The 2026 NFL Divisional Round is getting set to kick off this weekend with some huge matchups. Many of the teams have already played and defeated their Wild Card opponents.
The top seeds in both conferences are now preparing to play after their first-round bye.
Anything can happen in the 2025 postseason. These playoffs already have the most fourth-quarter lead changes and the most game-winning touchdowns in the final three minutes in a single postseason in NFL history. The next round should provide us with just as much action.
Los Angeles is getting set to face the Chicago Bears in the Divisional round after they defeated the Panthers. The Houston Texans have a date with the Patriots after they destroyed the Pittsburgh Steelers. They might be down a dynamic player in Nico Collins after he was carted off the field. San Francisco took down the defending Super Bowl Champs on the road. They have a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers lost George Kittle for the rest of the playoffs in that first round. Buffalo squeezed out a victory over the Jaguars to set up a matchup with the Broncos.
ESPN’s computer model, the Football Power Index, already knows what is going to happen. It has predicted the winner of all four games this weekend.
First up is the Denver Broncos against the Buffalo Bills. The model has Denver moving on to the AFC Championship game.
Winner: Broncos, 50.7 percent chance
The next game is the Seattle Seahawks at home against the San Francisco 49ers. ESPN’s computer model predicts that the Seahawks will move on to the NFC Championship game.
Winner: Seahawks, 59.2 percent chance
The third game features the New England Patriots taking on the Houston Texans in the Divisional round. ESPN’s model has the Patriots winning and taking on Denver in the AFC championship game.
Winner: Patriots, 51.7 percent chance
Last but not least, the Chicago Bears face the Los Angeles Rams. Here is the upset as the model has the road team coming out with the win.
Winner: Rams, 61.8 percent chance
This won’t make Bears fans happy to see this.