The dust has finally settled on one of the most chaotic Wild Card weekends we've ever seen. Seriously, four games decided by four points or fewer? That's a record. If your heart rate hasn't returned to normal yet, you aren't alone. We are now staring down a divisional round that feels like a massive power shift in the conference. The nfc nfl playoff bracket is officially down to four teams, and if you haven't noticed, the NFC West is basically running the show right now.
Three of the four remaining teams in the conference come from that single division. It’s wild. The Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers are all still alive, leaving the Chicago Bears as the lone representative from the rest of the conference. It’s a bloodbath.
How the Bracket Looks Right Now
The bracket is set for the Divisional Round, and honestly, the matchups are spicy. Because the NFL reseeds after every round, the lowest remaining seed always travels to the highest remaining seed.
Here is the current situation for January 17 and 18, 2026:
The No. 1 seed Seattle Seahawks (14-3) are coming off their bye week and will host the No. 6 seed San Francisco 49ers (12-5). This is a massive rematch. They just played each other in the regular-season finale back on January 3, where Seattle squeezed out a 13-3 win to lock up the top spot. Now, the 49ers are heading back to Lumen Field after knocking off the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles in a 23-19 nail-biter.
Then you've got the No. 2 seed Chicago Bears (11-6) hosting the No. 5 seed Los Angeles Rams (12-5). Chicago is coming off a high-stakes 31-27 win over the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford—the only quarterback left in the NFC field who has actually won a Super Bowl—just led the Rams to a 34-31 victory over the Panthers.
It's a "youth vs. experience" story. You have Caleb Williams, the rookie sensation in Chicago, going up against a 37-year-old veteran who knows exactly how to navigate January football.
The San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks Rivalry
This game is the headliner for Saturday night. It’s at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
Most people are leaning toward Seattle because of that No. 1 seed and the home-field advantage. Lumen Field is a nightmare for opposing offenses. However, don't sleep on the 49ers. Even though they are the No. 6 seed, they actually have the same regular-season record as the Rams (12-5). They just lost the tiebreakers.
Kyle Shanahan’s group is battle-tested. Beating the Eagles in Philadelphia last week was no small feat. They survived a 10-play drive at the end of the game to hold onto that lead. The big question is whether Brock Purdy can handle the "12th Man" crowd noise better than he did two weeks ago.
Seattle’s defense under Mike Macdonald has been elite. They finished the season with one of the best scoring defenses in the league. They aren't flashy, but they are disciplined. They’ve basically built a system designed to frustrate the exact kind of horizontal passing game that San Francisco loves to run.
Can Caleb Williams and the Bears Protect Soldier Field?
Sunday night belongs to the Windy City. The Rams travel to Chicago for a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC.
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This is the game where the nfc nfl playoff bracket gets really interesting. If the Rams win, they could potentially host the NFC Championship game if the 49ers also upset Seattle. That would be a "Wild Card" hosting a title game, which is the kind of chaos we live for.
But the Bears are different this year. Caleb Williams has lived up to every bit of the hype. In the Wild Card win against Green Bay, he showed a level of poise that you just don't see from first-year players. He’s mobile, he’s got a cannon for an arm, and he isn't afraid of the big moment.
The problem? Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp. The Rams’ offense is a machine when it’s healthy. They put up 34 points on a very good Carolina defense last week. Stafford is playing some of the best football of his career, and Sean McVay is still a wizard when it comes to second-half adjustments.
Chicago's defense has to find a way to get pressure without blitzing. If you blitz Stafford, he will pick you apart. Honestly, this might be the most "even" matchup on the board despite the seeding difference.
What Everyone is Missing About the NFC Seeding
There’s a lot of talk about how the Eagles and Cowboys (who didn't even make it this far) underperformed. But the real story is the NFC North and West.
The Green Bay Packers actually made it in as the No. 7 seed with a 9-7-1 record. That tie was huge. It’s what got them in over the Vikings. But Chicago proved they are the kings of the North right now.
Another weird detail? The Carolina Panthers won the NFC South with an 8-9 record. People love to complain about a sub-.500 team hosting a playoff game, and the Rams proved why that's a thing by going into Charlotte and winning. It was the "expected" result, but the Panthers almost pulled it off, losing by just three points.
Looking Ahead to the NFC Championship
Whoever wins these two games will meet on Sunday, January 25, at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
If Seattle wins, they host. If Seattle loses, the winner of the Rams/Bears game hosts.
The path to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara is narrowing. It’s ironic, really—the Super Bowl is being played at Levi’s Stadium, the home of the 49ers. Imagine the 49ers winning two road games as a No. 6 seed just to play a "home" Super Bowl. It’s a long shot, but in this year's bracket, nothing is off the table.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you are following the bracket or looking at the lines, keep these specific factors in mind for the weekend:
- Watch the Injury Reports for Seattle's Secondary: They rely heavily on their corners to play man-to-man. If they are banged up, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk will have a field day.
- The Weather Factor in Chicago: Soldier Field in mid-January is no joke. The Rams are a dome team. While Stafford has played in the cold (Detroit years), the rest of that roster might struggle with the wind off the lake.
- Rest vs. Rust: Seattle hasn't played in two weeks. San Francisco just played a physical, draining game against Philly. The first quarter will tell you everything you need to know about who is more prepared.
- Quarterback Age Gap: We are seeing a historic gap. Seven of the eight remaining quarterbacks in the whole NFL are under 30. Stafford is the outlier. Experience usually wins in the playoffs, but the "new guard" is exceptionally talented this year.
The road to the Super Bowl is officially running through the Pacific Northwest and the shores of Lake Michigan. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just trying to win your office pool, keep your eyes on the NFC West dominance. They’ve turned the conference into their own private invitational.
Check the official NFL schedule for any last-minute flex changes, though the primary windows for the Divisional Round are now locked in. Be ready for a long Saturday night and an even longer Sunday.