NFL Playoff Picture 2026, Week 17 Scenarios, Standings and Bracket Predictions

We're only three games into Week 17, but we've already seen some significant developments that impact the NFL playoff picture.

While Thursday's opener between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders was largely meaningless, the day's two other contests were playoff-relevant.

The Detroit Lions were officially eliminated from playoff contention with their loss against the rival Minnesota Vikings. The Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the nightcap to maintain a grip on the AFC's No. 1 seed.

Here's a look at where every playoff hopeful stands, what could transpire over the weekend, and some predictions for the 2025-26 postseason bracket.

AFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Broncos LB Alex Singleton

Division Leaders

1. x-Denver Broncos (13-3, AFC West)

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

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

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

Denver's win keeps the Broncos in front of the AFC's race for the No. 1 seed. While the Broncos can clinch the top seed this week, that would still require losses by the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

A Chargers loss, however, would hand the AFC West to Denver.

The Patriots can clinch the AFC East with a win and a Buffalo loss. A win and a Houston Texans loss would give the AFC South to Jacksonville.

The Pittsburgh Steelers—who are -1600 (bet $1,600 to win $100) to make the playoffs, according to DraftKings Sportbook—can clinch the AFC North with a win or a loss by the Baltimore Ravens. The other three division leaders have already earned postseason berths.

Wild Card Teams

5. x-Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)

6. x-Buffalo Bills (11-4)

7. Houston Texans (9-5)

The Chargers and Bills have both clinched playoff berths, while the Texans are -10000 to reach the postseason.

Houston can clinch with a win over the Chargers on Saturday. An Indianapolis Colts loss would also put the Texans in the postseason. If Los Angeles outlasts Houston, the Week 18 game between the Chargers and Broncos would be for the AFC West crown.

In the Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-7)

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-8)

If the Texans win on Saturday, the Colts will officially be eliminated. The Ravens, meanwhile, must win on Saturday to put any amount of pressure on the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Baltimore wins and the Steelers fall to the Cleveland Browns, though, Pittsburgh and the Ravens would battle for the AFC North title in Week 18.

The Ravens and Colts are +900 (bet $100 to win $900) and +3000, respectively, to make the playoffs.

Eliminated

0. Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

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)

*x=clinched playoff spot

NFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo/John Froschauer

Seahawks CB Devon Witherspoon

Division Leaders

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

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

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

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

The Philadelphia Eagles remain the only team that has clinched a division to this point. The Seattle Seahawks can join Philly as a division champ with a win over the Carolina Panthers and losses by the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.

The Panthers, meanwhile, can clinch the NFC South with a win and a loss by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chicago Bears can clinch the NFC North with a win over the 49ers or a loss by the Green Bay Packers.

The Eagles, Seahawks, and Bears are all playoff-bound, while the Panthers are +125 to make the playoffs.

Wild Card Teams

5. x-San Francisco 49ers (10-4)

6. x-Los Angeles Rams (11-4)

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

The 49ers and Rams had already claimed playoff berths before the start of Week 17, and both remain in the NFC West hunt. In fact, both have paths to claiming the NFC's top seed, too.

Los Angeles would need to win its final two games while getting one loss each from the Bears, Seahawks and 49ers. San Francisco's path is a lot more straightforward sine it plays Seattle in Week 18. If the 49ers win out, they'll claim the NFC's top seed.

The Packers clinched a playoff berth with Detroit's loss on Sunday.

In the Hunt

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)

The Buccaneers, who are now -150 to make the postseason, cannot make the playoffs as a wild-card team. If the Panthers win in Week 17, the Bucs will have to beat the Miami Dolphins this week to stay alive, which would set up a winner-take-all showdown with Carolina in Week 18.

Eliminated

8. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

9. Detroit Lions (8-8)

10. Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)

12. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

14. Washington Commanders (4-12)

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)

16. New York Giants (2-13)

*x=clinched playoff spot, z=clinched division

Bracket Predictions and Updated Super Bowl Odds

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Rams QB Matthew Stafford

AFC

1. New England Patriots

7. Houston Texans at 2. Los Angeles Chargers

6. Denver Broncos at 3. Jacksonville Jaguars

5. Buffalo Bills at 4. Pittsburgh Steelers

NFC

1. Seattle Seahawks

7. Green Bay Packers at 2. Chicago Bears

6. San Francisco 49ers at 3. Philadelphia Eagles

5. Los Angeles Rams at 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Super Bowl Odds

Los Angeles Rams +425

Seattle Seahawks +550

Denver Broncos +850

New England Patriots +900

Buffalo Bills +900

Philadelphia Eagles +1000

Jacksonville Jaguars +1200

San Francisco 49ers +1300

Houston Texans +1500

Green Bay Packers +1500

Los Angeles Chargers +1900

Chicago Bears +2000

Pittsburgh Steelers +3500

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +7000

Baltimore Ravens +12000

Carolina Panthers +15000

Indianapolis Colts +100000

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