The NFL is currently in the heart of the offseason. As of April 2026, teams are transitioning from the conclusion of the 2025-2026 campaign to the high-stakes preparations for the 2026-2027 season. There are no active regular-season standings at this moment, as the next set of official rankings will begin to take shape when the new season kicks off in September 2026.

For fans and analysts looking to recap the landscape of the league, the final standings from the 2025-2026 season provide the blueprint for the upcoming year, determining everything from the NFL Draft order to the strength of schedule for the 2026 season.

Final NFL Standings for the 2025-2026 Season

The 2025-2026 season was defined by dominant defensive performances and the emergence of new powerhouses in the NFC. Below is the comprehensive breakdown of how the league finished following the regular season.

American Football Conference (AFC) Final Rankings

The AFC remains a gauntlet of elite quarterback talent. The battle for the top seed came down to the final weeks, with historic franchises reclaiming their spots at the summit.

AFC East

  1. New England Patriots (14-3-0) - Clinched Division
  2. Buffalo Bills (12-5-0) - Wild Card
  3. Miami Dolphins (7-10-0)
  4. New York Jets (3-14-0)

The Patriots returned to form with a league-leading road record, while the Bills maintained their consistency despite late-season injuries. The Dolphins and Jets struggled with consistency, leading to significant coaching discussions during the current offseason.

AFC North

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7-0) - Clinched Division
  2. Baltimore Ravens (8-9-0)
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (6-11-0)
  4. Cleveland Browns (5-12-0)

In what is traditionally the toughest division in football, the Steelers relied on a top-five scoring defense to secure the North. The Ravens narrowly missed the postseason, reflecting the razor-thin margins of this division.

AFC South

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4-0) - Clinched Division
  2. Houston Texans (12-5-0) - Wild Card
  3. Indianapolis Colts (8-9-0)
  4. Tennessee Titans (3-14-0)

The Jaguars surged in the second half of the season, riding an eight-game winning streak to secure a high seed. The Texans continued their upward trajectory, proving that their young core is ready for sustained playoff contention.

AFC West

  1. Denver Broncos (14-3-0) - Clinched Division & Home Field
  2. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6-0) - Wild Card
  3. Kansas City Chiefs (6-11-0)
  4. Las Vegas Raiders (3-14-0)

The biggest surprise of the 2025-2026 season was the decline of the Chiefs, who failed to secure a winning record for the first time in over a decade. Meanwhile, the Broncos utilized their home-field advantage at Mile High to dominate the conference.

National Football Conference (NFC) Final Rankings

The NFC saw a shift in power as the North and West divisions produced the most formidable contenders for the Super Bowl.

NFC East

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6-0) - Clinched Division
  2. Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
  3. Washington Commanders (5-12-0)
  4. New York Giants (4-13-0)

The Eagles remained the class of the NFC East, though the division as a whole saw a dip in total win percentage compared to previous years.

NFC North

  1. Chicago Bears (11-6-0) - Clinched Division
  2. Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) - Wild Card
  3. Minnesota Vikings (9-8-0)
  4. Detroit Lions (9-8-0)

The NFC North was the most competitive division in the league, with all four teams remaining in playoff contention until December. The Bears' resurgence has shifted the divisional dynamics heading into 2026.

NFC South

  1. Carolina Panthers (8-9-0) - Clinched Division
  2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9-0)
  3. Atlanta Falcons (8-9-0)
  4. New Orleans Saints (6-11-0)

The "South Scramble" ended with a three-way tie at the top, where tiebreaking procedures involving head-to-head records and divisional win percentages eventually handed the crown to Carolina.

NFC West

  1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3-0) - Clinched Division & Home Field
  2. Los Angeles Rams (12-5-0) - Wild Card
  3. San Francisco 49ers (12-5-0) - Wild Card
  4. Arizona Cardinals (3-14-0)

The NFC West sent three teams to the playoffs, highlighting its status as a premier conference powerhouse. The Seahawks' defensive unit was the statistical leader in several categories, including points allowed.

What Do These Standings Mean for the 2026 NFL Offseason?

The conclusion of the regular season rankings sets the stage for the league's most critical offseason events.

NFL Draft Order Impact

Standings are the primary factor in determining the NFL Draft order. Based on the 3-14 and 4-13 finishes, teams like the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, and Arizona Cardinals have secured top-five selections for the upcoming Draft. This provides these struggling franchises a vital opportunity to acquire franchise-altering talent.

Schedule Strength for 2026

The NFL's scheduling formula uses the previous year's standings to determine three of a team's 17 games. First-place finishers will face other first-place finishers within their conference, meaning the Broncos, Patriots, Seahawks, and Eagles will face significantly harder schedules in 2026 compared to the teams at the bottom of the rankings.

How NFL Standings are Calculated

Understanding the hierarchy of the NFL requires knowledge of the league's complex tiebreaking system. When two or more teams finish with identical win-loss-tie records, the NFL applies a specific sequence of criteria:

  1. Head-to-Head Record: The team with the better record in games played between the tied clubs.
  2. Division Record: Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
  3. Common Games: Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played against common opponents.
  4. Conference Record: Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
  5. Strength of Victory: The combined winning percentage of all the teams a club has defeated.
  6. Strength of Schedule: The combined winning percentage of all the teams a club has played.

These rules ensure that every point scored and every game played has a mathematical impact on the final standings.

Upcoming Milestones: Looking Toward September 2026

While the standings are currently static, the NFL calendar is moving quickly.

  • April 2026: The NFL Draft. This event will redistribute talent and potentially change the projected standings for 2026.
  • May 2026: Release of the official 2026-2027 Schedule. Fans will learn the specific dates for marquee divisional matchups.
  • July 2026: Training Camps open.
  • August 2026: Preseason games begin.
  • September 2026: The 2026 NFL Regular Season kicks off, and the standings will once again begin to update weekly.

Summary of the 2025-2026 NFL Landscape

The 2025-2026 season was a year of transition. Old dynasties like the Chiefs faced regression, while the Seahawks, Broncos, and Jaguars established themselves as the new teams to beat. As we remain in the 2026 offseason, these final standings serve as the historical record of a thrilling season and the foundation for the predictions of the next.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who has the best record in the NFL right now?

Currently, no team has an active record because the league is in the offseason. The last teams to hold the best records were the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, and Seattle Seahawks, all finishing the 2025-26 season with 14-3 records.

When will the 2026 NFL standings start updating?

The standings will begin updating in the first week of September 2026, coinciding with the start of the 2026-2027 NFL regular season.

How many teams make the playoffs based on the standings?

A total of 14 teams make the NFL playoffs—seven from the AFC and seven from the NFC. This includes the four division winners and three Wild Card teams from each conference.

Where can I find the 2024 NFL standings for historical reference?

Historical data for the 2024 season, which saw the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs dominate with 15-2 records, can be found in the official NFL archives.