation last season, and lost 27-9 to the Rams as the Vikings’ starting quarterback last season. I’m a little hesitant to knock out the #1 seed this early, especially with Seattle also holding a strong home field advantage… so I won’t. My gut is slightly leaning Rams, but my head says Seattle with homefield advantage in rest. Don’t let me down, Darnold.

Seahawks win 30-27

#3 Philadelphia Eagles at #2 Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears have been more consistent all season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Yet, the Philadelphia Eagles, the defending Super Bowl 59 champions, are a looming threat: they can beat anyone at any time, especially in a tight game. Philadelphia has had a rocky season, but their road to redemption could erase any memories of midseason woes. Give me Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley, finding a way to win a tight game against a super solid Chicago team.

Eagles win 23-21

Conference Championships

(Broncos Wire/USA Today)

AFC: #5 Houston Texans at #1 Denver Broncos

C.J. Stroud vs. Bo Nix with a Super Bowl 60 appearance on the line, but let’s be honest, the real story here would be the two incredible defenses. Denver and Houston have both been winning games with their talented defenses, often in close fashion, as neither team is dropping 30-point games on the regular.

In terms of what to expect in this game, look no further than the Week 9 matchup between the two teams: the Broncos won 18-15 on a last-second field goal, scoring 11 points in the fourth quarter in what would be the Texans’ final loss of the regular season.

I’d expect nothing different here: a gritty game, the Texans in control early, putting fans on the edge of their seats at Empower Field at Mile High. And then, not a flashy comeback, but an efficient one, with long scoring drives coming when they’re needed most for Sean Payton’s offense. Heck, the Broncos might even need a Will Lutz last-second field goal to send Denver through to Super Bowl 60.

Broncos win 20-17 in overtime

(NFL.com)

NFC Championship: #3 Philadelphia Eagles at #1 Seattle Seahawks

Do I run the same script: the Philadelphia Eagles had a tumultuous season and can turn it on when it matters most, have playoff experience, etc… or does the buck stop here for the defending Super Bowl champions?

The Seattle Seahawks are the straight-up better football team in this scenario, playing to the tune of a 14-3 regular season record in an ultracompetitive NFC West. Once again, winning this football game will rely on above-average play from Sam Darnold, which might have sounded like a death sentence five or six years ago, but now feels like one of the most comfortable assumptions in the NFL.

I can definitely see the Eagles (or if they make it this far, the 49ers or Rams) using their aforementioned playoff pedigree to push through to a Super Bowl 60 appearance: all three of those teams have made it to the big game since 2020, and honestly, there’s less variety in Conference winners than we’d probably like to see. If the Eagles manage to have this be a home game, I would probably pick them regardless of the opponent. But it won’t be, in part because Philadelphia’s offense seemed to phone in parts of the regular season.

Seahawks win 27-20

Super Bowl 60: #1 Denver Broncos vs. #1 Seattle Seahawks

(Sports News Blitz)

Haven’t we done this before?

Like I mentioned earlier, there’s less variety in Super Bowl participants than there really should be, especially if you zoom out. The Broncos and Seahawks of course faced off in Super Bowl 48 at MetLife Stadium, with Seattle winning 43-8 in a duel of Russell Wilson vs. Peyton Manning. Dating back to 2014, Denver and Seattle have both reached the Super Bowl twice, each with a 1-1 record.

Super Bowl 48, February 2014 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey: Seahawks 43, Broncos 8

In 2022, the Seahawks traded Wilson to the Broncos in a shocker, that turned out to be a stinker for Denver. Yet, just three years later, both teams earned the #1 seed in their respective conferences, both with a fast track to Super Bowl 60.

The best two teams in the league, both with dominant home-field advantages, just have to win two home games to advance to Super Bowl 60? It’s hard not to see it happening.

Before I go full homer (I moved to Denver in September 2022, just as the brief “Russell Wilson-era” was beginning), Seattle is the better football team here: more complete, with a stellar offense to back up a strong defense. So as much I’d love for the Broncos to win this game, it’s hard to see Bo Nix and the Broncos offense going blow-for-blow with Seattle, who can drop 38 on you, or win 13-3 in a defensive battle.

Seahawks win 17-14, Sam Darnold wins Super Bowl 60 MVP

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