NFL Playoff Schedule 2025: AFC, NFC Bracket Details and Latest Picks

There isn't a lot left to sort out with the NFL playoff picture during Week 18.

The unsettled races carry plenty of significance, though.

The top seed in the NFC is still up for grabs and will be decided during Sunday night's head-to-head bout between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. The winner snags a first-round bye and home-field advantage. The loser, on the other hand, will be left with the No. 5 seed and a road game in the opening round.

Elsewhere, the AFC North and NFC South titles are still in play, as is the last wild-card spot in the AFC.

This should be a really fun finish, and then it's a sprint to Super Bowl LIX, so let's set the stage with the playoff schedule and current postseason bracket before finishing with a pair of playoff predictions.

Playoff Schedule

Joe Sargent/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 25: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs steps back to pass during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 25, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)

Wild-Card Round

Saturday, Jan. 11

Games at 4:30 p.m. ET and 8 p.m. ET

Sunday, Jan. 12

Games at 1 p.m. ET, 4:30 p.m. ET and 8:15 p.m. ET

Monday, Jan. 13

Game at 8:15 p.m. ET

Divisional Round

Saturday, Jan. 18

Game times TBD

Sunday, Jan. 19

Game times TBD

Conference Championships

Sunday, Jan. 26

NFC Championship at 3 p.m. ET

AFC Championship at 6:30 p.m. ET

Super Bowl LVIII

Sunday, Feb. 9

AFC Champion vs. NFC Champion at 6:30 p.m. ET

Latest Postseason Bracket

Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

TAMPA, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 29: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

AFC

No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (bye)

No. 2 Buffalo Bills vs. No. 7 Denver Broncos

No. 3 Baltimore Ravens vs. No. 6 Los Angeles Chargers

No. 4 Houston Texans vs. No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers

NFC

No. 1 Detroit Lions (bye)

No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers

No. 3 Los Angeles Rams vs. No. 6 Washington Commanders

No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. No. 5 Minnesota Vikings

---

The Ravens can wrap up the No. 3 seed and the AFC North by handling the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. If Baltimore somehow slips up in that spot, though, Pittsburgh can still snatch both away by beating the Cincinnati Bengals later that night.

The Broncos, meanwhile, have yet another win-and-you're-in game this week, an opportunity they've squandered twice so far. They host the Chiefs on Sunday, and since Kansas City has nothing to gain with the No. 1 seed already in hand, it will sit Patrick Mahomes and potentially a number of other key starters, too. Opportunity is loudly knocking for Denver, but if it fails to answer yet again, this could be an epic collapse.

The Broncos could technically back their way into the playoffs, as a loss wouldn't automatically eliminate them. However, they'd need losses or ties by both the Dolphins (at New York Jets) and Bengals (at Pittsburgh) for that to happen. Miami would get the postseason spot with a win and a Denver loss, while Cincinnati needs a win, a Denver loss and a Miami loss or tie to get in.

In the NFC, the top seed and the NFC North title goes to the winner of Sunday night's Lions-Vikings matchup in Detroit. If the game should happen to end in a tie, Detroit would collect those prizes.

In the NFC South, the Buccaneers can take the title with a home win over the New Orleans Saints. They could even climb into the No. 3 seed if they can couple that triumph with a home loss by the Rams, who are sitting Matthew Stafford, to the Seattle Seahawks. The Atlanta Falcons, meanwhile, could swipe the NFC South title with a win over the Carolina Panthers and a Buccaneers loss.

Playoff Predictions

Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 29: Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on prior to a game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 29, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Getty Images)

AFC Prediction: The bracket doesn't budge.

Late-season chaos is admittedly compelling, and we'd love to call for some here. However, since we can't find a reasonable source of it, we'll avoid going the reckless route and trying to package it as a "bold prediction."

The Ravens are comically high favorites for a reason. They've been soaring high since their Week 14 bye, winning three straight while scoring at least 31 points and winning by at least 17 points in each contest. Now, they're locking horns with a Browns team that has dropped five in a row and managed all of 16 points over their last three games combined.

Baltimore could run away with this game without breaking a sweat.

The Broncos, meanwhile, are admittedly doing what they can to erode everyone's trust in them, but the skid should stop here. They're at home playing for everything against a Chiefs team with nothing to gain. Denver will finally do what it should have already done and punch a playoff ticket.

NFC Prediction: The Vikings snag the No. 1 seed.

The Lions are objectively awesome, and there is zero doubt that head coach Dan Campbell will have his time ready to go. However, they've had major injury issues on the defensive side of the ball, and those might finally be rearing their head.

Detroit has allowed 31-plus points to three of its last four opponents, including a San Francisco 49ers team that was already eliminated and missing several key playmakers. If the Lions had trouble containing Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings (15 receptions for 208 yards and a touchdown combined), how are they going to handle Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison?

Detroit, of course, did win the first meeting, but only by a last-minute field goal and all the way back in mid-October. The Vikings lost the following week to the Rams and haven't been defeated since. Minnesota is riding a league-best nine-game winning streak into this contest, and while this is a road game, the Vikings have a better road record (6-1) than the Lions do at home (6-2).