With three weeks remaining in the 2025 NFL season, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. Thirteen of the league’s 32 teams have already been eliminated. The Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams have clinched postseason berths, and a host of other teams — the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers — could all join them this week.
That still leaves a lot of uncertainty about which remaining teams will make the playoffs and what seeds they would land if they do.
With the help of our NFL playoff simulator, we created tables that show every possible scenario for each of the 19 teams we could see in the playoffs. Consider them a starting point for exploration. Each cell in each table links directly to our simulator, which will let you explore any outcome, no matter how heartbreaking or implausible.
AFC East
Final 3 games@ 7-7@ 3-11 6-7WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The Patriots sit atop the AFC East, well-poised to end the Bills’ five-year run as division champions.
Their best-case scenario remains the No. 1 seed and the bye week that comes with it. That’s a real possibility if they win all of their remaining games, but they would still need the Broncos to lose two of their last three.
Securing the No. 2 seed (and hosting the No. 7 seed in the wild-card round) is their more likely outcome.
Final 3 games@ 3-11 9-5 3-11WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
After an electrifying win Sunday at the Patriots, the Bills’ postseason paths remain wide open. They have plausible routes to almost any playoff position — from the top seed to the last wild-card spot. (They could be eliminated, too, though it’s highly unlikely.)
Their most likely playoff position is as a wild-card team, probably as the No. 5 seed.
They can still win the division, too, but they’d need the Patriots to lose to either the New York Jets or the Miami Dolphins in their final two games.
AFC North
Final 3 games@ 8-6@ 3-11 7-7WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The playoff path for the Pittsburgh Steelers is relatively simple: beat the Baltimore Ravens at home in Week 18. If they do that, they will win the division even if they lose the preceding two games.
The Steelers could still win the division if they lose to the Ravens. They would just need the Ravens to have lost an additional game ahead of that matchup — a very real possibility, as the Ravens play the Patriots and Packers in Weeks 16 and 17.
Final 3 games 11-3@ 9-4-1@ 7-6WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The Ravens will be in the playoffs if they win all of their remaining games. Unfortunately, those games are against some of the best teams in the NFL.
Their most important matchup is in Week 18 at the Steelers. If they lose that game, they cannot make the playoffs.
A useful shorthand for the Ravens is that they are in good shape if they win two of their next three, as long as one of those wins is against the Steelers.
AFC South
Final 3 games@ 12-2@ 8-6 2-12WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The Jaguars hold a unique distinction: They are the only team remaining that, with three weeks to go, could find itself in any postseason position, from No. 1 to No. 7, or even missing the playoffs completely.
If they win at least two of their next three games, they are likely to win the division. If they lose all three, they may be eliminated.
The No. 1 seed remains possible, though unlikely. To keep that possibility alive, the Jaguars would need to beat the Broncos — currently the AFC’s top team — on Sunday in Denver.
Final 3 games 2-12@ 10-4 8-6WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The Houston Texans would clinch a playoff berth with a win in any two of their remaining three games, or a win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 18.
Realistically, they’ll most likely end up with a wild-card berth, though they can still win the division. Even with three consecutive wins, the Texans would need the Jaguars to lose at least once.
Final 3 games 10-4 10-4@ 9-5WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The Colts have a narrow path to the playoffs. Realistically, they need to win all of their remaining games — all against likely playoff teams.
AFC West
Final 3 games 10-4@ 6-8 10-4WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The Broncos have clinched a playoff berth and sit atop the AFC. The No. 1 seed is theirs to lose. If they win two of their remaining three games — no matter who they are against — they will keep that spot.
If they beat the Chargers in Week 18, they will win the AFC West no matter what happens in the preceding two weeks.
A catastrophic end to the season could see them slide as low as the No. 7 seed.
Final 3 games@ 6-7-1 9-5@ 12-2WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The Chargers still have an outside chance of winning the division. Three straight wins would make a division title likelier than not.
But realistically, they seem destined for a wild-card berth, even if they lose their remaining games.
NFC East
Final 3 games@ 4-10@ 10-4 4-10WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
Well ahead of the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC East standings, the Eagles are all but assured of their second consecutive division title. A win in any of their remaining games would clinch it, and it would probably still happen even if they lose all three.
The No. 3 seed is the strongest possibility for the Eagles, but if they win all of their remaining games, they would have a decent chance at the No. 2 spot (along with an extremely narrow path to No. 1).
Final 3 games 10-4@ 4-10@ 2-12WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The Cowboys’ postseason hopes are alive, but really only in a mathematical sense. Making the math slightly more palatable starts with a Cowboys win and an Eagles loss in Week 16. That would give the Cowboys a 4 percent chance to make the playoffs, up from less than 1 percent.
NFC North
Final 3 games 9-4-1@ 10-4 8-6WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The Bears are well positioned for a playoff berth. If they beat the Detroit Lions in Week 18, they will make the playoffs no matter what happens in Weeks 16 and 17.
But the Bears can aim higher, too. Winning all of their remaining games, implausible as it may sound, would mean an NFC North title and very possibly the top seed in the NFC.
On the other hand, their next three opponents — the Packers, 49ers and Lions — all have winning records and playoff plans of their own. If the Bears lose all three, they are likely to miss the playoffs completely.
Final 3 games@ 10-4 7-7@ 6-8WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The Packers have a variety of end-of-season possibilities. They’re just about as likely to win the division as they are to earn a wild-card spot. (The No. 1 seed is mathematically possible, too, but don’t hold your breath.)
The Packers would need to win all three of their remaining games to clinch the NFC North, while two wins would guarantee them a playoff berth. They’d still be favorites for a wild-card spot with only one win.
Three straight losses wouldn’t eliminate them, but they’d need the Lions to lose two of their last three games to make it in.
Final 3 games 7-6@ 6-8@ 10-4WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The Lions find themselves in a position few would have predicted at the beginning of the season: needing help to get into the playoffs. For starters, they will have to win at least two of their next three games.
Winning all three — against two likely playoff teams and another coming off two consecutive wins — should be enough to make the playoffs, probably in a wild-card spot.
Two losses or more would eliminate them.
NFC South
Final 3 games@ 7-7@ 6-7 7-7WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The end-of-season scenarios for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers are simple. Only one team can win the NFC South, and the other will not make the playoffs — and they face each other twice in the season’s final three weeks.
If they split these two games, the Bucs would control the tiebreaker (they have a better win percentage in common games).
The stage-setter is the Week 16 game in Carolina. With a win, the Bucs would become overwhelming favorites to make it through, but if the Panthers win, it’d be essentially 50-50.
Final 3 games 7-7 11-3@ 7-7WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
Like the Buccaneers, the Panthers control their path into the playoffs. They play the Bucs twice in their remaining three weeks and likely need to win both to guarantee an NFC South title.
Their crucial first step is beating the Bucs at home in Week 16.
If they lose that game, they would need to beat the Seahawks in Week 17. And hope the Bucs lose to the Dolphins. And beat the Bucs in Week 18. So, yes — the Panthers really need a Week 16 win.
NFC West
Final 3 games@ 11-3@ 5-9 3-11WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
The Rams are the only NFC team that has clinched a postseason berth, and they are the odds-on favorite to earn a first-round bye.
The Rams’ Week 16 game against the Seahawks on Thursday night will all but decide whether Los Angeles can cruise to the No. 1 seed in the NFC. A win would propel the Rams to 90 percent favorites to win the conference. But with a loss, the Rams would be more likely to end up with a wild-card berth than the NFC West title.
Final 3 games 11-3@ 7-7@ 10-4WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
At 11-3, the Seahawks are almost guaranteed a playoff berth. Even with three straight losses, only a succession of unfortunate outcomes would keep them from the playoffs.
They also have a clear path to a first-round bye: Win out and the No. 1 seed is theirs.
If the Seahawks lose even one of their remaining games, they are most likely looking at a wild-card berth.
Final 3 games@ 8-6 10-4 11-3WinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossWinWinWinLossLossLossWinLossWinLossWinLossLossLossLossLoss
If the 49ers win one of their remaining three games, they will clinch a playoff berth.
A division title is unlikely but still a possibility. Three straight wins to end the season would give the 49ers a real chance at the NFC West title (and the No. 1 seed, too).
Even if they lose all their remaining games, the 49ers would still probably make the playoffs.
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