Week 17 is going to have a massive impact on the playoff picture in both the AFC and the NFC.
Entering the Christmas Day tripleheader, there were already five teams that have clinched playoff berths in each conference, with still four total spots in the playoffs up for grabs. That number changed to three when the Green Bay Packers earned a berth thanks to the Minnesota Vikings’ win over the Detroit Lions. Additionally, we still have plenty to go when it comes to the seeding in each conference, including who will be the No. 1 seeds.
The nightcap of the Christmas tripleheader has playoff implications as well as the Denver Broncos are trying to strengthen their hold on the top seed in the AFC by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs.
On Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens are trying to keep their hopes alive by beating the Green Bay Packers, who themselves still have an outside shot of winning the NFC North if they can beat Baltimore. Additionally, the Houston Texans are trying to wrap up their playoff trip while the Los Angeles Chargers are attempting to keep pace in both the wild card race and the AFC West.
On Sunday, the Steelers can wrap up the AFC North with a win or can have the division locked up before they take the field if the Ravens lose to the Packers. The Jaguars can knock the Colts out of the playoffs. The Buccaneers can put some pressure on the Panthers, who themselves can throw a wrench into the Seahawks’ plans for the top seed in the NFC. Both the Eagles and Bills are already in the playoffs but can still move up in the seedings. And the Bears and 49ers are trying to jockey for positioning in the NFC and keep their No. 1 seed hopes alive. Then we get to the Rams on Monday night, who have a lot to play for when it comes to both the NFC West and the wild card race.
As we continue to monitor the latest movements in the playoff standings, here is an up-to-date look at where things stand.
AFC standings
- x-Denver Broncos (12-3)
- x-New England Patriots (12-3)
- x-Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- x-Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- x-Buffalo Bills (11-4)
- Houston Texans (10-5)
x-clinched playoff berth
1. Denver Broncos (12-3)
Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, vs. Chargers
Denver’s 11-game winning streak was snapped in Week 16 as the Jaguars rolled into Mile High and pulled off a convincing 34-20 win. While the Broncos are still the No. 1 seed in the conference and in first place in the AFC West, the door is now open slightly for them to fall from that perch if they aren’t careful over these next two weeks.
2. New England Patriots (12-3)
Remaining schedule: at Jets, vs. Dolphins
The Patriots secured their spot in the playoffs after rallying for an 11-point deficit against the Ravens to move to 12-3 on the season. The victory not only clinched their spot in the postseason, but it continued to keep the Bills at arms length for first place in the AFC East. New England loses the tiebreaker to Denver for the No. 1 seed at the moment due to a subpar win percentage in common games.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)
Remaining schedule: at Colts, vs. Titans
The Jaguars made a statement in Week 16 that they are a serious player in the AFC playoff race after beating the Broncos on the road. That extends Jacksonville’s winning streak to six games, as the Jaguars seem to be peaking at the right time.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
Remaining schedule: at Browns, vs. Ravens
The Steelers have won three straight and continue to give themselves breathing room in the AFC North playoff race, especially after taking down the Lions. On top of that, the Ravens fell to the Patriots, which means the only way Baltimore can leapfrog them is if they win out and Pittsburgh loses out.
5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Texans, at Broncos
The Chargers have now won four straight games after taking down the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday. Currently, they are the top wild card in the AFC, but have some stiff competition behind them. That includes the Houston Texans, who they’ll see in Week 17 at SoFi Stadium.
6. Buffalo Bills (11-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, vs. Jets
It was a bit closer than they may have liked, but the Bills came away with a win in Cleveland to push them to 11-4 on the season. That keeps them on the heels of the Patriots in the AFC East race and firmly in wild card position. Week 16 was the final time Buffalo will be on the road during the 2025 regular season, as they’ll wrap up the year at Highmark Stadium.
7. Houston Texans (10-5)
Remaining schedule: at Chargers, vs. Colts
After starting the year 0-3, the Texans have won seven straight games to put themselves in a comfortable position inside the playoff picture. Houston extended that winning streak with a victory over the Raiders at home that was much closer than anticipated, but they are knocking on the door of clinching.
In the hunt
The Ravens (7-8) saw a massive dent get put into their playoff hopes with their loss to the Patriots in Week 16. Baltimore’s only path to the playoffs is via the AFC North, which it can win if Pittsburgh loses out and it wins out.
NFC standings
- x-Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
- x-Chicago Bears (11-4)
- z-Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
- Carolina Panthers (8-7)
- x-San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
- x-Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- x-Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)
x-clinched playoff berth; z-clinched division
1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
Remaining schedule: at Panthers, at 49ers
Seattle pulled off an incredible, come-from-behind win over the Rams on “Thursday Night Football,” elevating itself to the No. 1 seed in the conference in the process. If the Seahawks win out against the Panthers and Niners, they will clinch the top spot in the NFC and a bye in the first round of the playoffs.
2. Chicago Bears (11-4)
Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Lions
The Bears are coming off a stunning comeback win over the Packers in Week 16, and they remain in the hunt for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers taking down the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Chicago has officially clinched a playoff berth, but the division is still yet to be clinched.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
Remaining schedule: at Bills, vs. Commanders
Philadelphia punched its playoff ticket on Saturday night with a commanding victory over the Washington Commanders. The defending Super Bowl champions become the first team to win back-to-back NFC East crowns since 2004.
4. Carolina Panthers (8-7)
Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks, at Buccaneers
Carolina has jumped up to the No. 4 seed after leaping over the Buccaneers for the NFC South lead thanks to a head-to-head victory in Week 16. While this does vault the Panthers atop the division for the moment, there’s still plenty that can happen between now and the end of the regular season, especially with another matchup on deck for Week 18 in Tampa.
5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks
The 49ers are quietly lurking in the NFC playoff race and clinched a postseason berth after the Lions fell to the Steelers. San Francisco jumped the Rams into the No. 5 spot after walloping the Colts on “Monday Night Football,” and it’s positioned to climb even higher over the final two weeks.
If the 49ers beat the Bears and Seahawks to close out the season, they’ll secure the No. 1 seed and the conference’s lone first-round bye.
6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
Remaining schedule: at Falcons, vs. Cardinals
The Rams are still a playoff lock thanks to their win in Week 15, but their chances of winning the NFC West and claiming the No. 1 seed in the conference were dramatically reduced by their loss to the Seahawks on Thursday night. They need Seattle to lose at least one more game, but also can’t have the 49ers win out. Otherwise, San Francisco would be the top seed in the conference by virtue of having the best division record among the three teams.
7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)
Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens, at Vikings
Green Bay saw a considerable fall from grace entering Week 16. After coming into Week 15 as the No. 2 seed and leading the NFC North, the Packers dropped all the way to the No. 7 seed following a loss to the Denver Broncos. That defeat allowed Chicago to jump ahead of Green Bay for first place in the division.
Things got even worse in Week 16. Not only did Green Bay give up a double-digit lead in the final two minutes — eventually falling in overtime to the Bears — but it also lost Jordan Love to a concussion. But with a playoff spot now secure, the Packers can focus on trying to win the NFC North.
In the hunt
The Buccaneers (7-8) have fallen out of first place in the NFC South after falling to the Panthers on Sunday. The only path for Baker Mayfield and Co. to make the playoffs at this point is to win the division, so there is zero margin for error over these final two weeks. They’ll need to take care of business next week in Miami against the Dolphins before hosting the Panthers in what could be a win-and-in scenario in Week 18.