NEW YORK — Dec. 23, 2025 — With just two weeks left in the regular season, the NFL playoff picture is heating up across both conferences. Several teams have already punched their postseason tickets, but critical division races and the battle for first-round byes remain wide open heading into Week 17.
AFC Playoff Picture
Clinched Playoff Berths:
- Buffalo Bills (11-4)
- Denver Broncos (12-3)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- New England Patriots (12-3)
Key Scenarios:
- Denver Broncos (12-3) at Kansas City (6-9):
- Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video
- Denver clinches the AFC West title and the conference’s No. 1 seed (home-field advantage, first-round bye) with a win, plus a Chargers loss or tie, Patriots loss, Bills loss or tie, and Jaguars loss or tie.
- Denver clinches the AFC West with a win and Chargers loss/tie, or with a tie and Chargers loss.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) at Indianapolis Colts (8-7):
- Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
- Jacksonville clinches the AFC South with a win and Texans loss/tie, or a tie and Texans loss.
- New England Patriots (12-3) at New York Jets (3-12):
- Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
- New England clinches the AFC East with a win and Bills loss/tie, or a tie and Bills loss.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) at Cleveland Browns (3-12):
- Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Pittsburgh clinches the AFC North with a win/tie, or a Ravens loss/tie.
- Houston Texans (10-5) at Los Angeles Chargers (11-4):
- Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network
- Houston clinches a playoff berth with a win/tie, an Indianapolis loss/tie, or by clinching at least a tie in the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Colts.
- Strength of Victory Note: HOU needs wins from Baltimore, Buffalo, Kansas City, and San Francisco, plus losses from Atlanta and Miami, to clinch a tie in this tiebreaker.
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NFC Playoff Picture
Clinched:
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) – NFC East champions
- Chicago Bears (11-4)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
NFL News:
- NFL Week 14: Historic Milestones Within Reach for 14 Players
- Paul Tagliabue, Legendary NFL Commissioner and Hall of Famer, Dies at 84
- NFL’s new partnership with NAADAM Clothing Company
Key Scenarios:
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3) at Carolina Panthers (8-7):
- Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Seattle clinches the NFC West and the conference’s No. 1 seed (bye, home-field) with a win, Rams loss/tie, and a 49ers-Bears tie.
- Seattle clinches the NFC West with a win, Rams loss/tie, and 49ers loss/tie, or with a tie plus Rams and 49ers losses.
- Carolina Panthers (8-7) vs. Seattle Seahawks (12-3):
- Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
- Carolina clinches the NFC South with a win and Buccaneers loss/tie, or a tie and Buccaneers loss.
- Chicago Bears (11-4) at San Francisco 49ers (11-4):
- Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
- Chicago clinches the NFC North with a win, Packers loss, or both teams tie.
- Green Bay Packers (9-5-1) vs. Baltimore Ravens (7-8):
- Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, Peacock
- Green Bay clinches a playoff berth with a win/tie, or a Detroit Lions loss/tie.
Bottom Line:
From division crowns to wild card spots, Week 17 promises high-stakes drama as teams battle for coveted playoff positions. Stay tuned for all the action and see who will rise to the occasion as the postseason approaches.
That’s the latest from Bad Dawg Sports—where the real story goes beyond the scoreboard. Want exclusive insights and insider updates? Subscribe to our newsletter for just $24/year and stay ahead of the game.
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