The opening betting lines for the 2026 NFL Divisional Round set the stage for four intriguing playoff matchups this weekend, with tight spreads and competitive totals across the board. Online sportsbooks are expecting relatively close games in both conferences, highlighted by short numbers in the AFC and a clear home favourite in the NFC’s primetime clash.
Let’s take a look at the opening odds for these matchups and where some of the lines have shifted since opening.
Seahawks -7.5 spread vs. 49ers
NFL Divisional Round Playoff Matchups
| Matchup | Date/Time | Moneyline Odds | Spread Odds | Over/Under |
| Bills @ Broncos | Saturday, Jan. 17, 4:30 p.m. ET | Broncos -110, Bills -110 | Broncos -1 | 46.5 points |
| 49ers @ Seahawks | Saturday, Jan. 17, 8 p.m. ET | Seahawks -380, 49ers +300 | Seahawks -7.5 | 45.5 points |
| Texans @ Patriots | Sunday, Jan. 18, 3 p.m. ET | Patriots -155, Texans +130 | Patriots -3 | 41 points |
| Rams @ Bears | Sunday, Jan. 18, 6:30 p.m. ET | Rams -200, Bears +165 | Rams -3.5 | 51 points |
Bills at Broncos
The divisional round kicks off Saturday afternoon with the No. 6 Buffalo Bills traveling to face the top-seeded Denver Broncos in a rare spot where the home side opened as a slight underdog. Look-ahead and opener numbers saw Denver +1.5, with some sharper markets drifting toward Bills -2.5 before buyback appeared on the Broncos.
Books hung a total of 47.5 on the opener, but early action nudged that number down into the mid-46 range as of Monday, suggesting some initial interest on the under despite both offences’ firepower. With Buffalo laying less than a field goal on the road against the AFC’s top seed, bettors are signaling confidence in the Bills’ playoff pedigree and quarterback edge.
Bills moneyline
49ers at Seahawks
Saturday night’s NFC showdown features the No. 6 San Francisco 49ers visiting the No. 1 Seattle Seahawks in a divisional rematch between longtime rivals. Books wasted little time installing Seattle as a strong home favourite, opening around Seahawks -6.5 with some shops stretching as high as -7.
The total opened between 45.5 and 46.5, landing in the mid-40s where oddsmakers are balancing San Francisco’s playmaking ability with Seattle’s physical defence and home-field advantage. With the Seahawks coming off a bye and the 49ers working on short rest, the opening spread clearly reflects an expectation that Seattle controls game script at Lumen Field.
49ers +7.5 spread
Texans at Patriots
On Sunday afternoon, the Houston Texans head to Foxborough to take on the New England Patriots in a matchup that pairs an emerging AFC contender with one of the league’s most consistent playoff presences. Once the Texans advanced, markets quickly settled around Patriots -2.5 on the spread with a modest total of 41.5 points.
New England’s side of the line shaded toward the favourite, with -2.5 carrying extra vig, hinting that a move to the key number of -3 is in play if Patriots money continues to arrive. The relatively low total underscores expectations of a more methodical, defence-oriented game, even after Houston’s explosive wild-card performance.
Texans +3 spread
Rams at Bears
The divisional round wraps up Sunday evening at Soldier Field, where the Los Angeles Rams visit the Chicago Bears in a matchup that combines offensive firepower with cold-weather playoff conditions. Opening numbers showed some disagreement between books, but markets generally settled with the Rams installed as short road favourites in the -3 to -3.5 range.
Total-wise, the opener landed around 50.5 points, signaling expectations of a more up-tempo, higher-scoring contest than the other NFC game despite the January setting in Chicago. With a spread under a field goal at some shops and over a key number at others, early bettors face a classic decision on whether to lay points with the more explosive offence or grab the home dog at a premium.