NFL Playoff Futures Predictions: Who Will Make the Playoffs in the 2026 Season?

The clock is ticking for the first game of the 2026 NFL season, as the Patriots vs. Seahawks collide in a Super Bowl LX rematch on Wednesday, September 9. Then, the 49ers and Rams battle on Thursday, September 10, in Australia.

We’ll get a good look at potential NFL playoff contenders right off the bat, shifting our attention to which franchises could be bound for the 2026 postseason. PrizePicks offers a wide range of 2026 NFL futures, including playoff qualifiers, win totals, the Super Bowl winner, and player season-long stats on the NFLSZN board. 

Let’s dive into the NFL playoff futures via PrizePicks, followed by our best NFL playoff predictions for the upcoming 2026 season. 

Make NFL playoff predictions for the 2026 season on PrizePicks! 

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2026 NFL Playoff Futures via PrizePicks

Users can make NFL playoff predictions for all 32 teams on PrizePicks, headlined by the Rams (1.19x), Bills (1.26x), and Ravens (1.28x) with the shortest payouts to qualify.

The lower the payout multiplier, the higher the chance of the outcome occurring, according to user picks. Higher payouts bring a larger potential payout, but that pick’s laced with a lower probability.

Payouts indicate real-money earnings if a prediction is correct. For example, a 1.19x on a $100 entry pays out $119 on PrizePicks.

Check out payouts for NFL playoff qualifiers for the 2026 season, featuring Yes or No for the 20 teams with the shortest payouts to appear in the postseason.

Lock in NFL playoff picks on PrizePicks before Week 1!

Best NFL Playoff Futures Predictions

Potential basement dwellers also have some of the highest payouts to appear in the playoffs, including the Titans (4.76x), Raiders (5.88x), Cardinals (10x), and Dolphins (11.11x). 

However, our attention is on finding the best value on the board. Here are three teams that could make the 2026 NFL Playoffs.

Cowboys to Qualify for 2026 NFL Playoff: Yes 1.72x | No 2.04x

After trading EDGE Micah Parsons to the Packers, the Cowboys just about wrote off the 2025 season before it even began. Throughout Dallas’ 7-9-1 campaign, there were positives for the future, though.

Let’s get the obvious one out of the way: WR George Pickens was a monster with 93 receptions, 1,429 receiving yards, and 9 TDs. Pickens, alongside three-time All-Pro WR CeeDee Lamb — who posted 1,077 yards in only 14 games last season — forms a nearly unstoppable force. 

According to RBSDM, QB Dak Prescott continued to showcase high-level efficiency with his 0.201 adjusted EPA per play (seventh). Plus, RB Javonte Williams had a career-best season by logging 1,201 rushing yards and 4.8 yards per carry. 

In head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s first season, the offense was truly elite, totaling 27.7 PPG (fifth), 5.9 yards per play (third), and 0.109 EPA per play (fifth). However, the defense allowed 30.1 PPG (32nd), 6.1 yards per play (31st), and 0.162 EPA per play (32nd).

If this defense does not improve, the playoffs are likely a lost cause. However, the addition of DT Quinnen Williams during the 2025 campaign was vital. He once again proved he’s one of the best interior defensive linemen around, totaling 35 stops (eighth), 39 QB hurries (fourth), and 51 total pressures (seventh), via Pro Football Focus.

Alongside DT Kenny Clark and rookie EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku emerging throughout 2025, Williams anchored a solid defensive line. ESPN gave Dallas a 40% pass rush win rate (ninth) and a 32% run stuff win rate (fifth). 

The Cowboys signed EDGE Rashan Gary in free agency, traded for LB Dee Winters, drafted first-round EDGE Malachi Lawrence, and LB DeMarvion Overshown enters 2026 healthy. Most importantly, Christian Parker is the new defensive coordinator, and the #11 pick from the 2026 NFL Draft, S Caleb Downs, holds true star potential in the secondary.

In fact, Downs has the third-shortest payout to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (5.88x) on PrizePicks. Alongside Downs, LB Jaishawn Barham is generating perhaps the most hype among Cowboys rookies.

The cornerback room remains a concern, featuring CBs DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant, Caelen Carson, and Shavon Revel Jr. However, if this defense approaches even mediocrity, the Cowboys may attain double-digit wins and a playoff berth thanks to an elite offense.

Predict the Cowboys to make the 2026 NFL Playoffs on PrizePicks.

Jaguars to Qualify for 2026 NFL Playoff: Yes 1.88x | No 1.85x

The Jaguars’ payouts to qualify for the playoff are essentially a coin flip. Jacksonville was excellent in head coach Liam Coen’s first season, amassing a 13-4 record while winning the AFC South. Keep in mind, the Jags were an abysmal 4-13 in the 2024 campaign.

Coen and his Jaguars were truly one of the league’s best teams to end the regular season, ripping off eight consecutive wins with an average margin of +18.9 points per game. They even pushed QB Josh Allen and the Bills to the brink in a wild-card matchup, with Buffalo scoring a game-winning touchdown with 1:04 on the clock in the 27-24 final.

This scorching run included QB Trevor Lawrence shapeshifting into the Human Torch over the final five regular-season contests, racking up 8.3 yards per passing attempt with 274.2 passing yards, 2.6 passing TDs, and 0.2 INTs per game in the split. 

The emergence of WR Parker Washington played a major factor, proven by 115.7 receiving yards per game over his last three regular season games. He carried the hot streak to the playoffs with 107 yards vs. the Bills. Now, Washington is potentially WR1 entering 2026. 

We can’t forget about WR Brian Thomas Jr. logging 1,282 receiving yards in 2024, and he’s healthy ahead of 2026 — something that was not the case a year ago. 

This defense was no slouch either, holding teams to 20.2 PPG (ninth) and 5.0 yards per play (ninth) last season. The unit’s advanced numbers were even better, including -0.079 EPA per play allowed (fifth). 

Lawrence’s operation of Coen’s offense was silky-smooth toward the end of 2026. This, paired with a potentially strong receiving corps, generates real hype to appear in the playoffs once again. 

Take the Jaguars to make the 2026 NFL Playoffs on PrizePicks.

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Saints to Qualify for 2026 NFL Playoff: Yes 2.56x | No 1.47x

Death, taxes, and the NFC South featuring a weak group of teams. All four squads finished with losing records last season. This is nothing new, as the NFC South fielded four losing teams in 2022 as well.

Over the past four seasons, this division has produced one team with double-digit wins — the 2024 Buccaneers (10-7). This stumbling stretch will likely continue, with the Buccaneers (1.51x for 8+ wins), Falcons (1.53x for 6+ wins), Panthers (1.63x for 7+ wins), and Saints (1.69x for 8+ wins) all carrying underwhelming win total payouts via PrizePicks.

It’s unlikely we see an NFC South squad earn a wild card spot, but someone from this division is guaranteed a postseason bid. According to PrizePicks, the Buccaneers (2.5x) and Saints (3.22x) have the lowest payouts to win the NFC South.

Between the two, New Orleans could be the most intriguing take to qualify for the playoffs (2.56x). The Saints enter their second season under head coach Kellen Moore, who orchestrated a 6-11 record in 2025 compared to 5-12 in the 2024 season.

We have reason to believe a turnaround could be ahead, though. First, second-year QB Tyler Shough enters the season as the full-time starter. He started in only nine games last season, producing a solid 1.6 completion percentage over expectation (15th). 

Furthermore, Shough’s 8.5 air yards per passing attempt (ninth) could help increase New Orleans’ 6.8 yards per passing attempt (18th) from 2025, unlike QB Spencer Rattler’s 8.0 air yards per attempt (17th) a year ago.

After posting 1,163 receiving yards last season, WR Chris Olave is healthy, and adding RB Travis Etienne Jr. to the backfield is a notable upgrade over an aging RB Alvin Kamara, who is battling a knee injury. PlayerProfiler credited Etienne with 1,014 yards created (eighth) in 2025.

The first-round rookie WR Jordyn Tyson could be the X-factor for a playoff berth. Kellen Moore is one of the league’s best play-callers, and with a stronger cast, this offense may make a serious leap from last year’s 18.0 PPG (28th). However, that involves Tyson getting healthy.

The rookie, who was enjoying a standout offseason, suffered a hamstring injury in August. Tyson was placed on injured reserve ahead of roster cuts, meaning he will miss at least the first four games. 

If Tyson can return fully healthy before the halfway mark of the season, don’t be surprised if the Saints make a real push for an NFC South title and playoff berth.

Lock in your NFL predictions on PrizePicks — featuring season-long player stats, awards, playoff qualifiers, and more!

Make 2026 NFL Predictions on PrizePicks

The Cowboys and Saints hope to improve from losing seasons in 2025, while the Jaguars seek to follow up last year’s excellent finish with another playoff appearance behind Trevor Lawrence and Liam Coen.

The NFL regular season begins on September 9, and users can make NFL predictions for the upcoming 2026 season, including playoff qualifiers, the Super Bowl winner, win totals, and more on PrizePicks Team Picks — available in 36 states!

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