We are nearing the end of the 2025 NFL season and the playoff picture is coming into focus. With that comes the matchups that will be set soon and the playoff opponents for each team.
As we enter Week 17, the results of these games will shift who plays who, and we will track that all here.
The number one see gets a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the playoffs.
AFC playoff bracket
Entering Week 17, the Denver Broncos have a chance to clinch the number one seed but it’s going to take a lot of work. It is likely to stretch to Week 18.
Pittsburgh can clinch the four seed with a win. Then all seven AFC teams would be set with only seeding left to determine.
1. Denver Broncos (13-3)**
2. New England Patriots (13-3)* host 7. Buffalo Bills (11-5)*
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)* host 6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)*
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) host 5. Houston Texans (11-5)*
NFC playoff bracket
The NFC bracket is wide open entering Week 17, but the Seahawks can clinch the one seed with a win and some NFC West help.
The Carolina Panthers can clinch the four seed with a win and a Buccaneers loss.
The Green Bay Packers have clinched the seven seed.
1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3)*
2. Chicago Bears (11-5)** host 7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)*
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)** host 6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)*
4. Carolina Panthers (8-8) host 5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4)*
*: Clinched playoff berth
**: Clinched division title
***: Clinched no. 1 seed
We will update as more Week 17 results come in.
SNF result: The 49ers beat the Bears 42-38 to set up Week 18 for the No. 1 seed. The 49ers host the Seahawks next week, with the winner claiming home field in the NFC bracket and the loser entering the playoffs as either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
Sunday 4 p.m. window: The Eagles beat the Bills in a wild finish that saw Philly stop a game-winning two-point conversion attempt in the closing seconds. The big change is the Bills slip to the No. 7 seed while the Texans and Chargers move up to the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds, respectively. Houston has the conference record tiebreaker over the other two teams, while the Chargers have the common games tiebreaker over the Bills.
Sunday 1 p.m. window: The No. 1 seed in the AFC is going to come down to the wire and we’ve got three teams in the hunt. The Patriots handled their business with ease, crushing the Jets to remain tied with the Broncos atop the conference. The Jaguars struggled early against the Colts, but came back to win and remain alive for the No. 1 seed. Elsewhere, the Steelers lost a stunner to the Browns, which means their Week 18 matchup in Pittsburgh will be for the AFC South title and the No. 4 seed in the AFC.
In the NFC, the Panthers and Buccaneers both lost, so we won’t know the NFC South champ and the No. 4 seed until next week. For now the Panthers have a one-game lead and will clinch the division with a win or a tie in that game. The Seahawks win over the Panthers means they remain atop the NFC standings with a chance to clinch it next week against the 49ers.
Saturday 8:30 p.m. result: The Ravens thumped the Packers in the second half of the Saturday doubleheader, which clinched the NFC North title for the Bears. The Packers are in the final wild card berth and are locked into the No. 7 seed. They’ll face the No. 2 seed in the 2026 NFL Playoffs. The Ravens improved to 8-8 and remain alive in the wild card race.
Saturday 4:30 p.m. result: The Texans beat the Chargers 20-16 to punch their ticket to the playoffs and keep their AFC South hopes alive. They cannot be eliminated from division contention this week if the Jaguars win on Sunday. The result also secured the AFC West title for the Broncos and leaves open the door for the Broncos to clinch the No. 1 seed. Denver is guaranteed can clinch home field through the AFC bracket if the Patriots, Jaguars, and Bills all lose on Sunday.
Christmas 8:30 p.m. result: Denver’s win moved the Broncos one step closer to locking up the AFC West, and perhaps the No. 1 seed in the conference. Denver can clinch the AFC West on Saturday if the Chargers lose or tie against the Houston Texans. The Broncos can also clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference this weekend, but they will need a lot of help to accomplish that goal. Denver locks up the No. 1 seed with a Patriots loss to the Jets, a Chargers loss or tie to the Texans, a Jaguars loss or tie against the Colts, and a Bills loss or tie against the Eagles.
Christmas 4:30 p.m. result: The Lions lost to the Vikings, which officially clinched a berth for the Packers and eliminated the Lions. That solidifies all but one team in the playoff field. The Packers currently hold the final wild card berth, but still have an outside shot at the NFC North title. The seeding is not set for the six teams already in the field. The final team to join the field will be the NFC South champion, and that team is all but certain to be the No. 4 seed.