With only one week left in the 2025 regular season, 12 of the 14 playoff spots have been claimed. However, the bracket is far from settled. Week 18 features three “winner-take-all” divisional games and a high-stakes battle for the No. 1 seeds that will determine who gets a week of rest and home-field advantage.
If the season ended today, December 29, 2025, here is what the NFL Playoff bracket would look like.
AFC Playoff Bracket & Matchups
The AFC is a three-horse race for the top spot. The Denver Broncos currently hold the tiebreaker over the Patriots, but any slip-up in Week 18 could flip the script.
| Seed | Team | Status | Projected Wild Card Matchup |
| 1 | Denver Broncos (13-3) | Clinched AFC West | BYE WEEK |
| 2 | New England Patriots (13-3) | Clinched AFC East | vs. (7) Buffalo Bills |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) | Leading AFC South | vs. (6) L.A. Chargers |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) | Leading AFC North | vs. (5) Houston Texans |
The AFC “In the Hunt”:
-
Baltimore Ravens (8-8): They face the Steelers on Sunday Night Football. If they win, they steal the AFC North and the No. 4 seed. If they lose, they are eliminated.
-
Houston Texans (11-5): They have clinched a spot but can still win the AFC South if they beat the Colts and the Jaguars lose to the Titans.
NFC Playoff Bracket & Matchups
The NFC is dominated by the West. The Seahawks and 49ers will play a de facto “Championship Game” this Saturday to decide the No. 1 seed.
| Seed | Team | Status | Projected Wild Card Matchup |
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks (13-3) | Leading NFC West | BYE WEEK |
| 2 | Chicago Bears (11-5) | Clinched NFC North | vs. (7) Green Bay Packers |
| 3 | Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) | Clinched NFC East | vs. (6) Los Angeles Rams |
| 4 | Carolina Panthers (8-8) | Leading NFC South | vs. (5) San Francisco 49ers |
The NFC “In the Hunt”:
-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9): They host the Panthers on Saturday afternoon. A win keeps their season alive; a loss ends it.
-
San Francisco 49ers (12-4): Though currently the No. 5 seed, a win over Seattle on Saturday would vault them all the way to the No. 1 seed.
Top Week 18 “Elimination” Games
These three games are essentially the start of the playoffs. The losers go home, and the winners move into the No. 4 seed spots.
-
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers (Sat, 8 PM ET): The winner takes the NFC West and the No. 1 seed. The loser likely drops to the No. 5 or No. 6 seed and must play on the road.
-
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sat, 4:30 PM ET): A pure winner-take-all for the NFC South.
-
Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers (Sun, 8:20 PM ET): The final game of the regular season. The winner captures the AFC North; the loser’s season is over.
NFL Playoff Schedule
-
Wild Card Weekend: January 10–12, 2026
-
Divisional Round: January 17–18, 2026
-
Conference Championships: January 25, 2026
-
Super Bowl LX: February 8, 2026 (Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA)
