NFL Playoff Picture 2025: Week 17 Scenarios, Standings and Bracket Predictions

Thursday's snoozer between the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears hardly made a dent on the scoreboard.

It had minimal impact on the NFL standings, too. The Seahawks, who had a scoreless second half during their 6-3 win, kept their playoff hopes alive, but they still need help to secure their postseason spot.

We'll dig into that situation and many more, as we update the standings, spotlight the most meaningful upcoming matchups and predict how much—if any—movement we might see in the playoff bracket.

AFC Standings, Scenarios and Predictions

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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 22: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills looks to pass during the fourth quarter against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on December 22, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)

AFC Playoff Standings

Division Leaders

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1; clinched AFC West and No. 1 seed)

2. Buffalo Bills (12-3; clinched AFC East)

3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5; lead AFC North, clinched playoff berth)

4. Houston Texans (9-7; clinched AFC South)

Wild Card Race

5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, clinched playoff berth)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)

7. Denver Broncos (9-6)

8. Indianapolis Colts (7-8)

9. Miami Dolphins (7-8)

10. Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)

Eliminated

11. New York Jets (4-11)

12. Cleveland Browns (3-12)

13. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)

14. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

15. Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)

16. New England Patriots (3-12)

The Chiefs already have the No. 1 seed in hands, and the Texans are locked in at No. 4 after their dismal showing against the Ravens on Wednesday. The question is whether there might be movement at the other spots.

The answer is probably not.

The Bills haven't clinched the second seed yet, but they can with a home win over the Jets on Sunday. Buffalo had to sweat out a 23-20 triumph in the teams' first meeting, but New York enters this contest having lost five of its last six and 10 of its last 12. If the Bills fall here, though, the Ravens could still push for the No. 2 spot next week and would finish at least No. 3 by beating or tying the Browns.

Despite losing three straight games by 14-plus points, Pittsburgh could still snatch away the AFC North win a win over Cincinnati and a Baltimore loss in Week 18. The Chargers can ensure their playoff spot with a road win over the Patriots or a Dolphins road loss to the Browns and a Colts road loss to the Giants. Miami and Indianapolis, meanwhile, are out with losses and wins by both Denver and L.A.

The Broncos are just one win away from the playoffs and would prefer to get that taken care of Saturday in Cincinnati. If the Bengals, who have won three straight, hold serve, then Denver would next set its sights on a Kansas City team with nothing to play for in Week 18.

It would be fun to predict some seed changes, but things look pretty steady from this spot.

NFC Standings, Scenarios and Predictions

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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 22: Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings looks to throw a pass in the first quarter of a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on December 22, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images)

NFC Playoff Standings

1. Detroit Lions (13-2; lead NFC North; clinched playoff berth)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (12-3; lead NFC East; clinched playoff berth)

3. Los Angeles Rams (9-6; lead NFC West)

4. Atlanta Falcons (8-7; lead NFC South)

Wild Card Race

5. Minnesota Vikings (13-2, clinched playoff berth)

6. Green Bay Packers (11-4, clinched playoff berth)

7. Washington Commanders (10-5)

8. Seattle Seahawks (9-7)

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)

Eliminated

10. Dallas Cowboys (7-8)

11. Arizona Cardinals (7-8)

12. San Francisco 49ers (6-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

14. Carolina Panthers (4-11)

15. Chicago Bears (4-12)

16. New York Giants (2-13)

There's a real chance the Vikings could be playing for the NFC North crown and the conference's top seed when they visit the Lions next week. Minnesota must first get through a Green Bay team that has won five of its last six to ensure those Week 18 stakes are in place.

The Vikings enter this game even hotter, though, having won eight consecutive contests. Sam Darnold is scorching hot (15 passing touchdowns against a single interception in his last six games), and their defense continues to create chaos.

Green Bay will still be a tricky matchup, and if Minnesota loses, Detroit could seal the division and the conference with a win in San Francisco on Monday night.

Elsewhere, the Eagles can lock up the NFC East title with a home win over the Cowboys or a Commanders loss to the Falcons on Sunday night. Dallas won't have star wideout CeeDee Lamb, though, so Philadelphia shouldn't need help.

The Rams remain on a win-and-you're-in path, as triumphs over the Cardinals on Saturday and the Seahawks next week would give L.A. the NFC West title. The Falcons could take the NFC South crown this weekend with a win over the Commanders and a Buccaneers loss to the Panthers.

If either conference's playoff picture changes, this will be on the one to do it, probably with Tampa Bay tracking down Atlanta. It still seems more likely than not this will be how the final playoff bracket shakes out.