The final week of the 2025 NFL regular season is here, and while 12 of the 14 playoff spots have been determined, there’s still a lot that needs to be sorted out in the postseason picture.
Only one team knows what seed it will have in the playoffs – the Green Bay Packers in the NFC – as the No. 1 seed in both conferences is still up for grabs. More importantly, though, the NFC South and AFC North will come down to this weekend.
Here’s where things stand ahead of the Week 18 slate:
NFL Playoff Picture
AFC
- Denver Broncos (13-3)**
- New England Patriots (13-3)**
- Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)*
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- Houston Texans (11-5)*
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)*
- Buffalo Bills (11-5)*
Within the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
* Clinched playoffs
** Clinched division
The Broncos, Patriots and Jaguars are all nonetheless in play to get the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Denver controls its personal future to get that high seed, although. The Broncos could have home-field benefit within the AFC playoffs in the event that they beat the Chargers on Sunday. New England will get the No. 1 seed if the Chargers beat the Broncos, and Jacksonville will get it with a win and losses from the Broncos and Patriots.
The Jaguars nonetheless must clinch the AFC South, however a win over the Titans would just do that. A loss and a Texans win over the Colts would imply Houston wins the AFC South.
The Chargers and Payments already know they’re enjoying on the highway within the opening spherical of the playoffs. Houston, Los Angeles and Buffalo’s seeding is all up within the air, although.
The Chargers and Payments seem like they will relaxation their respective beginning quarterbacks this weekend. Neither Justin Herbert nor Josh Allen practiced this week. With Houston favored to beat Indianapolis, which could have Riley Leonard beginning at quarterback, Los Angeles and Buffalo have opted to make sure their star QBs are as wholesome as attainable for the playoffs.
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Lastly, Ravens vs. Steelers will decide the AFC North winner. The loser is eradicated, whereas Pittsburgh would advance within the case of a tie. Ravens’ star QB Lamar Jackson mentioned on Thursday that he is “100%” going to play in that sport.
NFC
- Seattle Seahawks (13-3)*
- Chicago Bears (11-5)**
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)**
- Carolina Panthers (8-8)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-4)*
- Los Angeles Rams (11-5)*
- Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)*
Within the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
* Clinched playoffs
** Clinched division
For the second straight yr, a divisional battle within the regular-season finale will decide the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The 49ers host the Seahawks on Saturday evening, and the winner will get the NFC West crown, a first-round bye and potential home-field benefit till the Tremendous Bowl.
The Rams will likely be on the highway within the opening spherical, however there could possibly be a drastic distinction between getting the No. 5 seed and the No. 6 seed. A win over the Cardinals on Sunday and a 49ers loss on Saturday evening would imply the Rams could be the No. 5 seed and play the winner of the NFC South within the opening spherical as an alternative of a visit to Chicago or Philadelphia because the No. 6 seed.
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The Bears and Eagles are each enjoying for playoff seeding on Sunday. Chicago will get the No. 2 seed with a win over Detroit, whereas Philadelphia would want to beat Washington and for Chicago to lose with a view to get the No. 2 seed. Quarterback Jalen Hurts and most different key starters is not going to characteristic for the Eagles in opposition to Washington on Sunday.
The Packers are locked into the No. 7 spot and can face both the Bears or Eagles on the highway within the Wild Card Spherical. It is the third straight season that Inexperienced Bay would be the No. 7 seed within the NFC.
Lastly, onto essentially the most chaotic situation: the NFC South.
There’s an opportunity the Panthers vs. Buccaneers matchup on Saturday determines which staff will win the South, however it is going to solely be definitive if Carolina wins. If Tampa Bay wins, although, we can’t know the division winner till Sunday.
If Tampa Bay beats Carolina and the Falcons beat the Saints on Sunday, there will likely be a three-way tie at 8-9 atop the NFC South between the Buccaneers, Falcons and Panthers. In that situation, the Panthers would win the division with a 3-1 file in opposition to Atlanta and Tampa Bay this season.
The Buccaneers need to win on Saturday, then have the Saints win on Sunday, with a view to win the NFC South.
NFL Playoff Bracket
That is up to date as of Friday.
AFC
- (1) Broncos receive a bye
- (2) Patriots vs. (7) Bills
- (3) Jaguars vs. (6) Chargers
- (4) Steelers vs. (5) Texans
NFC
- (1) Seahawks receive a bye
- (2) Bears vs. (7) Packers
- (3) Eagles vs. (6) Rams
- (4) Panthers vs. (5) 49ers
NFL Playoff Schedule
- January 10-12, 2026: Wild-card round
- January 17-18: Divisional round
- January 25: AFC and NFC championship games
- February 8: Super Bowl LX (in Santa Clara, California)
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