NFL Playoff Picture 2025: Bracket Scenarios, Standings and Predictions Before Week 18
Twelve of the 14 spots for the upcoming NFL playoffs have already been secured. However, there's still plenty to be decided during Week 18, the final week of the regular season.
The No. 1 seed in the NFC is still up for grabs, as well as two NFC division titles. In the AFC, one division champion still needs to be crowned, and there's also a final wild-card berth that has to be seized.
Every team will be in action during Week 18, which features all divisional matchups. Two will be played Saturday, followed by 14 on Sunday.
Here's a look at the current NFL playoff picture entering the final week of the regular season.
AFC Playoff Picture, Clinching Scenarios
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Bye: No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (15-1, clinched No. 1 seed)
No. 2 Buffalo Bills (13-3, clinched AFC East) vs. No. 7 Denver Broncos (9-7)
No. 3 Baltimore Ravens (11-5, clinched playoff berth) vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Chargers (10-6, clinched playoff berth)
No. 4 Houston Texans (9-7, clinched AFC South) vs. No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6, clinched playoff berth)
In the hunt: Miami Dolphins (8-8), Cincinnati Bengals (8-8)
The final AFC wild-card berth will go to either the Broncos, Dolphins or Bengals. But the only team that controls its own destiny among those three is Denver.
The Broncos can clinch a playoff spot with a win or a tie against the Chiefs on Sunday. If Denver loses and the Dolphins beat the Jets on Sunday, then Miami will get the final wild-card berth.
The only way the Bengals can get into the playoffs is by beating the Steelers on Saturday, then having the Broncos lose and the Dolphins either lose or tie. If all three of these teams lose, then Denver will get the final spot.
The AFC North title is also up for grabs in Week 18. The Ravens will win the division crown with a win or tie vs. the Browns on Saturday. They would also take the title if the Steelers lose or tie against the Bengals.
Pittsburgh's only path to the AFC North title is a win and a Baltimore loss.
NFC Playoff Picture, Clinching Scenarios
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Bye: No. 1 Detroit Lions (14-2, clinched playoff berth)
No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (13-3, clinched NFC East) vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers (11-5, clinched playoff berth)
No. 3 Los Angeles Rams (10-6, clinched NFC West) vs. No. 6 Washington Commanders (11-5, clinched playoff berth)
No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) vs. No. 5 Minnesota Vikings (14-2, clinched playoff berth)
In the hunt: Atlanta Falcons (8-8)
The most important game on the Week 18 schedule is the Sunday night clash between the Vikings and the Lions in Detroit.
The winner of the Minnesota-Detroit matchup will capture both the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Meanwhile, the loser will be the top wild card as the No. 5 seed and will have to go on the road for a Wild-Card Round game to open the playoffs.
Either the Buccaneers or the Falcons will get the final NFC playoff berth by winning the NFC South title. Tampa Bay can take the crown with a win/tie vs. New Orleans or an Atlanta loss/tie vs. Carolina.
The only way the Falcons can get into the playoffs is by beating the Panthers and also having the Bucs lose to the Saints. That would make Atlanta the NFC South champion.
Predictions
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The Lions will capture the No. 1 seed in the NFC
In Week 7, Detroit notched a 31-29 road victory over Minnesota. This time, the Lions will be in front of their home fans, and they'll again emerge victorious.
It should be another close game on Sunday night, but Detroit is the better of the two teams. Expect the Lions to win and earn a first-round bye to open the playoffs.
The Buccaneers will win the NFC South, move up to No. 3 seed
It would be a surprise if Tampa Bay doesn't win the NFC South title. It should take care of business at home against New Orleans.
But the Bucs could also move up to the No. 3 seed in the NFC. The Rams are expected to rest their starters in Week 18, so they could lose to the Seahawks and allow the Buccaneers to move up the conference standings.
The Ravens will win the AFC North title
Saturday's pair of games will decide the AFC North champion. But Baltimore should defeat Cleveland at home in the first contest, taking some of the intrigue out of the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh matchup later in the night.
The Ravens are a legitimate Super Bowl contender, so they'll storm past the Browns to win the division title.
The Broncos will earn the final AFC wild-card berth
Typically, Denver would be viewed as an underdog when it takes on Kansas City. But the Chiefs have already secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC, so they'll have an opportunity to rest starters ahead of the playoffs.
Because of that, the Broncos should have no trouble earning a victory, which will put them into the playoffs as the final AFC wild-card team.
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