Divisional Predictions for the 2025-2026 NFL Playoffs: Dividing the Teams

The NFL is down to its elite eight. That is the number of teams remaining in the race to this season’s Super Bowl. It is the divisional round of the playoffs and in last week’s wild card round six teams were eliminated. There were some upsets and some shocking results as well as a handful of close calls. As I’ve done all season before I get to my divisional predictions first are the reactions to last week’s results.

Bears 31 Packers 27 (Harv’s score Bears 20-14). The proof is in the pudding. Without Micah Parsons, the Packers had no shot at the Super Bowl. When he started with Green Bay earlier this season the buzz was, they were instant Super Bowl contenders. While he helped their defense once he was done for the season with an injury, it was lights out for the Pack. Chicago and their first-year head coach Ben Johnson should be Coach of the Year for getting Chicago to this point. They ain’t done yet.

49ers 23 Eagles 19 (Harv’s score 49ers 28-17). With the Philly loss we get a brand-new Super Bowl champion this year as the defending AFC champion Chiefs failed to even make the postseason. San Francisco continues to amaze with a season filled with injuries.

Rams 31 Panthers 31 (Harv’s score Rams 35-20). Carolina had this game won with the clock winding down in the fourth quarter and leading 31-27 but the great Matthew Stafford found Colby Parkinson for a 19-yard touchdown pass with just 38 seconds left in the game. The Rams had a scare. The Panthers at 8-9 did not play like a team that finished with a record under .500.

Patriots 16 Chargers 3 (Harv’s score Chargers 31-28). They talk about Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and his failures in the post season, but Justin Herbert should be in that conversation as well. The Chargers’ offense simply did not show up. Drake Maye continues to impress but next week he as the nasty Houston Texans defense to go up against.

Bills 27 Jaguars 24 (Harv’s score Jaguars 24-21). Just like the Rams game, the Jacksonville Jaguars had Josh Allen and his Bills with their backs to the wall and about to be eliminated when they carried a 24-20 lead late in the game only to see the former M.V.P. Allen march his team downfield and win the game with a one yard touchdown run from Allen himself. The Jags should hold their heads high. They have nothing to be ashamed of and had themselves a great season.

Texans 30 Steelers 6 (Harv’s score Steelers 27-17). As a Steelers fan this is a hard recap to write. I really never thought the Steelers would go the entire game without a touchdown. I also underestimated the Texans while knowing they had a great defense, I thought we could contain their offense. As Pittsburgh forced three offensive turnovers, what was a stout rushing defense down the stretch of the season broke down in the second half of this game and the Texans’ defense made Aaron Rodgers look as old as his 42 years are. The result probably cemented Mike Tomlin’s decision to step down as head coach a day later. This is Tomlin’s seventh straight playoff loss and sixth in a row in the first round. Win or lose, it was his time to resign. As for the Texans, that defense is like said prior…NASTY.

Now we get to the final eight. Next weekend we find out who will represent the AFC and NFC in the Super Bowl. For all eight teams, someone is going to lose, and another team is going to the next round. For Josh Allen, without Patrick Mahomes in the dance, no Lamar Jackson, no Joe Burrow, and no legacy player like Aaron Rodgers, he can have no excuse for not finally reaching the big one. He is the best quarterback, remaining hands down.

Divisional Round Predictions