With just two weeks left in the 2025 NFL regular season, the playoff picture is rapidly coming into focus, with only four postseason spots remaining up for grabs.
The NFC East is the only division officially clinched, with Philadelphia locking down the top spot. All other divisions are technically still available for the taking, but numerous clinching scenarios could carry into Week 18.
Below, we take a look at how each conference is panning out and what NFL sportsbooks think may happen.
AFC: A Crowded Field With Clear Favorites
The AFC already looks top-heavy, with the New England Patriots (12-3), Denver Broncos (12-3), Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4), Buffalo Bills (11-4), and Los Angeles Chargers (11-4) all locked into playoff positions. Behind them, the race for the final two AFC wild cards is heating up.
The Houston Texans (10-5) are nearly there after seven consecutive wins and a sweep of their last five games. Dynamic on both sides of the ball and battle-tested within the AFC South, they have morphed into one of the league’s most balanced young teams.
With division leader Jacksonville also clinching, Houston’s margin for error is slim, but given their record and recent streak, they’re all but assured of an AFC wild-card berth.
NFL playoff betting sites are suggesting that the Texans will indeed qualify.
That leaves one spot open, and the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) control their destiny. Winners of three straight, Mike Tomlin’s team is once again riding a tough defense and a revitalized offense to stay alive.
The Indianapolis Colts (8-7) still have life, but their elimination from postseason contention is all but a formality at this point. They’ll need to win out and get help from losses by Pittsburgh or Houston to have any chance.
Baltimore (7-8) will be eliminated with a loss or another Steelers win.
NFC: A Stacked West and a Wild North
While the Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) have secured the NFC East, the rest of the conference remains in flux. The NFC West might be the deepest in football, with the Seattle Seahawks (12-3), San Francisco 49ers (11-4), and Los Angeles Rams (11-4) having all clinched postseason spots.
One of those teams is likely to take the top seed, but the rest are safely in as wild cards.
That leaves two open spots – one likely from the NFC North and one from the South. The Chicago Bears (11-4) have clinched their division, marking a remarkable turnaround driven by improved quarterback play and a late push from their defense.
Just behind them, the Green Bay Packers (9-5-1) sit in a strong wildcard position but are teetering. Their two-game skid and shaky December form have them vulnerable to a late challenge.
The biggest threat might be the Detroit Lions (8-7), whose league-leading 452 points show they can outscore anyone on any given week. Yet defensive lapses have cost them key divisional games. Their Week 17 clash with Minnesota could become a play-in game for the final wild card, depending on the Packers’ results.
Meanwhile, the NFC South continues to be the league’s most unpredictable division. The Carolina Panthers (8-7) have seized control, winning five of their last seven to move ahead of Tampa Bay (7-8). Unless they stumble in the final two weeks, Carolina should become the conference’s fourth division champion.
Final Forecast
If the season ended today, the playoff field would look like this:
- AFC: 1. Broncos, 2. Patriots, 3. Jaguars, 4. Steelers, 5. Bills, 6. Chargers, 7. Texans
- NFC: 2. Seahawks, 2. Bears, 3. Eagles, 4. Panthers, 5. 49ers, 6. Rams, 7. Packers
The Lions need to win out and get some help, but the Bucs still have one game remaining against the division-leading Panthers in Week 18.