With two weeks to go, the 2025 NFL playoff picture is already quite clear. In the AFC, the Ravens (and, technically, the Colts) are clinging to hope. In the NFC, the Panthers and Bucs are still fighting for the NFC South title. Other than that, every playoff spot is accounted for.
The biggest playoff what-ifs are at the top. Eight teams have 11 wins or more. Seven of eight divisions remain up for grabs. And the No. 1 seed remains wide open in both conferences.
To wrap our heads around all the possibilities, we used our NFL Playoff Simulator to look at the full range of end-of-season outcomes for every team that can still make the playoffs, whether they win both their games, lose both or split the two.
The tables below should help you think through everything that might happen for your team (if it hasn’t yet been eliminated). And if you want to take matters into your own hands, all the tables link to our simulator, where you can explore every possible 2025 NFL future.
AFC East
Final 2 games@ 3-12 6-9WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
The Patriots have clinched a playoff berth and have two very winnable games ahead: they visit the Jets in Week 16 and host the Dolphins in Week 17. If they win out, they would clinch the AFC East title, with a terrific chance at the No. 1 seed and first round bye.
If they split their final two games, they could still win the division but would need help to do so.
In the unlikely event that they lose both games, the Patriots would likely fall to the No. 6 seed.
Final 2 games 10-5 3-12WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
The Bills have clinched a playoff berth and still have a narrow path to the AFC East title. Even if they win their remaining games, they would still need some help in the form of a Patriots loss. At the very least, if the Bills win out, they can do no worse than the No. 5 seed.
If the Bills split their remaining games, they would likely get the No. 6 seed, visiting the No. 3 seed in the first round of the playoffs.
If the Bills lose both, they’d likely fall to the No. 7 seed and be on the road for the entirety of the playoffs.
AFC North
Final 2 games@ 3-12 7-8WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
The Steelers have one of the simplest playoff scenarios in the NFL. If they win (or tie) either of their remaining games, they win the AFC North, almost certainly occupying the No. 4 seed. (If they win both, there is a tiny flicker of hope for the No. 3 seed, but don’t hold your breath.)
Even if they lose their remaining games, the Steelers would be favorites to win the division. The most nail-biting scenario for the Steelers would be if they lose to the Browns and the Ravens beat the Packers in Week 17. Then the Steelers-Ravens game in Week 18 would decide the AFC North, with the loser missing the playoffs.
Final 2 games@ 9-5-1@ 9-6WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
The Ravens’ playoff path is basically the opposite of the Steelers’. A loss (or tie) in either of their final two games would mean they cannot win the AFC North and, with no hope for a wild-card, they would be eliminated from the playoffs entirely. They need the Steelers to lose in Week 17 to keep their hopes alive.
If the Ravens win and the Steelers lose in Week 17, the Week 18 Steelers-Ravens game in Pittsburgh would decide the division title.
AFC South
Final 2 games@ 8-7 3-12WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
As one of the hottest teams in the NFL, the Jaguars would win the AFC South if they win their remaining games. They can even clinch a division title this weekend if they win and the Texans lose or tie.
If they do win out — and they play the Colts and Titans — the No. 1 seed in the AFC remains a real possibility.
A loss in either of their final two games would most likely mean the Jaguars land the No. 3 seed. If they lose both, they’re most likely looking at a wild-card berth, probably as the No. 7 seed.
Final 2 games@ 11-4 8-7WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
It would take a minor catastrophe for the Texans to miss the playoffs at this point. They would have to lose out, the Colts would have to win out and they’d need to lose a “strength of victory” tiebreaker with the Colts. If you want to untangle that web, start here.
But back to reality: the Texans can clinch a playoff berth this weekend with a win or a Colts loss.
Final 2 games 11-4@ 10-5WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
That minor catastrophe we discussed with the Texans? Well, that would be the miracle that keeps the Colts’ hopes alive. They’d need to win out, have the Texans lose out and get some help from a complicated tiebreaker.
However, a combination of what might look like six seemingly random outcomes in Week 17 would guarantee that the Colts lose this tiebreaker, which would eliminate them altogether. The NFL confirmed this specific scenario in their press release on Tuesday: if the 49ers, Bills, Chiefs, Dolphins, Falcons and Ravens all win in Week 17, the Colts would be eliminated no matter the outcomes of their remaining games (or the Texans’).
AFC West
Final 1 games 11-4WinLoss
After beating the Chiefs on Thursday, the Broncos remain in the driver’s seat in the AFC. They currently own the No. 1 seed and the bye week that comes with it; it’s theirs as long as they win their final game. They could clinch the top seed this weekend, too, if the Patriots, Chargers, Jaguars and Bills all lose.
If they lose to the Chargers in Week 18, the Broncos would probably fall out of the AFC’s top spot, though they could still win the AFC West.
The Broncos could be crowned division champs this weekend with a Chargers loss or tie.
Final 2 games 10-5@ 13-3WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
The Colts’ loss on Monday night meant that the Chargers officially clinched a playoff berth. Their best outcome would be to win the AFC West (and perhaps even grab the AFC’s No. 1 seed). They must win both their games to win the division; they play the Texans and Broncos.
If the Chargers split their remaining games or lose both, they will be a wild-card team, probably as the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
NFC East
Final 2 games@ 11-4 4-12WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
The Eagles have already clinched a playoff berth and won the NFC East for the second consecutive year. Win or lose, they are very likely to be the No. 3 seed.
NFC North
Final 2 games@ 11-4 8-8WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
The Bears need just one win in their final two games to clinch their first NFC North title since 2018. But why stop there? If they win both games, they’d have a great shot at the No. 1 seed in the NFC and the bye week that comes with it.
If they win either of their remaining games, the Bears can do no worse than the No. 2 seed.
They’re still likely to win the division even if they lose both, but there’s a world in which the Bears fall all the way to No. 7 if they finish 11-6.
Final 2 games 7-8@ 8-8WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
The Packers clinched a playoff berth on Thursday after the Lions lost to the Vikings.
They will most likely be the No. 7 seed, playing the No. 2 seed in the first round of the playoffs. But they can still win the NFC North, too if they win their remaining games and the Bears lose theirs.
NFC South
Final 2 games 12-3@ 7-8WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
To win the NFC South, the Panthers only need to win one of their remaining games: their Week 18 matchup against the Bucs. If they win that, they win the division no matter what happens on Sunday against Seattle.
That said, the Panthers can clinch the NFC South this week with a win and a Bucs loss or tie.
Final 2 games@ 6-9 8-7WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
The Bucs need to win both their remaining games to secure a playoff berth. They have a chance of getting in if they split, but they would have to beat the Panthers in Week 18 no matter what. If they do sneak into the playoffs, they’d be the No. 4 seed.
NFC West
Final 2 games@ 8-7@ 11-4WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
The Seahawks have clinched a playoff berth and sit atop the NFC. If they win their remaining games, they will keep the No. 1 seed, with a bye week and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
But two teams in their division — the 49ers and Rams — are just a game behind. If the Seahawks lose either of their remaining games, they’ll likely cede the NFC West title and slip to the No. 5 or 6 seed.
Final 2 games 11-4 12-3WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
Despite a plethora of injuries, the 49ers can still win the NFC West and clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC if they win their remaining games — a tall order, perhaps, as their final two games are against other NFC playoff teams.
If they win just one game, they can do no worse than the No. 6 seed. If they lose both, they could fall all the way to No. 7.
Final 2 games@ 6-9 3-12WinWinLossWinWinLossLossLoss
The Rams have clinched a playoff berth and have an outside chance at winning the NFC West. They would need to win their remaining games and get some help from the 49ers and Seahawks.
Realistically, the Rams are probably looking at a wild-card berth, likely as the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
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