NFL Playoff Bracket 2025: Scenarios and Predictions for Postseason Picture
The Kansas City Chiefs are looking to become the first NFL team to win three consecutive Super Bowls, while the Detroit Lions hope to win the first Super Bowl title in their history. Twelve other teams are heading to the playoffs with championship aspirations as well.
The NFL playoffs get underway this weekend with the Wild Card Round, which features two games on Saturday, three on Sunday and one on Monday. The Chiefs (No. 1 seed in AFC) and the Lions (No. 1 seed in NFC) have first-round byes and are heading to the divisional round, while the rest of the playoff teams will all be in action.
There are plenty of intriguing matchups set to take place at the weekend. And perhaps one of these 12 teams will get hot and ride the momentum to a championship victory at Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.
Here's a look at the Wild Card Round schedule, followed by some potential scenarios and predictions for how the playoffs will unfold.
Wild Card Round Schedule
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Saturday, Jan. 11
No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers at No. 4 Houston Texans, 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS/Paramount+
No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 3 Baltimore Ravens, 8 p.m. ET, Prime Video
Sunday, Jan. 12
No. 7 Denver Broncos at No. 2 Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET, CBS/Paramount+
No. 7 Green Bay Packers at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles, 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox
No. 6 Washington Commanders at No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock
Monday, Jan. 13
No. 5 Minnesota Vikings at No. 4 Los Angeles Rams, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC/ESPN+
AFC Scenarios, Predictions
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The Chiefs will face the lowest-remaining seed in the divisional round, which can be any of the No. 4 Texans, No. 5 Chargers, No. 6 Steelers or No. 7 Broncos. If Denver upsets Buffalo, it's a guarantee that it will go on to face Kansas City the following weekend.
So there are a lot of possibilities for the AFC divisional-round matchups. But it would be a surprise if either the No. 2 Bills (vs. Broncos) or No. 3 Ravens (vs. Steelers) lose this weekend. Expect to see both in action next weekend.
The only top-four seed that might lose in the Wild Card Round is the Texans, who had a sluggish second half of the regular season. They have a difficult matchup against the Chargers that could easily go in Los Angeles' favor.
In fact, the Chargers could be poised for a deep playoff run this year. If they get past the Texans, they could get a rematch with the Chiefs. And although L.A. lost to Kansas City twice during the regular season, both meetings were competitive.
What will happen? The prediction here is that the AFC Championship Game will feature a matchup of head coaches who are brothers, with John Harbaugh's Ravens and Jim Harbaugh's Chargers facing off for the conference title.
Baltimore won four straight games following its Week 14 bye, and star quarterback Lamar Jackson is coming off the best regular season of his career. The Ravens appear to be peaking at the right time, which could get them to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2012 season (when they won against Jim Harbaugh's 49ers).
AFC Championship prediction: Ravens over Chargers
NFC Scenarios, Predictions
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As the Lions await their first playoff opponent, there's a chance they could face one of their NFC North rivals in the divisional round. The No. 5 Vikings and No. 7 Packers are both possibilities, as well as the No. 4 Rams and No. 6 Commanders.
If Green Bay upsets Philadelphia this week, then it would advance to face Detroit next week.
It feels unlikely that any NFC team is going to take down the Lions, who were dominant during their 15-2 regular season. Expect them to keep that momentum going as they try to make it to the Super Bowl for the first time.
The Eagles could also be in a position for a strong playoff showing, as long as quarterback Jalen Hurts (concussion) is back in action. Philadelphia impressed en route to winning the NFC East title, and it should beat Green Bay and whichever team it faces the following week.
Teams such as the Buccaneers, Vikings and Commanders all have the potential to be dark horses, but they're all going to have a tough time whenever they run into either the Lions or the Eagles this January.
So, the prediction here is that Detroit will host Philadelphia in a matchup for the NFC Championship. And at that point, the Lions will continue to take care of business.
NFC Championship prediction: Lions over Eagles
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