NFL Playoff Picture 2025-26, Bracket Clinching and Elimination Scenarios for Week 17

The NFL playoff bracket will come into clearer focus after Week 17 of the regular season, with nearly every division having a pathway to crown a champion.

The Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks can claim even more. They sit atop the AFC and NFC West respectively, and they can not only clinch the division but also secure a bye to the divisional round with the right results going their way.

After three straight last-place finishes, the Chicago Bears are one win away from taking the NFC North for the first time since 2018.

The drought is even longer for the Carolina Panthers, who were last NFC South champions in 2015. Beating the Seattle Seahawks along with a loss or tie for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would assure them of a first-place.

Here's how the playoff picture looks in both conferences.

Team Standings

AP Photo/Rick Osentoski

AFC Standings

Division Leaders

1. Denver Broncos, 12-3 (AFC West)

2. New England Patriots, 12-3 (AFC East)

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

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

The Pittsburgh Steelers are one win away from winning the AFC North, and a wide segment of their fanbase still might not be happy. Much like in recent years, another playoff appearance could paper over wider cracks that have emerged in the Mike Tomlin era.

Wild-Card Race

5. Los Angeles Chargers, 11-4

6. Buffalo Bills, 11-4

7. Houston Texans, 10-5

The math is simple for the Texans. Notching their 11th win on Saturday against the Los Angeles Chargers will put them into the playoffs.

In the Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts, 8-7

9. Baltimore Ravens, 7-8

The Baltimore Ravens are just 6-6 this year when Lamar Jackson starts. The three games he missed because of a hamstring injury were certainly costly, but the Ravens' issues go beyond that. Should Baltimore miss the postseason, it will be an indictment of head coach John Harbaugh.

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

Division Leaders

1. Seattle Seahawks, 12-3 (NFC West)

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

3. Philadelphia Eagles, 10-5 (NFC East)

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

At the very least, clinching the NFC West this weekend would take a lot of pressure off the Seahawks heading into their Week 18 finale with the San Francisco 49ers. In general, the vibes in Seattle are much different compared to when the team was trailing the Los Angeles Rams by 16 points in the fourth quarter last week.

Wild-Card Race

5. San Francisco 49ers, 11-4

6. Los Angeles Rams, 11-4

7. Green Bay Packers, 9-5-1

The Niners are riding a five-game winning streak and quarterback Brock Purdy had 295 passing yards and five touchdowns in Monday's 48-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts. San Francisco might be finding its groove at the ideal time.

In the Hunt

8. Detroit Lions, 8-7

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-8

The Detroit Lions are yet another example of how life can come at you fast in the NFL. After reaching the NFC title game in 2023 and then winning 15 games in 2024, they're on the verge of missing the postseason entirely.

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

Playoff Clinching Scenarios

AP Photo/Ben VanHouten

AFC

Denver Broncos Clinch First-Round Bye and Home-Field Advantage

• win at Kansas City Chiefs AND New England Patriots loss AND Los Angeles Chargers loss/tie AND Jacksonville Jaguars loss/tie AND Buffalo Bills loss/tie

Denver Broncos Clinch AFC West

• win at Kansas City Chiefs AND Los Angeles Chargers loss/tie
• tie at Kansas City Chiefs AND Los Angeles Chargers loss

New England Patriots Clinch AFC East

• win at New York Jets AND Buffalo Bills loss/tie
• tie at New York Jets AND Buffalo Bills loss

Jacksonville Jaguars Clinch AFC South

• win at Indianapolis Colts AND Houston Texans loss/tie
• tie at Indianapolis Colts AND Houston Texans loss

Pittsburgh Steelers Clinch AFC North

• win/tie at Cleveland Browns
• Baltimore Ravens loss/tie

Houston Texans Clinch Playoff Berth

• win/tie at Los Angeles Chargers
• Indianapolis Colts loss/tie
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers win AND San Francisco 49ers win AND Los Angeles Rams win AND Buffalo Bills win AND Baltimore Ravens win AND Kansas City Chiefs win

NFC

Seattle Seahawks Clinch First-Round Bye and Home-Field Advantage

• win at Carolina Panthers AND Los Angeles Rams loss/tie AND San Francisco 49ers tie

Seattle Seahawks Clinch NFC West

• win at Carolina Panthers AND Los Angeles Rams loss/tie AND San Francisco 49ers loss/tie
• tie at Carolina Panthers AND Los Angeles Rams loss AND San Francisco 49ers loss

Chicago Bears Clinch NFC North

• win at San Francisco 49ers
• tie at San Francisco 49ers AND Green Bay Packers tie
• Green Bay Packers loss

Carolina Panthers Clinch NFC South

• win vs. Seattle Seahawks AND Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss/tie
• tie vs. Seattle Seahawks AND Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss

Green Bay Packers Clinch Playoff Berth

• win vs. Baltimore Ravens
• Detroit Lions loss/tie

Playoff Elimination Scenarios

AP Photo/Caroline Brehman

AFC

Baltimore Ravens

• loss/tie at Green Bay Packers
• Pittsburgh Steelers win/tie

Indianapolis Colts

• loss/tie vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
• Houston Texans win/tie
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers win AND San Francisco 49ers win AND Los Angeles Rams win AND Buffalo Bills win AND Baltimore Ravens win AND Kansas City Chiefs win

NFC

Detroit Lions

• loss/tie at Minnesota Vikings
• Green Bay Packers win/tie

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• loss at Miami Dolphins AND Carolina Panthers win/tie
• tie at Miami Dolphins AND Carolina Panthers win