Week 16 NFL Playoff Picture, AFC, NFC Bracket Scenarios, 2025 Postseason Predictions

Entering Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season, just two elites have RSVP'd for the postseason party so far.

There are, however, a bunch of bottom-feeders who've already learned they won't be getting an invitation.

In between those groups, there's a mash of teams still jostling for postseason berths and prime seeding position. Depending on how things go this weekend, though, clarity could be coming soon for a big chunk of that group.

We'll dig into what's at stake while laying out the current playoff picture and finishing with a few postseason predictions.

AFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. x-Denver Broncos (12-2, AFC West)

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

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4, AFC South)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6, AFC North)

Clinching scenarios are at play for the first three teams in this tier. The Patriots have the most direct route to the playoffs: They're in with a win over or tie against the Ravens. A loss or tie by the Colts or Texans would do the trick, too.

The other paths are more convoluted, but the Broncos could secure the AFC's No. 1 seed with: a win, a Chargers' loss or tie, a Patriots' loss or tie and a Bills' loss or tie. As for the Jaguars, there are four different ways they could lock up a playoff berth with the simplest being a win over the Broncos and a loss or tie by either the Colts or Texans.

Wild Card Teams

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)

6. Buffalo Bills (10-4)

7. Houston Texans (9-5)

While the Texans can't clinch their spot in Week 16, the other two teams here can. They just need wins and help. The Chargers have multiple options to get in, but their most direct route involves beating the Cowboys and having either the Colts or Texans lose or tie. The Bills will have essentially the same blueprint when they visit the Browns on Sunday.

In the Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6)

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-7)

While the Colts aren't technically buried in the standings, it might feel that way amid their four-game losing streak which included the loss of starting quarterback Daniel Jones to an Achilles tear. They've since handed the reins over to recently unretired 44-year-old Philip Rivers, who will remain at the helm for at least one more week.

The Ravens, meanwhile, are racing against the clock to recover from their 1-5 start. Things don't look particularly rosy at the moment, but if they can survive upcoming clashes with the Patriots and Packers, then they might control their destiny when the Steelers come to town in Week 18.

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. Tennessee Titans (2-12)

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)

x-clinched playoffs

NFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. x-Los Angeles Rams (11-3, NFC West)

2. Chicago Bears (10-4, NFC North)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5, NFC East)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7, NFC South)

The Rams and Buccaneers won't change their playoff fates this weekend, but the Bears and Eagles might. Chicago hosts Green Bay on Sunday night and can clinch a playoff berth with a win and either a loss or tie by the Lions (or a tie by the Bears and a loss by the Lions). The Eagles, meanwhile, can clinch the NFC East with a win over the Commanders or a Cowboys' loss or ties by both teams.

Wild Card Teams

5. Seattle Seahawks (11-3)

6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)

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

It's possible that all three of these teams exit Week 16 with playoff tickets in hand. The 49ers and Seahawks don't need help; beat the Colts and Rams, respectively, and they're in the big dance. A Lions' loss or a ties by both would also get San Francisco in, while Seattle could also clinch with either a tie or a Lions' loss or tie.

The Packers, who host the Bears, need a little assistance. Green Bay would clinch a postseason berth with a win and a Lions' loss or tie or a tie and a Lions' loss.

In the Hunt

8. Detroit Lions (8-6)

9. Carolina Panthers (7-7)

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)

This is now the clinging-for-dear-life group, or rather it is for the Lions and Cowboys, who will need plenty of help over the closing weeks to sneak in. As for the Panthers, two remaining tussles with the division-leading Buccaneers could decide that race.

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)

x-clinched playoffs

Postseason Predictions

AP Photo

No major changes in the playoff picture.

If you're hoping for late-season drama in the standings, then we apologize for bursting that bubble. It's just that our crystal ball has a hard time picturing anything close to the kind of chaos that would needed to radically reshape the field.

Could the Ravens still track down the Steelers? Maybe. Might the Panthers surpass the Buccaneers? Perhaps. But that's about the extent of shaking things up. The standings you see today will look awfully close to the ones seen at season's end.

An early exit for AFC's top seed.

Perhaps to help cushion this blow, let's start with a big batch of flowers for the Broncos. They've been objectively awesome this season as the first to a dozen wins.

Having said that, the numbers aren't sure they're this good: Their plus-81 point differential, for instance, ninth overall—behind teams like the Lions and Colts, who may not even reach the playoffs. Denver's defense is dominant, but the offense runs and hot cold. Don't be surprised if an untimely frigid showing spells their early demise.

Rams return to championship glory.

Oddsmakers have this right: The Rams look every bit like Super Bowl favorites. They're good (second in scoring differential), they're hot (winners in eight of their last nine) and they're—to a certain extent—experienced on the big stage. While there aren't many remaining members of their Super Bowl LVI team, the head coach (Sean McVay) and the quarterback (Matthew Stafford) are still the same.

This young defense is all kinds of disruptive, and this offense can win games in all manner of ways. While opponents likely shape their game plans around limiting this explosive passing attack, running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum have quietly combined for more than 1,600 rushing yards and 15 rushing scores.

Granted, this sport's Any-Given-Sunday aspect means the best teams aren't always crowned, but the Rams have everything they need to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to L.A.