NFL playoff predictions for 2026 include surprising teams
CBS Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 23, 2026, 11:56 AM
Last updated Sep 23, 2026
As the NFL enters Week 3, early playoff predictions suggest surprises in both conferences. In the projected AFC bracket, the Chiefs (2-0) are favored for the No. 1 seed, with the Texans (0-2) and Colts (0-2) both making the postseason. Notable in the NFC is the Panthers (1-1), predicted to win the NFC South with a record as low as 7-10. Expectations are also set for the wild-card round, where the Broncos are forecasted to upset the Ravens, and the Lions are predicted to narrowly defeat the 49ers. These projections come from simulations by CBS Sports as teams contend for Super Bowl LXI.
- •Chiefs projected as No. 1 seed in the AFC
- •Panthers could win NFC South with losing record
- •Broncos expected to upset Ravens in wild-card round
- •Two 0-2 teams from AFC South projected to make playoffs
- •Lions favored to defeat 49ers in wild-card matchup
- 11:56 AMCBS Sports — Predicting full 14-team NFL playoff bracket entering Week 3, including history-making Super Bowl
"The early postseason forecast includes several surprises, from two winless AFC South teams getting in to Carolina winning its division with a losing record
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