NFL Playoff Bracket Scenarios 2025-26 Week 17, Latest Standings After 49ers vs. Colts

The San Francisco 49ers kept their dream of landing the NFC's No. 1 overall seed alive on Monday night.

Kyle Shanahan's team moved to 11-4 with their win over the Indianapolis Colts.

The 49ers have arguably the toughest two-game closing stretch among the teams in playoff positions. They face the Chicago Bears in Week 17 and then take on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18.

The Seattle-San Francisco regular-season finale could be the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC and the NFC West title.

Seattle faces a tricky road test against the Carolina Panthers in Week 17, so plenty is still left to be decided in the NFC.

The AFC playoff picture got clearer on Monday night, as the Indianapolis Colts fell to 8-7. Eight teams realistically have a chance to fill in the seven playoff spots going into Week 17.

AFC Standings

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Division Leaders

Denver Broncos (12-3; clinched playoff berth)

2. New England Patriots (12-3; clinched playoff berth)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)

Jacksonville clinched a playoff berth on Monday thanks to Indianapolis' loss to San Francisco.

The Jaguars can close out the AFC South with wins over the Colts and Tennessee Titans in the next two weeks.

The Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers all need to win out to secure their divisional titles as well.

Denver faces the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18, while Pittsburgh takes on the Baltimore Ravens in its regular-season finale. Those are shaping up to be the most meaningful games of Week 18.

Wild-Card Race

5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

6. Buffalo Bills (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

7. Houston Texans (10-5)

The Chargers and Bills locked in their playoff spots with the Colts' loss.

Both teams have divisional title aspirations, but only the Chargers can pick up a head-to-head win against the team directly in front of them.

Buffalo needs help from either the Miami Dolphins or New York Jets against the Patriots to bring Drake Maye and Co. back level on record.

The Texans visit the Chargers in Week 17 and then host the Colts in Week 18. They need one win from those two games, or an Indianapolis loss in Week 17, to secure a playoff spot.

In the Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-7)

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-8)

The Colts need to win out and receive help from the Chargers in Week 17 to have a shot at the postseason field through a wild-card berth.

Baltimore can only qualify for the postseason with the AFC North crown. The Ravens need to win out and have the Steelers lose both of their remaining games for that to happen.

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)

NFC Standings

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Division Leaders

1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3; clinched playoff berth)

2. Chicago Bears (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5; clinched NFC East)

4. Carolina Panthers (8-7)

Two of the four NFC division leaders face off in Week 17.

The Seahawks visit the Panthers in a game with all sorts of ramifications for the top four seeds and the wild-card race.

Chicago plays San Francisco in another game with loads of meaning.

Philadelphia plays Buffalo in Week 17, and while the Eagles have already locked up the NFC East, they can move up the standings if they win out and the teams in front of them lose.

Wild-Card Race

5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)

The stage is set for the 49ers to attempt to grab the No. 1 seed.

San Francisco needs to beat Chicago and Seattle in the next two weeks to claim the NFC's top spot.

A pair of losses, though, could drop the 49ers to the No. 6 or No. 7 seed.

The Los Angeles Rams finish with the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals, a far easier stretch than the Seahawks and 49ers.

The Green Bay Packers close with the Ravens and Minnesota Vikings. They need one win to secure a playoff spot since they have two fewer losses than the Detroit Lions.

In the Hunt

8. Detroit Lions (8-7)

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)

Detroit needs to win out and have Green Bay lose out to get into the postseason at 10-7.

The Lions play the Vikings and Bears in Weeks 17 and 18.

Tampa Bay can only reach the postseason through the NFC South title. The Bucs need to win in Week 17 to set up a winner-takes-all Week 18 clash with the Panthers.

Eliminated

9. 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)