Predicting the full 14-team NFL playoff bracket entering Week 6: 49ers make Super Bowl run, NFC East gets ugly
CBS Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- In Week 5 of the NFL season, all four NFC East teams failed to win, including a rare tie between the Commanders and Giants, highlighting the division's struggles.
- Analytics expert Stephen Oh simulated the entire 2026 NFL season, projecting playoff teams and division winners, with the Eagles expected to win the NFC East despite a losing 8-9 record.
- The AFC playoff field projection includes division winners Chiefs, Bills, Jaguars, and Ravens, with Broncos, Bengals, and Patriots securing wild card spots over Colts and Steelers.
- In the NFC, the 49ers are projected as the top seed, followed by the Vikings, Panthers, and Eagles as division champions, with Seahawks, Lions, and Rams grabbing wild card berths; notably, the Bears are projected to miss the playoffs.
- The simulation predicts a Super Bowl LXI matchup between the 49ers and Chiefs, with the 49ers narrowly winning 25-24 to claim their first Lombardi Trophy since 1994, overcoming past Super Bowl losses to the Chiefs.
