Several AFC heavyweights failed to make the playoffs in 2025. Both the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs failed to qualify for the postseason. Baltimore has a new head coach, while the Chiefs will try to return to pre-2025 form.
The Denver Broncos captured the AFC’s top seed but fell to the second-seeded New England Patriots thanks to an injury to quarterback Bo Nix in the closing moments of a Divisional Round win. Jacksonville won the AFC South and third seed, followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the fourth seed. In order, the wildcard teams were the Houston Texans, the Buffalo Bills, and the Los Angeles Chargers. Houston fell to New England, and Buffalo fell to Denver in the Divisional Round.
With a new slate heading into 2026, several teams are set up for success. Others feel like their 2025 was an aberration and hope to prove it this year. I’ve already made predictions for how each division will play out. Here are predictions for which AFC teams will qualify for the postseason in 2026.
1. BUFFALO BILLS (AFC East Winner)
2. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (AFC West Winner)
3. HOUSTON TEXANS (AFC South Winner)
4. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (AFC North Winner)
5. BALTIMORE RAVENS (WC 1)
6. DENVER BRONCOS (WC 2)
7. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (WC 3)
Buffalo making the postseason is as close a lock as there can be. Josh Allen has been in the playoffs in each of the last six years and gets to play a second-place schedule. The teams that won their divisions last year, like New England and Denver, will find it hard to repeat.
Both, however, return enough intact to qualify as wildcards. Playing the Jets and Dolphins should give Buffalo and New England four wins each, and New England added receivers AJ Brown and Romeo Doubs.
Houston and Jacksonville were neck and neck last year, and Houston can rely more on a consistent defense. The Jaguars crept up on everyone last year. They could finish with a winning record but miss out. Baltimore should bounce back, especially with a healthy Lamar Jackson. The Chargers look great on both sides on paper and get back offensive linemen Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. If one gets hurt again, it may all fall apart.
A lot of people are expecting the Chiefs to bounce back and either win the division or make the postseason. There’s still a strong chance of that happening, but much of Kansas City’s dominance came when the rest of the division was average or bad.
Mahomes getting injured late last year and returning as if nothing happened doesn’t seem likely. He may still be better than half the NFL’s other signal callers, but the league has caught up to him and his team.
Factor in that last year showed some cracks, and the Chiefs could miss the playoffs for the second year in a row. The receiving corps is still average, and Travis Kelce is a year older. Kenneth Walker will help, but the Chiefs aren’t renowned for their run blocking.
Some think Cincinnati will be better, and they could be. The offense will be among the most potent in the league, but the defense will still be a weak point. With too many other viable squads fighting for position, they’ll miss out again and have to make some big choices in the off-season.
Matthew Serocki is a freelance journalist based outside of Boston, Massachusetts. He’s been an avid NFL and MLB fan for over 35 years, and his favorite teams are the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, and Washington Commanders.
Matt also writes about professional wrestling for Sportskeeda.
