Final NFL Playoff Seeding and Predictions for Every Wild Card Game

The 2025 playoff picture is set, which means the competition will ramp up for Wild Card Weekend through February 8, culminating with Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles are looking to repeat as champions, and for the first time since the 2021 campaign, a team other than the Kansas City Chiefs will represent the AFC.

Bleacher Report's NFL analysts, Gary Davenport, Kris Knox and Moe Moton, will break down the postseason bracket of 14 teams and give their predictions for the Wild Card Round.

AFC Seedings

AP Photo/Eric Lutzens

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix

1. Denver Broncos (14-3)

2. New England Patriots (14-3)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

5. Houston Texans (12-5)

6. Buffalo Bills (12-5)

7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)

There's new blood atop the AFC bracket, which looks odd without the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Denver Broncos, though shaky at times in nail-biting wins, won the tiebreaker for home-field advantage over the New England Patriots based on their higher win percentage in common games. 

If you believe in the adage that defense wins championships, Denver and Houston stand out in this field, though you can't dismiss the hard-nosed Los Angeles Chargers under head coach Jim Harbaugh.

As AFC North champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers come out of the division that embodies toughness.

As unfamiliar teams entering the field, the Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars are wild cards, with a second-year quarterback and a first-year head coach, respectively.

The Buffalo Bills are perennial contenders, and they're looking to advance beyond the AFC Championship Game for the first time with quarterback Josh Allen. Is it their time, or will a surging team represent the conference in Super Bowl LX?

NFC Seedings

AP Photo/Rusty Jones

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold

1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3)

2. Chicago Bears (11-6)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)

4. Carolina Panthers (8-9)

5. Los Angeles Rams (12-5)

6. San Francisco 49ers (12-5)

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

The NFC playoffs are going to be quite the gauntlet.

There are a handful of teams in the NFC bracket that are legitimate threats to make it to Santa Clara, including the team that plays there regularly. But what makes this tournament compelling is that there is no clear favorite.

The Seattle Seahawks have been great defensively but inconsistent on offense at times. Ditto for defending Super Bowl champs, the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Los Angeles Rams looked like the NFL's best team for much of the season but struggled down the stretch.

And who knows what we'll get from unexpected 2025 NFC North champions, the Chicago Bears.

(7) Los Angeles Chargers at (2) New England Patriots

AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert

Kickoff: Sunday, January 11 at 8 p.m. ET

The New England Patriots are back in the playoff mix with a relatively young team on the offensive side of the ball. 

Second-year quarterback Drake Maye is an MVP candidate, and running back TreVeyon Henderson is one of the top Offensive Rookie of the Year candidates. On Sunday, rookie left tackle Will Campbell returned to action from injured reserve. He's allowed five sacks while on the field for 452 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

Though quarterback Justin Herbert hasn't played well in two playoff appearances, throwing for two touchdowns and four interceptions with a 52 percent completion rate, his experience could help him and the Chargers gain an edge in this matchup.

Regarded as one of the league's best defensive coordinators, Chargers play-caller Jesse Minter should be able to slow down the Patriots' fifth-ranked scoring offense enough to keep this matchup close down the stretch.

Herbert won't be under constant duress going against a defense that's 25th in pressure rate. He'll lead a game-winning drive for his first postseason victory and the upset. 

Prediction: Chargers 26, Patriots 24

— Moe Moton

(6) Buffalo Bills at (3) Jacksonville Jaguars

AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen

Kickoff: Sunday, January 11 at 1 p.m. ET

Both of these teams have glaring defensive weaknesses. The Buffalo Bills allowed the most rushing touchdowns this season and the fourth-most rushing yards per game. The Jacksonville Jaguars are 22nd in passing yards allowed per contest.

With those key factors in mind, Bills quarterback Josh Allen has earned more trust in being able to exploit a defensive fault than the Jaguars' 19th-ranked ground attack.

Jacksonville may have success with its run game, featuring Travis Etienne Jr. and Bhayshul Tuten, but Allen's ability to put on a cape under center and move the ball with his arm and legs tips the scales in Buffalo's favor.

The Bills win an entertaining high-scoring matchup that concludes with a series of Allen's highlight-reel plays. 

Prediction: Bills 34, Jaguars 31

— Moe Moton

(5) Houston Texans at (4) Pittsburgh Steelers

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers

Kickoff: Monday, January 12 at 8:15 p.m. ET

The final game of Wild Card Round may be the hardest to predict, even if it looks straightforward at first glance.

On one hand, the Houston Texans are arguably the hottest team of the NFL—winners of nine straight after starting the season 3-5. Their defense is capable of taking over games, while their offense has steadily improved over the season's second half. Houston's winning streak contains wins over three teams in this year's playoff field.

On the other, you have a Pittsburgh Steelers team that is flawed. The offense has been inconsistent, but the defense has been bad, especially against the pass.

This game will be in Pittsburgh. The Steelers will have wideout DK Metcalf back, and Aaron Rodgers knows a bit about the postseason.

Houston's defense controls a close, low-scoring game, and the annual calls for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin's head can begin anew.

Prediction: Texans 21, Steelers 19

— Gary Davenport

(7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Erin Hooley

Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams

Kickoff: Saturday, January 10 at 8 p.m. ET

This is a tricky matchup to predict for a couple of reasons, beginning with the fact that this will be the third meeting between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. Both teams backing their way into the postseason doesn't help.

Chicago won the latest matchup, taking advantage of a few key Packers injuries and winning in overtime. However, it's hard to feel great about the Bears after their uninspired performance against the Detroit Lions in their Week 18 loss.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love suffered a concussion in that Week 16 game against Chicago, but he'll be in the lineup for Round 3. That, along with the experience of head coach Matt LaFleur and a Green Bay roster that is making its third straight postseason appearance, could well make the difference in this one.

However, I'm very concerned with the way Green Bay's defense has looked since losing Micah Parsons for the year. I expect Ben Johnson to get his offense rolling and the Bears to ride the momentum of the home crowd—one that hasn't experienced the playoffs since the 2018 season—to a close victory.

Prediction: Bears 31, Packers 28

— Kris Knox

(6) San Francisco 49ers at (3) Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts

Kickoff: Sunday, January 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET

Roughly a week ago, I would have been quick to back the San Francisco 49ers in this postseason matchup. However, that was before they got physically pushed around by the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18 and before the Philadelphia Eagles decided to rest their starters.

I worry about the physical toll Saturday's game took on a team that has already lost so many key players to injury in 2025. San Francisco's defense has had its fair share of issues down the stretch, which could be a massive problem against a fully healthy Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley.

However, there's a chance Kyle Shanahan gets his offense rolling enough to steal a victory in Philly on Wild Card Weekend. While Seattle was able to hold San Francisco to a mere three points on Saturday, the 49ers' offense has been flying high since its Week 14 bye.

If the time off causes Philly's offense to come out flat, I could see the 49ers running away with this one. Ultimately, though, I think San Francisco simply runs out of gas just in time for the Eagles to win on a walk-off score.

Prediction: Eagles 32, 49ers 30

— Kris Knox

(5) Los Angeles Rams at (4) Carolina Panthers

AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh

Rams QB Matthew Stafford

Kickoff: Saturday, January 10 at 4:30 p.m. ET

Yes, the Carolina Panthers are a great story as NFC South champions and in the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Yes, they beat the Rams in Charlotte in Week 13.

However, the Rams are just a considerably better team on both sides of the ball.

When they have had Davante Adams on the field, the offense has shown flashes of lethal efficiency. Their young front seven should be able to put pressure on Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. The Rams also have far more postseason experience than Carolina.

Neither team is firing on all cylinders entering the playoffs, but with Adams likely to return for this contest and the Rams coming off a decisive win over Arizona, L.A. will avenge its earlier defeat and win by double digits.

Prediction: Rams 34, Panthers 20

— Gary Davenport