NFL Playoff Bracket Picture 2025-26 and AFC, NFC Standings After Week 16 Sunday Slate

On the heels of dramatic victories by the Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears that catapulted them to the top of the NFC, Sunday's Week 16 slate looked to continue the unpredictable nature of the 2025 season and throw the playoff picture further into mystery and disarray.

What teams sit atop their divisions with a chance to clinch a place in the postseason?

Find out with this current look at the playoff bracket and postseason picture.

NFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. x-Seattle Seahawks (12-3, NFC West; +500 odds to win the Super Bowl)

2. Chicago Bears (11-4, NFC North; +2200)

3. x-Philadelphia Eagles (10-5, NFC East; +1000)

4. Carolina Panthers (8-7, NFC South; +15000)

Seattle, Chicago, and Philadelphia all scored hugely significant wins before Sunday's games even kicked off, with the latter picking up divisional wins Saturday afternoon while the Seahawks won a heavyweight battle with the Rams Thursday, one of the most unforgettable games of the season.

All three are in the driver's seats in their divisions with two games left. Wins against Carolina and San Francisco will solidify the No. 1 seed for the Seahawks while the Eagles have already clinched their division with two to play, including a marquee match-up against Buffalo in Week 17.

The Bears can clinch a playoff spot with a Lions loss to the Steelers Sunday and can win the NFC North with a win over San Francisco next week.

Wild Card Teams

5. x-Los Angeles Rams (11-4; +400)

6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4; +2000)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1; +1600)

The Rams will need Seattle and San Francisco to stumble in order to clinch the NFC West but are already guaranteed a playoff spot, regardless. Victories against Atlanta and Arizona in should-win games will keep them in contention for the division and conference No. 1 seed.

The Packers can secure a playoff berth with wins in their final two and a Detroit loss. The division title is less likely, with them needing to win both of their final two and the Bears to lose both of theirs.

In the Hunt

8. Detroit Lions (8-7; +1300)

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8; +7000)

The Lions need to win out and get some help from the Packers to ensure their return to the postseason while the Buccaneers need to win against Miami in Week 17 and beat Carolina in the season finale for the NFC South title.

Eliminated

10. Minnesota Vikings (7-8)

11. Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)

12. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

14. Washington Commanders (4-11)

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)

16. New York Giants (2-13)

x - denotes clinched playoffs

AFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. x-Denver Broncos (12-3, AFC West; +1300)

2. x-New England Patriots (12-3, AFC East; +1300)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4, AFC South; +900)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6, AFC North; +5000)

The Jacksonville Jaguars are for real. The Liam Cohen-coached squad rolled into its biggest game of the season, against the top-seeded Broncos, and sent a message loudly and clearly with a two-touchdown victory, 34-20.

Trevor Lawrence followed up last week's five-touchdown outing with a four-score performance. This, despite five sacks.

The Broncos lost the turnover battle, 0-2, and struggled to keep Jacksonville out of the end zone when they did move the ball. A resilient team that has thrived on the disrespect narrative, they are a team to watch down the stretch, especially considering the rapidly improved play of Lawrence.

Wild Card Teams

5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4; +1800)

6. Buffalo Bills (11-4; +850)

7. Houston Texans (10-5; +1400)

The Chargers and Bills kept pace with the rest of the conference Sunday with wins. Los Angeles dominated Dallas, doubling their point total, while Buffalo looked ordinary in a closer-than-expected 23-20 victory over Cleveland.

A showdown with floundering Las Vegas Raiders put the Texans in a position to take one step closer to a playoff berth, something that felt rather unlikely earlier in the season, when they struggled early and looked like anything but a playoff squad.

Now, thanks, to a stingy defense, they look like a dark horse Super Bowl contender.

In The Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6; +50000)

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-8; +4000)

Two teams on the fringe of the postseason, the Colts and Ravens need significant help to make the playoffs. They also need to win. A loss would essentially signify the end of their seasons, especially if their division foes win their Week 16 match-ups.

Eliminated

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)

11. Miami Dolphins (6-9)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)

13. New York Jets (3-12)

14. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

15. Cleveland Browns (3-12)

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)