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 OR a Ravens loss.
1. Denver Broncos (12-3)
2. New England Patriots (12-3) host 7. Houston Texans (10-5)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) host 6. Buffalo Bills (11-4)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) host 5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
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.
1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
2. Chicago Bears (11-4) host 7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)
3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) host 6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
4. Carolina Panthers (8-7) host 5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
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.
We will update as more Week 17 results come in.
