Panthers look to facing Bucs for NFC South title
USAT’s Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaca dive into Tampa Bay’s ugly skid and Carolina’s momentum.
Sports Seriously
The Green Bay Packers were able to clinch a playoff berth on Christmas when the Minnesota Vikings upset the Detroit Lions behind a strong effort from Brian Flores’ defense.
Just a couple of days later, the Packers lost 41-24 to the Baltimore Ravens to eliminate themselves from the NFC North race and seal their fate as a wild-card team.
That combination of results locked the Packers into the NFC’s No. 7 seed for the third time in the last three seasons. As a result, Green Bay will be set for a matchup with one of two familiar foes in the wild-card round of the 2025 NFL playoffs.
Here’s a breakdown of the Packers’ potential playoff opponents and a look at the overall NFL playoff picture.
Who will Packers play next?
The Packers are locked into the NFC’s No. 7 seed, which means they will play the conference’s No. 2 seed. That will position Green Bay to play one of the following two teams:
Packers playoff scenarios
Here’s a breakdown of the scenarios that could lead the Packers to play the Bears or Eagles in the wild-card round:
Chicago Bears
The Bears currently have the inside track to the NFC’s No. 2 seed. Chicago will be locked into the No. 2 seed if any of the following scenarios occurs:
- Bears win vs. Lions OR
- Bears tie vs. Lions AND Eagles tie vs. Commanders OR
- Eagles lose vs. Commanders
The Bears and Packers played twice in the regular season, splitting their series 1-1. Both games came down to the final minute, as Caleb Williams threw a game-ending interception to cap a 28-21 Packers win before he bounced back two weeks later to hit DJ Moore with a game-winning 46-yard touchdown in a 22-16 Bears overtime win.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles will need to win and get help from the Lions to pass the Bears in the NFC standings. Below is a look at how Philadelphia can earn the No. 2 overall seed.
- Eagles win vs. Commanders AND Bears lose or tie vs. Lions OR
- Eagles tie vs. Commanders AND Bears lose vs. Lions
The Packers and Eagles faced off on “Monday Night Football” in Week 10, with Philadelphia earning a 10-7 victory in a windy defensive slog.
Matt LaFleur and Nick Sirianni’s squads also met in the wild-card round of the playoffs last season. The Eagles won that game 22-10, as Jordan Love threw three interceptions while struggling against a stalwart Philadelphia stop unit.
NFC playoff bracket 2025
Below is a look at the current projected NFC playoff bracket as Week 18 unfolds:
The Seahawks and Packers were the only teams that entered play Sunday having locked up their seeds. The Panthers wrapped up the No. 4 seed in the early-afternoon window while the rest of the conference’s seeding will be decided in the late-afternoon window.
NFL playoff schedule
The NFL playoffs will kick off on Jan. 10 with the league’s first two wild-card matchups before concluding on Feb. 8 with Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Wild card weekend
All times Eastern
Saturday, Jan. 10
- AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.
- AFC/NFC wild card game: 8 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 11
- AFC/NFC wild card game: 1 p.m.
- AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.
- AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 12
- AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.
Divisional round
Saturday, Jan. 17
- AFC/NFC divisional game: 4:30 p.m.
- AFC/NFC division game: 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 18
- AFC/NFC divisional game: 3 p.m.
- AFC/NFC divisional game: 6:30 p.m.
NFL conference championship round
Sunday, Jan. 25
- AFC championship game: 3 p.m.
- NFC championship game: 6:30 p.m.
Super Bowl 60
- Date: Feb. 8, 2026
- Location: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
- TV: NBC
NFL playoff picture Week 18
AFC
- Denver Broncos (13-3, AFC West winners)*
- New England Patriots (13-3, AFC East winners)*
- Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4, AFC South winners)*
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North leaders)
- Houston Texans (12-5, wild card No. 1)*
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5, wild card No. 2)*
- Buffalo Bills (11-5, wild card No. 3)*
In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
NFC
- Seattle Seahawks (14-3, NFC West winners)*
- Chicago Bears (11-5, NFC North winners)*
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, NFC East winners)*
- Carolina Panthers (8-9, NFC South winners)*
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5, wild card No. 1)*
- Los Angeles Rams (11-5, wild card No. 2)*
- Green Bay Packers (9-7-1, wild card No. 3)*
An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Teams that have clinched division titles are noted accordingly.
