NFL Playoff Scenarios 2025-26, Wild Card Picture, Postseason Bracket Post-Week 17

The 2025-26 NFL Playoff picture continued to take shape Sunday, with several wins and losses affecting the seeding in both the NFC and AFC brackets.

The Houston Texans took a big leap up the standings while a one-point loss cost the Buffalo Bills two places.

What does the current playoff picture look like and what are a few of the scenarios that could play out ahead of the start of the postseason?

Find out in this preview.

AFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

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

2. z-New England Patriots (13-3, AFC East)

3. x-Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4, AFC South)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North)

Denver and New England have been neck and neck all season, keeping pace with each other in the hunt for the top seed in the AFC. Should they both win in Week 18, the Broncos will get the nod based on best win percentage in common games.

Pittsburgh's loss to the Browns on Sunday results in a showdown with Baltimore for the AFC North title and the fourth seed in the conference. The Steelers narrowly defeated the Ravens back on December 7, 27-22, and will play the high-stakes game at home. A loss would be a devastating result for a team that needed to beat a bad Browns team to avoid the sudden-death scenario.

Wild Card Teams

5. x-Houston Texans (11-5)

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

7. x-Buffalo Bills (11-5)

Buffalo's one-point loss to the Eagles had a significant impact on their placement in the Wild Card standings, dropping them from fifth to seventh and clinching the AFC East crown for the division foe New England. Of course, if the standings remain as they are currently, their first-round opponent in the playoffs would be those same Patriots.

In the Hunt

Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

In a season in which Lamar Jackson has never truly been healthy, and the defense was a liability early on, the idea that the Ravens are one win away from cashing their ticket to the postseason is astonishing. One of the best performances of Derrick Henry's career, against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, kept Baltimore alive. Whether Jackson will be cleared to play in the most important game of his team's season after missing Week 17 remains to be seen.

Eliminated

Indianapolis Colts (8-8)

Miami Dolphins (7-9)

Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)

Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

Cleveland Browns (4-12)

New York Jets (3-13)

Tennessee Titans (3-13)

Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)

NFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. x-Seattle Seahawks (13-3, NFC West)

2. z-Chicago Bears (11-5, NFC North)

3. z-Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, NFC East)

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

The Panthers' inability to upset Seattle set up a battle for the NFC South title in Week 18, where they will play Tampa Bay for the second time in three weeks. In that first game, Carolina got three field goals and two passing touchdowns from quarterback Bryce Young to best a Buccaneers team that out-gained them but lost the turnover battle.

Wild Card Teams

5. x-San Francisco 49ers (12-4)

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

7. x-Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)

San Francisco can make an improbable comeback and emerge as the No. 1 seed in the NFC and West division champions with a win against Seattle to close out the season. Considering that quarterback Mac Jones stepped in for Brock Purdy earlier in the season and steadied the ship, and linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa both suffered season-ending injuries, that would be a massive accomplishment for Kyle Shanahan's resilient crew.

For the Rams to regain possession of the top seed, they need considerable help.

In The Hunt

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)

Tampa Bay has lost four in a row to lose control of the NFC South and set up a championship showdown with Carolina.

Eliminated

Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

Detroit Lions (8-8)

Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)

Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

New Orleans Saints (6-10)

Washington Commanders (4-12)

Arizona Cardinals (3-13)

New York Giants (3-13)

x-indicates clinched playoffs; z-indicates clinched division