Week 18 is just getting started, and while most of the 2025 playoff berths have been clinched, the NFL saw two matchups on Saturday help settle the final picture. As each of the final 16 games ends in the final week, fans get closer and closer to seeing what the official bracket for Super Bowl 60 will look like.
With some seed jostling left to take place, let’s take a look at where the NFL playoff picture stands now. Here’s a look at the current NFL postseason bracket according to PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor.
Week 18 NFL Standings and Playoff Picture
The only divisional berths still to be determined are those of the NFC South and the AFC North. While a win from the Carolina Panthers over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would’ve sealed a postseason berth for the Panthers, the Buccaneers emerged victorious from the Saturday NFC South showdown.
Now the Panthers and Buccaneers will wait to see who wins between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons in Week 18’s showdown. If the Saints win, the Buccaneers will be the NFC South champions and advance to the 2025 postseason. If the Falcons win, Carolina represents the NFC South in the playoffs.
As for the AFC North, it’s win, and you are in for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, who go head-to-head at Acrisure Stadium on Sunday Night Football. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks would clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a dominant defensive performance over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18 on Saturday night.
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AFC Playoff Picture
- Denver Broncos*, 13-3
- New England Patriots*, 13-3
- Jacksonville Jaguars*, 12-4
- Pittsburgh Steelers, 9-7
- Houston Texans*, 11-5
- Los Angeles Chargers*, 11-5
- Buffalo Bills*, 11-5
In the Hunt
9. Baltimore Ravens, 8-8
Eliminated
8. Indianapolis Colts, 8-8
10. Miami Dolphins, 7-9
11. Cincinnati Bengals, 6-10
12. Kansas City Chiefs, 6-10
13. Cleveland Browns, 4-12
14. Tennessee Titans, 3-13
15. New York Jets, 3-13
16. Las Vegas Raiders, 2-14
NFC Playoff Picture
- Seattle Seahawks, 14-3
- Chicago Bears*, 11-5
- Philadelphia Eagles*, 11-5
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8-9
- San Francisco 49ers*, 12-5
- Los Angeles Rams*, 11-5
- Green Bay Packers*, 9-6-1
In the Hunt
11. Carolina Panthers, 8-9
Eliminated
8. Minnesota Vikings, 8-8
9. Detroit Lions, 8-8
10. Dallas Cowboys, 7-8-1
12. Atlanta Falcons, 7-9
13. New Orleans Saints, 6-10
14. Washington Commanders, 4-12
15. Arizona Cardinals, 3-13
16. New York Giants, 3-13
Wild Card Scenarios
As for the Wild Card berths, there’s still some movement left to happen. San Francisco’s loss dropped them to the NFC’s fifth seed. They could fall to the sixth seed if the Los Angeles Rams win against the Arizona Cardinals. With Rams HC Sean McVay letting the media know he’s playing his starters regardless, the chances of the Rams winning that game are high.
The only other movement the NFC could see is the Philadelphia Eagles jumping the Chicago Bears, should Philadelphia beat the Washington Commanders and the Bears lose to the Detroit Lions. Both NFC division leaders will be at home.
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As for the AFC, there is still considerable movement that could occur. Let’s start with the AFC South. The Jacksonville Jaguars have the inside track to the division and the No. 3 seed. However, they could see themselves drop as low as the sixth seed if the stars align. A win over the Tennessee Titans locks them into a three seed; however, a win and a New England Patriots loss would see them slide up into the No. 2 seed.
Things get a little crazy if they lose to the Titans. Should the Houston Texans defeat the Indianapolis Colts and the Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets, the Jaguars would fall to the sixth seed, with Houston winning the AFC South. A loss by the Bills would keep them as the fifth seed, but not winning the AFC South would be devastating.
As for Houston, a win locks them into the fifth seed, barring a Jaguars loss. Should the Texans lose, they would need both the Bills and Chargers to lose as well. Wins from those franchises would drop them to the seventh seed.
As for the Bills, they are locked into a Wild Card slot with the Patriots having a two-game lead over Buffalo. Wins from the Chargers and Texans would keep them as the seventh seed in the AFC; however, losses from either of those teams would see them move up.
Finally, for the Chargers, they have the toughest test in Week 18 with an AFC West showdown against the Denver Broncos.
With Denver needing one more win to clinch the AFC’s No. 1 seed, expect head coach Sean Peyton and the Broncos to come out firing. A loss would drop them to the seventh seed, barring a Bills loss; however, a win would secure them the fifth or sixth seed, depending on the results of the Houston and Jacksonville games.
