NFL playoff picture: Texans clinch berth and eliminate Colts, while Broncos end Chiefs' 9-year reign atop AFC West
- - NFL playoff picture: Texans clinch berth and eliminate Colts, while Broncos end Chiefs' 9-year reign atop AFC West
Yahoo Sports StaffDecember 28, 2025 at 1:16 AM
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Here's how the NFL playoff picture looks after the Houston Texans' win over the Los Angeles Chargers, which clinched the Texans a playoff berth, eliminated the Indianapolis Colts and won the AFC West for the Denver Broncos.
The NFC playoff field is all set except for one slot: the NFC South champion, which is currently on pace to be the Carolina Panthers, but could still end up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
(* Clinched playoff spot)
1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)*: Remaining schedule — at Carolina Panthers, at San Francisco 49ers
NFC No. 1 seed-clinching scenario:
Seahawks win + Rams loss or tie + 49ers-Bears tie
NFC West-clinching scenarios:
Seahawks win + Rams loss or tie + 49ers loss or tie, OR
Seahawks tie + Rams loss + 49ers loss
Notable odds: Seattle has a 46% chance of holding onto the No. 1 seed and a 50% probability of winning the NFC West, according to The Athletic's playoff predictor.
2. Chicago Bears (11-4)*: Remaining schedule — at San Francisco 49ers, vs. Detroit Lions
NFC North-clinching scenarios:
Bears win, OR
Packers loss, OR
Bears tie + Packers tie
Notable odds: The Bears secured a playoff berth via the Lions' loss to the Steelers on Sunday. Chicago's overtime win over Green Bay also puts it in firm control of the NFC North, holding an 89% probability of winning the division, according to The Athletic. The Bears also have a 14% chance at the No. 1 overall seed.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)*: Remaining schedule — at Buffalo Bills, vs. Washington Commanders
Notable odds: The Eagles, back-to-back champs of the NFC East, have a less than 1% shot at clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
4. Carolina Panthers (8-7): Remaining schedule — vs. Seattle Seahawks, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC South-clinching scenarios:
Panthers win + Buccaneers loss or tie, OR
Panthers tie + Buccaneers loss
Notable odds: A big win over the Bucs moved Carolina into first place in the NFC South. The Panthers bumped up to 45% to win the division, according to The Athletic. They still have to play at Tampa Bay in the regular-season finale.
5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)*: Remaining schedule — vs. Chicago Bears, vs. Seattle Seahawks
Notable odds: The 49ers clinched a postseason position via the Lions' loss in Week 16. They also have about a 27% shot at the No. 1 seed in the conference, according to The Athletic. They simply need to win out, against the Bears and Seahawks, to secure the top seed and home-field advantage in the playoffs.
6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)*: Remaining schedule — at Atlanta Falcons, vs. Arizona Cardinals
NFC West-clinching scenario: The Rams are already in the postseason field, but they will need some help to win the division crown and the conference's No. 1 seed. L.A. needs, per RamsWire, to:
Beat Falcons and Cardinals, AND
Have Seahawks lose to Panthers and beat 49ers, AND
Have 49ers beat Bears and lose to Seahawks, AND
Have Bears NOT tie Lions
Notable odds: The Rams' odds of clinching the No. 1 seed fell from 53% to 12% after Week 16's results, per The Athletic.
7. Green Bay Packers* (9-5-1): Remaining schedule — vs. Baltimore Ravens, at Minnesota Vikings
NFC North-clinching scenario:
Win final two games + Bears lose final two games
Notable odds: The Packers clinched a playoff spot with the Lions' loss to the Vikings on Christmas. But their shot at the NFC North is just 11%, according to The Athletic.
Still in the NFC picture
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8): Remaining schedule — at Miami Dolphins, vs. Carolina Panthers
Notable odds: While the loss to the Panthers drops Tampa Bay out of playoff position for the time being, the Bucs still have a 54% shot at winning the NFC South, per The Athletic. That's because they face Carolina one more time and will hold the tiebreaker if they win that game.
1. Denver Broncos (13-3)*: Remaining schedule — vs. Los Angeles Chargers
AFC No. 1 seed-clinching scenario:
Patriots loss + Bills loss or tie + Jaguars loss or tie
Notable odds: The Broncos ended the Chiefs' nine-year reign atop the AFC West by virtue of the Chargers' loss on Saturday, and now have around a 60% chance to earn the No. 1 seed per ESPN.
2. New England Patriots (12-3)*: Remaining schedule — at New York Jets, vs. Miami Dolphins
AFC East-clinching scenarios:
Patriots win + Bills loss or tie, OR
Patriots tie + Bills loss
Notable odds: The Patriots punched their playoff ticket by beating the Ravens on Sunday night. They are 82% likely to win the AFC East, per The Athletic, and they have a 38% shot at the No. 1 seed.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)*: Remaining schedule — at Indianapolis Colts, vs. Tennessee Titans
AFC South-clinching scenarios: -
Jaguars win out, OR
Jaguars finish 1-1 and Texans lose Week 18, OR
Notable odds: The Jaguars have a 61% chance to win the AFC South per NBC, and can make it easy on themselves by just winning out.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6): Remaining schedule — at Cleveland Browns, vs. Baltimore Ravens
AFC North-clinching scenarios:
Steelers win or tie, OR
Ravens loss or tie
Notable odds: The Steelers are in firm control of the AFC North, with a 91% chance of winning the division, according to The Athletic.
5. Buffalo Bills (11-4)*: Remaining schedule — vs. Philadelphia Eagles, vs. New York Jets
Notable odds: While Buffalo's chances at catching up to New England to win the division title are still slim (19% according to The Athletic), the Bills are in the playoff field after the Colts lost on Monday.
6. Houston Texans (11-5): Remaining schedule — vs. Indianapolis Colts
AFC South clinching scenarios:
Jaguars finish 0-2, OR
Jaguars finish 1-1 and Texans win Week 18
Notable odds: The Texans' chances of winning the AFC South are at 39%, per NBC. But they'll need help from at least one of the Jaguars' final two opponents.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5)*: Remaining schedule — at Denver Broncos
Notable odds: The Chargers are in the postseason,but
Still in the AFC picture
9. Baltimore Ravens (7-8): Remaining schedule — at Green Bay Packers, at Pittsburgh Steelers
Notable odds: The Ravens' playoff hopes took a big hit with Sunday night's loss to the Patriots. They're now at 10% to make the postseason, according to The Athletic.
Already eliminated
Indianapolis Colts (8-7)
Miami Dolphins (6-9)
Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)
New York Jets (3-12)
Cleveland Browns (3-12)
Tennessee Titans (3-12)
Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)
Detroit Lions (8-8)
Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1)
Atlanta Falcons (6-9)
New Orleans Saints (5-10)
Washington Commanders (4-12)
Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
New York Giants (2-13)
Source: “AOL Sports”
