NFL playoff picture: Panthers win NFC South with assist from Falcons; Ravens-Steelers to decide AFC North
In what's been a chaotic regular season, we are down to one division race still undecided
It all comes down to this. We've reached the final weekend of the 2025 regular season, and Week 18 is poised to bring plenty of chaos as we cross the finish line. Entering the weekend, four division titles were still up for grabs, along with the No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC.
In the NFC, the No. 1 seed was decided Saturday night when the Seattle Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco. With the win, Seattle clinched the NFC West and a first-round bye as the conference's top seed. On Sunday, the Panthers (8-9) backed into an NFC South title thanks to the Falcons beating the Saints.
In the AFC, the Broncos wrapped up the AFC's top seed and the first-round bye that comes with it. The red-hot Jaguars clinched the AFC South and the third seed.
Beyond the top seeds, the AFC North will be determined on "Sunday Night Football" between the Ravens and Steelers. The winner of that game will claim the division and be the No. 4 seed in the conference, while the other will be eliminated from playoff contention.
As we close the book on the 2025 regular season and put the postseason into clearer focus, let's take a look at the current playoff picture.
2026 NFL playoff picture, bracket: Full Wild Card Weekend schedule for NFC and AFC
John Breech
AFC standings
- z-Denver Broncos (14-3)
- z-New England Patriots (14-3)
- z-Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
- x-Houston Texans (12-5)
- x-Buffalo Bills (12-5)
- x-Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
x-clinched playoff berth; z-clinched division
1. Denver Broncos (14-3)
Denver took care of business in Week 18 against the Chargers to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
2. New England Patriots (14-3)
The Patriots crushed the Dolphins in Week 18 to clinch the No. 2 seed. They will face the No. 7 Chargers in the wild card round.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)
The Jaguars wrapped up the AFC South with a convincing win over the Titans. They will face the Bills in Jacksonville in the wild card round.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
Remaining schedule: vs. Ravens
After falling to the Browns in Week 17, the Steelers face a do-or-die matchup with the Ravens in Week 18.
5. Houston Texans (12-5)
After starting the year 0-3, the Texans closed out the regular season winning their final nine games, including a Week 18 victory over the Colts. They clinched the No. 5 seed and will face either the Ravens or Steelers in the wild card round.
6. Buffalo Bills (12-5)
The Bills rested their starters but still had little trouble blowing out the Jets to wrap up the sixth seed. They face the Jaguars in the opening round.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
The Chargers closed out the regular season with back-to-back losses. They dropped to the seventh seed with their loss to the Broncos and will travel to New England next week.
In the hunt
The Ravens (8-8), with Lamar Jackson sidelined, kept their playoff hopes alive with an impressive road win against the Packers in Green Bay in Week 17. That sets up a winner-take-all matchup in the AFC North against the Steelers in Week 18. The loser will be eliminated from playoff contention.
NFC standings
- z-Seattle Seahawks (14-3)
- z-Chicago Bears (11-6)
- z-Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
- z-Carolina Panthers (8-9)
- x-Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
- x-San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
- x-Green Bay Packers (9-7-1)
x-clinched playoff berth; z-clinched division
1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3)
With Mike Macdonald, Sam Darnold and a ferocious defense leading the way, the NFC playoffs will go through Seattle. The Seahawks earned that right by suffocating the 49ers on Saturday night to not only win the NFC West, but also claim the conference's No. 1 seed and the first-round bye that comes with it.
2. Chicago Bears (11-6)
The Bears lost their season finale against the Lions but still landed the No. 2 seed when the Eagles lost to the Commanders. They will face NFC North foe Green Bay for a third time this year in the wild card round.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
Philadelphia rested its starters in a Week 18 loss to the Commanders. The defending Super Bowl champions will open up their title defense next week against the 49ers.
4. Carolina Panthers (8-9)
Despite falling to the Buccaneers in the season finale, the Panthers backed into the playoffs when the Falcons beat the Saints. They will now host a wild card game against the Rams.
5. Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
The Rams blew out the Cardinals in Week 18 and landed the No. 5 seed. They get to face the 8-9 Panthers in Carolina.
6. San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
Entering Week 17, the 49ers had a chance to play five straight home games to end the season, with the Super Bowl set to be played at Levi's Stadium. That will no longer be the case after Saturday night's deflating 13-3 loss to the Seahawks.
Instead of winning the NFC West and earning a first-round bye as the conference's top seed, the 49ers will be playing in Philadelphia against the Eagles.
7. Green Bay Packers (9-7-1)
Green Bay, locked into the No. 7 seed, rested its starters in a Week 18 loss to the Vikings. The Packers will visit either the Bears in the wild card round.
