NFL Playoff Picture 2025-26, Bracket Clinching and Elimination Scenarios for Week 16

Adam WellsDec 16, 2025

Welcome to the NFL in 2025, which looks in some ways like it did roughly a decade ago.

The Denver Broncos and New England Patriots are battling it out for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. But their path is complicated by a number of surging contenders, including the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Kansas City Chiefs, who dominated the conference for the past seven years, were officially eliminated from playoff contention for the first time in 11 years. They also lost Patrick Mahomes for the remainder of the year due to a torn ACL.

Over in the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams appear to have separated themselves from everyone else. The Green Bay Packers looked like their primary challenger, but their defense will face an uphill battle after Micah Parsons tore his ACL.

Here are the updated standings, as well as the clinching and elimination scenarios at stake going into Week 16.

Team Standings

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AP Photo/David Zalubowski

AFC Standings

Division Leaders

1. Denver Broncos (12-2; lead AFC West)

2. New England Patriots (11-3; lead AFC East)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4; lead AFC Sorth)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6; lead AFC North)

The Broncos' marquee win over Green Bay on Sunday gave it the inside track on the No. 1 seed in the AFC for the first time since 2015. They have another huge game on the horizon when they host the red-hot Jaguars, winners of five straight games, this week.

Wild-Card Race

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)

6. Buffalo Bills (10-4)

7. Houston Texans (9-5)

It could be argued that the Bills and Texans are the best teams in their respective divisions, but they dug themselves into a hole earlier in the season that they could end up having to play on the road for the entire postseason if they make the field.

In the Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6)

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-7)

Times are tough for the Colts, who were able to put forth a valiant effort with Philip Rivers at quarterback in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. They have dropped four straight games and their final three games are against the San Francisco 49ers, Jaguars and Texans.

Eliminated

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)

11. Miami Dolphins (6-8)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)

13. New York Jets (3-11)

14. Cleveland Browns (3-11)

15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)

16. Tennessee Titans (2-12)

NFC Standings

Division Leaders

1. Los Angeles Rams (11-3; lead NFC West)

2. Chicago Bears (10-4; lead NFC North)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5; lead NFC East)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7; lead NFC South)

The Rams have been able to shake off slow starts in their last two games to maintain their hold on the No. 1 seed in the NFC and become the first team to clinch a postseason berth. The Bears moved back into first place in the NFC North, while the Eagles had a nice, quiet week with an easy win to move one step closer to clinching the NFC East.

Wild-Card Race

5. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)

6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)

8. Detroit Lions (8-6)

9. Carolina Panthers (7-7)

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1; eliminated from wild-card contention, but still alive in NFC East race)

While the Seahawks survived a potential upset in Week 15, they have a huge game against the Rams on Thursday that could end up determining the NFC West champion. Detroit's loss in Los Angeles gave the 49ers and Packers breathing room as those teams move closer toward clinching a postseason berth.

Eliminated

11. Minnesota Vikings (6-8)

12. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (4-10)

14. Washington Commanders (4-10)

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-11)

16. New York Giants (2-12)

Playoff Clinching Scenarios

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AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

NFC

Philadelphia Eagles Clinch NFC East

win at Washington Commanders

or tie at Washington Commanders AND Dallas Cowboys tie vs. Los Angeles Chargers

or Dallas Cowboys loss vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Green Bay Packers Clinch Playoff Berth

win at Chicago Bears AND Detroit Lions loss/tie vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

or tie at Chicago Bears AND Detroit Lions loss vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Chicago Bears Clinch Playoff Berth

win vs. Green Bay Packers AND Detroit Lions loss/tie vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

or tie vs. Green Bay Packers AND Detroit Lions loss vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks Clinch Playoff Berth

win/tie vs. Los Angeles Rams

or Detroit Lions loss/tie vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers Clinch Playoff Berth

win at Indianapolis Colts

or tie at Indianapolis Colts AND Detroit Lions tie vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

or Detroit Lions loss vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC

Denver Broncos Clinch AFC West

win vs. Jacksonville Jaguars AND Los Angeles Chargers loss/tie at Dallas Cowboys

or tie vs. Jacksonville Jaguars AND Los Angeles Chargers loss at Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos Clinch AFC No. 1 Seed

win vs. Jacksonville Jaguars AND Los Angeles Chargers loss/tie at Dallas Cowboys AND New England Patriots loss at Baltimore Ravens AND Buffalo Bills loss/tie at Cleveland Browns

New England Patriots Clinch Playoff Berth

win at Baltimore Ravens

or Indianapolis Colts loss/tie vs. San Francisco 49ers

or Houston Texans loss/tie vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Buffalo Bills Clinch Playoff Berth

win at Cleveland Browns AND Indianapolis Colts loss/tie vs. San Francisco 49ers

or win at Cleveland Browns AND Houston Texans loss/tie vs. Las Vegas Raiders

or tie at Cleveland Browns AND Indianapolis Colts loss vs. San Francisco 49ers

or tie at Cleveland Browns AND Houston Texans loss vs. Las Vegas Raiders

Jacksonville Jaguars Clinch Playoff Berth

win at Denver Broncos AND Indianapolis Colts loss/tie vs. San Francisco 49ers

or win at Denver Broncos AND Houston Texans loss/tie vs. Las Vegas Raiders