As the wild NFL Week 16 was winding down, with a game left on Monday nights, the NFL playoff picture became a little clearer.
There are now seven teams that have advanced to the NFL playoffs. Other teams looking to secure a spot in postseason play still have work to do, but these seven are in and will aim to reach the Super Bowl.
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After the Detroit Lions lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a last-play offensive pass interference call on Sunday, that result put the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers in the NFC playoffs.
In the AFC, the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots are in. In the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, 49ers, Bears, and the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles have qualified for the postseason.
The Patriots, led by quarterback Drake Maye, punched their ticket with their win over the Baltimore Ravens on “Sunday Night Football.”
The Bears needed some Saturday night magic at cold, windy Soldier Field to defeat the Green Bay Packers 22-16. But they also required a Detroit loss to make the NFC playoffs, which took place at Ford Field on Sunday.
By winning the NFC East for a second straight season, the Eagles made the playoffs. The Rams and Seahawks were already in the NFC postseason before Sunday’s games kicked off.
As for the AFC picture, there’s still a lot to be settled on the field. However, the Broncos are already in the AFC playoffs and remain in position to win the AFC West Division. However, they didn’t clinch the division because the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-17 on Sunday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Speaking of the Chargers, they can join the AFC playoff picture with an Indianapolis Colts loss or tie on Monday night.
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The Buffalo Bills, despite their win over Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns, didn’t clinch a playoff spot just yet. One scenario had them getting in with either a loss or a tie by the Houston Texans, but the Texans held off the Las Vegas Raiders 23-21 at NRG Stadium in Houston. They still need a Colts loss or tie to get there, as Indy plays the 49ers on “Monday Night Football.”
Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars picked up a victory on the road against the Broncos on Sunday. The Jaguars can clinch a spot should the Colts lose or tie the 49ers on Monday night.
All in all, with the 2025 NFL season winding down, the NFL playoff picture is becoming a little bit clearer.
