NFL Divisional Round Preview: Key Matchups to Watch For

The top seeds will look to establish themselves after a week off against teams riding momentum from big fourth-quarter comeback wins.

Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos looks to pass in the second quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field At Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on Jan. 4, 2026. Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

The Divisional Round will be hard-pressed to match the wildness of Wild Card weekend with four one-score games.

Regardless, this weekend’s matchups deliver eight battle-tested teams determined to keep their seasons going. None of these teams has fewer than 11 wins, and that doesn’t always happen. It’s also a very different-looking Divisional Round than last year, with five new teams.