Championship Predictions for the 2025-2026 NFL Playoffs: Divisional Nitty Gritty

In the NFL postseason games are more difficult to predict because so much is on the line and the losing team always goes home for the season. With that said, I picked just one game correct in the divisional playoff round. The teams that did advance probably is a good thing for the league because the four best teams all season are in the league championship games.

With my picks, several games could have actually gone the other way and if they had, I would perhaps had a few additional picks that were correct. Before I make my picks for which two teams are headed for the Super Bowl and the last game of the season, a look back at the scores and my thoughts from the divisional round.

Denver 33 Buffalo 30 (Harv’s score Bills 27-17). The Bills players and coaches will be whining all offseason about the interception the Broncos pulled off late in that game as they believe it was not an interception but a reception. Regardless, the bottom line is they didn’t play well enough to win and that is all that matters. You have to feel for Josh Allen as this was his big chance to finally reach the Super Bowl with no Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, or Lamar Jackson in the mix, but simply put, Allen just did not play well enough.

As for the Broncos, Bo Nix was injured and is out of the playoffs the rest of the way. That opens the door very wide for the New England Patriots to make their way to the big dance. Jarrett Stidham is now the starter who hasn’t thrown a pass in two years. OUCH.

Seattle 41 San Francisco 6 (Harv’s score 49ers 30-27). I really thought San Francisco despite being on the road was the better team. I was WAY off. The New York Jets must be kicking themselves after this result having had Sam Darnold as their quarterback a few years ago. Now Darnold and his ‘Hawks are the favorites to reach the Super Bowl. If they win it all what a story Darnold has to tell. San Franciso was beat up all season long, so it really isn’t a surprise they lost.

New England 28 Houston 16 (Harv’s score Texans 17-13). Is Drake Maye the league’s Most Valuable Player? We will find out soon enough but because of the injury to Bo Nix, he has an excellent shot of getting to the Super Bowl. After the beat down the Texans did on my Steelers, I believed their defense would do the same to New England. Not so. The Patriots wore down the Texans and C.J. Stroud, who had three turnovers in Pittsburgh, had four more on this day. That will not win you a football game.

Los Angeles Rams 20 Chicago 17 (Harv’s score Rams 35-21). The Bears had this game won. But Matthew Stafford, being one of the all-time great quarterbacks that he is, saved the day for the Rams. As I said with the Jaguars when they got bumped from the playoffs, there is nothing to hang your heads about Chicago Bears and their fan base. Chicago had an amazing year, Caleb Williams has arrived, and they have a new rookie coach who took the team much further than what was expected. NO ONE thought the Chicago Bears would be division champions. Now the Rams move on to Seattle in an effort to get back to the Super Bowl.

Interestingly enough, all four teams in the conference championship games have won Super Bowls. New England has six, the Denver Broncos with five, the Seahawks have one, and the Rams have won it twice. For Steelers fans they will be rooting for Denver I’m sure as they don’t want New England becoming the team with the most Super Bowl victories at seven. Who’s advancing?