NFL Playoffs 2025: Predictions for AFC, NFC Bracket and Seeds

NFL prognosticators are catching a bit of a break ahead of Week 18.

The playoff schedule isn't cemented yet, but it's awfully close to it considering there's still a full slate of games on the docket.

Six of the seven playoff berths in each conference have been clinched already. Five of the eight division titles have been claimed, too. Only three teams outside of the current playoff picture still have a chance to get in the big dance, and the odds aren't great for any of them.

In other words, a crystal ball doesn't need to be consulted much to project how things will play out. Having said that, there are still a handful of things to sort out, including whether the Detroit Lions or Minnesota Vikings will sit atop the NFC standings.

After running through the latest standings, we'll predict how the postseason brackets will look after the regular season's final weekend.

AFC

Division Leaders

1. *Kansas City (15-1)

2. z-Buffalo (13-3)

3. x-Baltimore (11-5)

4. z-Houston (9-7)

Wild-Card Race

5. x-Pittsburgh (10-6)

6. y-Los Angeles Chargers (10-6)

7. Denver (9-7)

8. Miami (8-8)

9. Cincinnati (8-8)

Eliminated

10. Indianapolis (7-9)

11. New York Jets (4-12)

12. Las Vegas (4-12)

13. Jacksonville (4-12)

14. Cleveland (3-13)

15. Tennessee (3-13)

16. New England (3-13)

NFC

Division Leaders

1. x-Detroit (14-2)

2. z-Philadelphia (13-3)

3. z-Los Angeles Rams (10-6)

4. Tampa Bay (9-7)

Wild-Card Race

5. x-Minnesota (14-2)

6. y-Washington (11-5)

7. y-Green Bay (11-5)

9. Atlanta (8-8)

Eliminated

8. Seattle (9-7)

10. Dallas (7-9)

11. Arizona (7-9)

12. San Francisco (6-10)

13. New Orleans (5-11)

14. Chicago (4-12)

15. Carolina (4-12)

16. New York Giants (3-13)

*-clinched No. 1 seed; z-clinched division; x-clinched playoff berth; y-clinched wild card

No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City's Sunday trip to Denver will be very meaningful for the home team (more on that below) but not at all for the visitors, since the Chiefs, who will be sitting multiple starters, clinched the No. 1 seed back on Christmas.

No. 2 Buffalo Bills

A 40-14 thrashing of the New York Jets in Week 17 gave the Bills the No. 2 seed, meaning they'll have nothing at stake when they visit New England on Sunday.

No. 3 Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens haven't wrapped up the AFC North yet, but they can (and, according to our crystal ball, will) when they host the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. Baltimore has won three consecutive games by at least 17 points, while Cleveland has dropped five straight by an average of 14.2 points.

No. 4 Houston Texans

The Texans, who close out the campaign in Tennessee, have already clinched the No. 4 seed and will have a home game in the Wild Card round.

No. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers, who host the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, still technically have a path to the AFC North crown and the No. 3 seed, but they'd have to beat the Bengals and have the Ravens lose to the Browns. The former might happen, but the latter won't.

No. 6 Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers, who finish with a road game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, already have their playoff spot secured, but a win over the Raiders coupled with a Steelers loss to the Bengals would give L.A. the No. 5 seed.

No. 7 Denver Broncos

Back-to-back losses to the Chargers and Bengals have kept the Broncos from punching their playoff ticket, but a home win over a Kansas City team sitting multiple regulars should make that happen. Denver could also backdoor its way into the postseason with losses or ties by both the Bengals (at Pittsburgh) and Miami Dolphins (at New York Jets).

No. 1 Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings, winners of nine straight, would (and, based on our prediction, will) claim the NFC North crown and the conference's top seed by extending that winning streak to 10 during Sunday night's visit to Detroit. The Lions will surely put up a ferocious fight, but their injury issues on defense have been more apparent of late and could send Detroit down to the No. 5 seed.

No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles, who clinched the NFC East and the No. 2 seed this past week, will have nothing at stake when they host the New York Giants on Sunday and will sit multiple starters, including running back Saquon Barkley, who will finish 101 yards shy of Eric Dickerson's all-time rushing record.

No. 3 Los Angeles Rams

The Rams, who've already been crowned NFC West champs, can secure the No. 3 seed with a home win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. L.A. has opted to rest starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, but veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo should have enough to find his way past a Seahawks team that was eliminated in Week 17.

No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A 5-1 stretch since their Week 11 bye has the Buccaneers positioned to clinch the NFC South with a win or tie against the New Orleans Saints or an Atlanta Falcons' loss or tie against the Carolina Panthers.

No. 5 Detroit Lions

The Lions control their own destiny, but their recent skid on defense could be their undoing. They've given up more than 30 points in three of their last four games, including against the injury-riddled—and already eliminated—San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.

No. 6 Washington Commanders

The Commanders secured their playoff spot with a 30-24 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17, and in Week 18 they should lock in the No. 6 seed, with either a road win over the Dallas Cowboys or a Packers home loss to the Chicago Bears.

No. 7 Green Bay Packers

Green Bay still has a path to the No. 6 seed, and while it certainly has enough to topple Chicago, that won't be enough if Washington handles business against Dallas.