The road from the Divisional Round to the Super Bowl: NFL playoff bracket, matchups, and predictions

With Wild Card weekend behind us, our attention turns to the final eight teams taking part in what promises to be an extremely exciting Divisional Round.

As Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills prepare to take on the Broncos’ suffocating defense, and the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks reignite their NFC West rivalry with everything on the line, the path to Super Bowl LX is coming into focus.

Here is my early read on how it all plays out. I've forecasted the results of the Divisional Round and Conference Championship games before predicting which team will hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy in February.

The article will be updated again after the Divisional Round results are in.

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Divisional Round

Enter the No. 1-seeded Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks.

AFC

Buffalo Bills @ Denver Broncos

Allen spurns a golden opportunity, with Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson not making the postseason, to exorcise his postseason demons. This time, it's Bo Nix - a quarterback nowhere near his own level who authors Allen's playoff exit.

More accurately, it's Denver's shutdown defense that deserves most of the credit, after doing what they have all year - creating relentless pressure and leaving Sean Payton's offence with precious little to do.

Predicted winner: Broncos

Houston Texans @ New England Patriots

Maye and his offensive line vs. the incredible Texans' pass rush and secondary will be a titanic battle. Whichever side wins that matchup will likely come out on top. Will Campbell had better be on his toes.

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will have a game plan for Hunter and Anderson, likely featuring chip blocks, double-teams, quick throws and a heavy dose of the ground game.

With Nico Collins, Dalton Schultz, and tailback Woody Marks, quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Texans' offense can put up enough points to keep this close, but ultimately, I'm siding with a Patriots win.

Predicted winner: Patriots

NFC

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks

Does it get any better than watching two division foes battle it out with the season on the line? CMAC vs. the dominant Seahawks D? I, for one, cannot wait for this one.

As gifted as McCaffrey is, it's hard to look beyond Aden Durde's defense, especially when we consider that George Kittle will be watching from the sidelines.

Sam Darnold and JSN combine to devastating effect, as they have all season, to punch Seattle's ticket to the NFC Championship game.

Predicted winner: Seahawks

Los Angeles Rams @ Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams and the Bears continue to astound, even if they wait until the dying minutes of games to produce their best.

As much as it would be fun for the fairytale to continue, and as vulnerable as the Rams have looked of late, Stafford and Nacua are just too good to exit at the hands of a side that hasn't yet reached their peak, surely?

The Bears' remarkable turnaround has been as impressive as it has been fun to watch, and with Williams, Kyle Monangai, Luther Burden, Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland, they should be no stranger to the playoffs for years to come. For now, though, I'm leaning toward a Rams' victory in this one.

Predicted winner: Rams

Conference Round

AFC

New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos

This would be a game for the ages, featuring young, ascending quarterbacks on both sides and two of the most talented head coaches in football going head-to-head. On one side, you have arguably the best quarterback of 2025 and on the other, a top-three defense. Chaos will surely ensue.

After defeating the Chargers and Texans en route to the AFC Championship game, Maye has learned a thing or two about how to defeat talented defenses. That experience counts here.

Mike Vrabel's defense delivers under the bright lights, exposing Nix's inaccuracy under pressure, handing New England the AFC Championship title.

Predicted winner: Patriots

NFC

Seattle Seahawks @ Los Angeles Rams

As good as the Patriots-Broncos game could be, this could be even better. It has some similarities to the AFC game, too, in the sense that it's a potent offense (Rams) vs a great defense (Seahawks).

If any game so far is to test what Stafford is made of, it's this one. The Seahawks lead the NFL in run defense, allowing only 3.7 yards per carry, suggesting they have what it takes to contain Kyren Williams and Blake Corum.

Even so, the veteran quarterback passes yet another tough test, leaning heavily on his dangerous arsenal of weapons in the passing game to topple the favourites to win Super Bowl LX.

Predicted winner: Rams

Super Bowl

New England Patriots vs Los Angeles Rams

Here we are, then. The big one. The only game that really matters. The contest all 32 teams strive to play in. And what a final this would be.

Neutral fans who have been following the NFL for more than six years may groan at the prospect of seeing the Patriots in yet another Super Bowl. I get it. Others may question whether their soft schedule means they'll come unstuck long before they reach this point. I get that, too. If there is any consolation for those fans, it's this: I believe this is Stafford's year.

On paper, New England may measure up well with the Rams, but Stafford to Nacua has been as unstoppable as any combination all year, whether Christian Gonzalez is back on the fold or not.

When you also factor in Kyren Williams and Blake Corum keeping the chains moving and Adams catching his trademark 1-yard touchdowns, Los Angeles will be more than a handful for this Patriots D.

Couple that offensive firepower with the fearsome Rams' defensive line, which can create no end of problems for opponents, and it equals success for Sean McVay's side.

Predicted winner and Super Bowl LX champions: Rams

Final thoughts

I've never seen anyone correctly predict every outcome throughout any of the 22 NFL playoffs I've followed during my lifetime. These predictions will be no different, and it won't simply be because of the injuries we cannot foresee, the weather which can swing outcomes, or the fluke plays that often prove pivotal.

Upsets happen all the time, when players who have flown under the radar suddenly produce at the highest level, and regular-season heroes disappear when they're needed the most. That's football.

The parity of the league, not to mention the fact that so many juggernauts are missing from the 2025/26 playoffs, makes it all the more exciting this time around. So buckle in, take advantage of DAZN's offer to watch the entire postseason for just £14.99, and enjoy.

One last thing. Don’t forget to check in on this article after the Divisional Round has concluded. I'll update the matchups if I get any results wrong, and may even change predictions if the teams who have advanced show us anything new.