The 2026 NFL playoffs have reached the Divisional Round. Only 8 teams remain. The winners this weekend will move on to the conference championships, with a trip to Super Bowl 60 on the line.
One of the AFC matchups features the Denver Broncos hosting the Buffalo Bills. Denver entered the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Broncos earned a first round bye and have not played since Week 18. Buffalo came in as the No. 6 seed and had to fight its way forward. The Bills went on the road in the Wild Card Round and defeated the No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars 27-24 to keep their season alive.
The Broncos and Bills will open the Divisional Round on Saturday, January 17. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET at Empower Field at Mile High. After the game, the winner will have to wait until Sunday to find out their opponent for the AFC Championship.
Both teams share the same possible opponent in the next round. The winner of Bills vs Broncos will face whoever wins the Divisional Round matchup between the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans.
If Denver wins on Saturday, the Broncos will host the AFC Championship Game at home. If Buffalo wins, the Bills will have to go on the road regardless of whether the Patriots or Texans advance.
The Patriots enter the Divisional Round as the No. 2 seed in the AFC. New England finished the regular season with a 14-3 record. The combination of new head coach Mike Vrabel and second-year quarterback Drake Maye has delivered immediate results. Maye played all 17 games this season and threw for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. His performance placed him firmly in the MVP discussion.
New England hosted the No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round. The game was not pretty, but the Patriots controlled it defensively and walked away with a 16-3 win.
Houston enters the postseason as the No. 5 seed and brings one of the league’s most dangerous defenses. The Texans led the NFL in takeaways and pressure. Four different players recorded 4 interceptions each during the regular season. Danielle Hunter finished with 15 sacks, while Will Anderson Jr. added 12 more.
The Texans had to travel for their Wild Card matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The game was close early, but Houston took over late. With just over 11 minutes left, the Texans scored on a scoop-and-score, followed it with an offensive touchdown, and then sealed the win with a pick-six. Houston cruised to a 30-6 victory.
Now, the path is clear. Win on Saturday, and either the Bills or Broncos will move one step closer to Super Bowl 60. The only question left is whether they will be heading to New England or Houston for the AFC Championship.
