With training camp approaching, the first pass at the 2026 playoff field is a messy one. The league feels deeper than ever, and that makes even the safest-looking teams a little less safe. There’s a real chance several 10-win clubs wind up on the outside when the regular season ends.
That’s the backdrop for this early projection of all 14 playoff teams and their seeds, starting at the bottom of the bracket and working upward.
In the AFC, the Jacksonville Jaguars land in the 7th seed. Jacksonville surged during the 2025 season and looked like a team ready to make noise in the postseason before Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills went on the road and shut the door. Even so, year one under Liam Coen was a clear success, and the Jaguars emerged as a real AFC contender.
The concern comes from what James Gladstone did this offseason. The Jaguars’ best move may have been keeping the group together, but instead they let running back Travis Etienne and linebacker Devin Lloyd test free agency and walk to other teams. That decision could age badly, and it nearly pushed Jacksonville out of this projection entirely.
Etienne piled up nearly 1,400 yards from scrimmage with 13 total touchdowns and just one fumble. Lloyd added five interceptions, 6 tackles for loss, and 10 QB hits.
They ended up with the Saints and Panthers, respectively, for a combined $28 million average annual salary. That’s a steep number, but the Jaguars may have been better off paying it.
Still, the roster built last season looks strong enough to carry Jacksonville back to 10 or 11 wins and another playoff trip.
In the NFC, the 7th seed goes to the Chicago Bears. They were one of the most enjoyable teams to follow in the first season of the Ben Johnson era, and Caleb Williams made major progress as a player as the offense started to click.
The reason Chicago slips from NFC North champion to the final wild card spot here comes down to what happened on defense. There was too much turnover, and not enough added to the pass rush for this year. That makes repeating last season’s success a tougher ask.
The Bears did lead the NFC in takeaways last season, but the rest of the defensive profile was shaky. They ranked 23rd in points allowed, 29th in yards allowed, 22nd against the pass, and 27th against the run. Even with those concerns, the talent on the roster still looks good enough to produce at least 10 wins and secure a postseason berth.
In Other News...
Jaguars Fans Are Stunned By The News Involving Calais Campbells Family
The Jaguars community is reacting to heartbreaking news involving one of the franchises most respected former players, as Calais Campbells family has been thrown into mourning. Nateal Campbell, his mother, was found dead in her Atlanta home, a development that has stunned fans who remember Calais not just for his play, but for the steady presence and leadership he brought to Jacksonville.
The Campbell family has since released a statement expressing grief and asking for privacy while the investigation continues. For Jaguars fans, the story lands far beyond football, a painful reminder that some news cuts deeper than anything that happens on a field, and that the focus now is on the familys loss and the uncertainty still surrounding it. [Read more 🡒]
Travis Hunters Comeback Just Put One Big Jaguars Question In Focus
Travis Hunters rookie year ended before it ever really got going, but the Jaguars are already looking ahead to what comes next. The first-round pick was lost after an Oct. 30 practice injury and has since gone through surgery, while Jacksonville has kept the focus on his long-term role rather than the setback itself.
Hunter is documenting the rehab process on YouTube, giving fans a clearer look at the work behind his comeback. The bigger question for the Jaguars is whether the plan that made him so unique in the first place still holds, because the team continues to view him as a two-way player and expects him back in time for training camp. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Face A Tough Parker Washington Decision They Can't Ignore
The Jaguars have made a habit of getting ahead of the market with young players, locking up key pieces early in their careers and trying to keep their roster costs manageable before they balloon. That approach has already shown up with names like Jakobi Meyers and Cole Van Lanen, and it is now putting Parker Washington in the spotlight after he emerged as a much more productive part of the offense once he was moved into a starting role last season.
Washington did not spend the first stretch of the year as a full-time player, but injuries changed his path and his role grew quickly from there. With the receiver market continuing to climb, the timing of any extension matters for Jacksonville, and the front office has a chance to decide whether Washington is the kind of player worth securing before the price tag gets any steeper. [Read more 🡒]