An exciting 2026 NFL playoffs starts on Saturday, so I have made my official bracket. You will find a short explanation for each pick.
Wild Card Round
Los Angeles Rams @ Carolina Panthers
Pick: Rams
While the Panthers won this matchup in the regular season, I highly doubt they can overcome the extremely experienced and talented Rams. Especially now that the Rams are getting star WR Davante Adams back from injury just adds another piece to this already great offense. Plus, the Panthers haven’t looked very good in the last few weeks at all.
Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Bears
If Micah Parsons was healthy and the Packers hadn’t dropped their last 4 games of the season, I may have switched my choice here. After two very close regular season matchups, I’m taking Ben Johnson’s Bears and their well designed run game to defeat the beat up Packers. However, the Bears defense is extremely overrated. Their success has been almost solely based off forcing turnovers and the Packers are one of the best teams in the league at not turning the ball over. Still, I think the Bears offense will be enough to beat Green Bay.
San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Pick: Eagles
The 49ers are just too beat up on both sides of the ball to have a real chance in these playoffs. The Eagles defense, which has been great recently, should make it tough on Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense to move the ball. The Eagles offense, which kinda sucks, might struggle a little, but in the end should be able to put up enough points for the victory.
Buffalo Bills @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: Jaguars
Despite the Bills extensive playoff experience and an X-factor QB, the hot Jaguars defense and run game should be enough to come out on top. However, Trevor Lawrence has struggled in the two playoff games he has played in. If that happens again, this game could easily result in a Bills win. The Jaguars and TLaw are on fire right now and playing a Bills defense that gives up so many explosive plays is a good combination for Liam Coen’s first playoff win as a HC. This should be the game of the week.
Los Angeles Chargers @ New England Patriots
Pick: Patriots
This is a fairly easy pick to me. The Chargers offensive line is absolutely abysmal and are playing a good run defense in the Patriots. I doubt they can get anything going in the run game which puts so much pressure on Justin Herbert and the pass game to make up for that. I doubted the Chargers at the beginning of the season for this exact reason and they surprised me and made the playoffs, so maybe they surprise me again and win a playoff game. The Patriots are a young, inexperienced team (especially offensively) and they could struggle against Jesse Minter’s creative defense. I doubt it though. MVP candidate Drake Maye and this offense has been rolling and should do enough to put this game away.
Houston Texans @ Pittsburg Steelers
Pick: Texans
Another easy pick for me. Having two elite pass rushers on the Texans defense go up against a 42 year old Aaron Rodgers is going to be hard to watch. The Texans defense it just too good and physical to expect the Steelers offense to do much. The Texans offense isn’t exactly anything to write home about but they do enough to win games and I expect that to happen here.
Divisional Round
Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears
Pick: Eagles
I’m taking superior experience and a better defense to win this game for the Eagles. They have the defensive pieces to stop the Bears potent run game and while they do have a slight weakness in their secondary, they should do well enough to beat the Bears. Again, the Bears defense isn’t great and I expect the Eagles to do enough offensively to win this one.
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Seahawks
This is going to be a great game. We have already seen two extremely close matchups between these two teams this season and should expect another one here. The winner of this game likely goes on to the Super Bowl and probably wins it. Sean McVay with Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Davante Adams are basically an unstoppable combination. Mike Macdonald has actually done a decent job against them in the first game especially and in the 4th quarter of the second game. To me, it really comes down to the turnover battle. Both games the Rams forced 2 or more turnovers more than the Seahawks did. It is an extremely tall task for your defense to stop this Rams offense when given extra possessions. Sam Darnold might be the decider of this game. He has not been very good in the last 7 games, but despite this the Seahawks won all those games. If the Seahawks can at least keep the turnover battle even, they should win this one, but otherwise it could be tough.
Houston Texans @ Denver Broncos
Pick: Texans
Despite the Broncos being the #1 seed, they just barely won almost all of there games this year. Their point deferential was only +90 which isn’t great for a 14 win team. For example, the Seahawks lead the NFL with a +191 point deferential. Big difference. I believe the Texans defense can put enough pressure on Bo Nix to basically shut the Broncos offense down. Even though the Broncos have a pretty good defense, I think the Texans can do enough to win this game.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ New England Patriots
Pick: Jaguars
This is the game I expect the Patriots true weaknesses to come out. They had the easiest schedule in the league by a good margin this year. They went 1-2 against winning teams (record above .500). I think they will be exposed by this Jaguars team defensively and also in the run game offensively. This could be close, but the Jaguars should win this one.
Conference Championships
Philadelphia Eagles @ Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Seahawks
This Seattle defense should dominate this game. They will shut the Eagles down. Darnold and the offense should be just fine doing what they have been doing to win games recently: run the ball and don’t turn it over.
Houston Texans @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Pick: Texans
I’m taking the Texans defense to shut the Jaguars down. Again, I think the Texans offense will do well enough to win the game. Very similar to the Seahawks in the NFC.
Super Bowl
Houston Texans vs. Seattle Seahawks
Pick: Seahawks
We saw this matchup earlier this season. Both defenses wreaked havoc but one offense clearly performed better than the other: the Seahawks. What a defensive battle this would be. A couple of the best defensives we have seen in several years. Mike Macdonald come home with a trophy and Klint Kubiak should head off to be the HC of a new team. Again, I could also see the Rams win the Super Bowl just as easily, but the Seahawks are the best team in the league until proven otherwise.
