We have 12 of the 14 playoff spots sealed in the NFL after the Houston Texans' win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Six of the eight divisions are clinched, and all eight could be settled by the end of Sunday's 1 p.m. ET slate.
On Saturday afternoon, the Texans clinched a playoff spot and the Broncos sealed the AFC West title. In the nightcap, the Ravens kept their AFC North hopes alive with a win over the Packers. With Green Bay's loss, the Bears clinched the NFC North.
Here's where things stand entering the Sunday slate of Week 17:
NFL Playoff Picture
AFC
- Denver Broncos (13-3)*
- New England Patriots (12-3)*
- Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)*
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Buffalo Bills (11-4)*
- Houston Texans (11-5)*
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)*
In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
* Clinched playoffs
The Colts were eliminated on Saturday with the Texans' win over the Chargers. Houston could end up as the No. 5 seed in the AFC since it now has head-to-head wins over Buffalo and Los Angeles. That would require the Bills to lose one of their last two games.
The AFC South is still up for grabs, but the Jaguars will win it with wins over the Colts and Titans to close the season. If Jacksonville slips up in either game, the Texans will take the division with a win in Week 18 over Indianapolis. Surprisingly, this would be the first time in Texans franchise history that they'd make the playoffs as a wild-card team.
The AFC West, meanwhile, belongs to the Broncos, who won the division with the Chargers' loss on Saturday.
The Ravens' win over the Packers means the AFC North is not clinched yet, but the Steelers can win it on Sunday with a win over the Browns.
The race for seeding is also tight in the AFC. The Broncos didn't slip up on Christmas against the Chiefs as they look to clinch the No. 1 seed with the Patriots hot on their tail and the Jaguars one game back of both. Also, the wild-card teams – the Bills, Texans and Chargers – are all neck and neck.
NFC
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3)*
- Chicago Bears (11-4)*
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)*
- Carolina Panthers (8-7)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4)*
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)*
- Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)*
In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
* Clinched playoffs
While the Packers clinched a playoff spot with the Lions' loss on Christmas, their loss on Saturday night gave the Bears the NFC North title. Chicago can clinch at least the No. 2 seed with a win in either of its last two games.
The race for the No. 1 seed is hot. The Seahawks can win out and get it, and the same goes for the 49ers, who face the Bears on Sunday night and the Seahawks in Week 18.
So, there's only one NFC playoff spot up for grabs, which will go to the winner of the NFC South. The Panthers can clinch it this weekend with a win over the Seahawks and a Buccaneers loss to the Dolphins. Otherwise, the division will be decided when the two teams meet in Week 18 in Tampa.
NFL Playoff Bracket
AFC
- (1) Broncos receive a bye
- (2) Patriots vs. (7) Chargers
- (3) Jaguars vs. (6) Texans
- (4) Steelers vs. (5) Bills
NFC
- (1) Seahawks receive a bye
- (2) Bears vs. (7) Packers
- (3) Eagles vs. (6) Rams
- (4) Panthers vs. (5) 49ers
NFL Playoff Schedule
- January 10-12, 2026: Wild-card round
- January 17-18: Divisional round
- January 25: AFC and NFC championship games
- February 8: Super Bowl LX (in Santa Clara, California)
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