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NFL Week 17 Playoff Scenarios: Which Teams Can Punch Tickets Into The Postseason?

Dan Girolamo Written by Sports EditorDan Girolamo
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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye runs the ball.

Heading into Week 17, there are only two NFL games left in the 2025 regular season. Several teams have already clinched postseason berths, while others can still improve their seeding. Below are the NFL Week 17 playoff scenarios.

NFL Playoff Standings: Week 17

Heading into Week 17, five teams in each conference have qualified for the postseason.

There are two spots up for grabs in each conference. In the AFC, the North Division will come down to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers have the inside track with two games remaining.

The final wild card spot will come down to the Houston Texans or the Indianapolis Colts. The Texans are heavily favored to secure that spot.

In the NFC, the NFC South will be awarded to the Carolina Panthers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with the former having a one-game lead in the race.

Also, the Green Bay Packers or Detroit Lions will receive the final wild card spot, with the Packers favored to make the postseason.

AFC

  1. Denver Broncos (12-3)*
  2. New England Patriots (12-3)*
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)*
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
  5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)*
  6. Buffalo Bills (11-4)*
  7. Houston Texans (10-5)

NFC

  1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)*
  2. Chicago Bears (11-4)*
  3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)*
  4. Carolina Panthers (8-7)
  5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4)*
  6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)*
  7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)

*clinched playoff berths

NFL Week 17 Playoff Scenarios

Denver Broncos

Clinch AFC West

  • Win vs. Chiefs and Chargers loss/tie vs. Texans, or
  • Tie vs. Chiefs and Chargers loss

Clinch AFC West and No. 1 Seed

  • Win vs. Chiefs, Chargers loss/tie vs. Texans, Patriots loss vs. Jets, Bills loss/tie vs. Eagles, and Jaguars loss/tie vs. Colts

New England Patriots

Clinch AFC East

  • Win vs. Jets and Bills loss/tie vs. Eagles, or
  • Tie vs. Jets and Bills loss

Jacksonville Jaguars

Clinch AFC South

  • Win vs. Colts and Texans loss/tie vs. Chargers, or
  • Tie vs. Colts and Texans loss

Pittsburgh Steelers

Clinch AFC North

  • Win vs. Browns or Ravens loss vs. Packers

Houston Texans

Clinch Playoff Berth

  • Win/tie vs. Chargers or Colts loss/tie vs. Jaguars, or
  • Chiefs win vs. Broncos, Ravens win vs. Packers, Buccaneers win vs. Dolphins, Bills win vs. Eagles, Rams win vs. Falcons, and 49ers win vs. Bears

Seattle Seahawks

Clinch NFC West

  • Win vs. Panthers, Rams loss/tie vs. Falcons, and 49ers loss/tie vs. Bears, or
  • Tie vs. Panthers, Rams loss vs. Falcons, and 49ers loss vs. Bears

Clinch NFC West and No. 1 seed

  • Win vs. Panthers, Rams loss/tie vs. Falcons, and 49ers tie vs. Bears

Carolina Panthers

Clinch NFC South

  • Win vs. Seahawks, and Buccaneers loss/tie vs. Dolphins, or
  • Tie vs. Seahawks and Buccaneers loss vs. Dolphins

Chicago Bears

Clinch NFC North

  • Win vs. 49ers, or
  • Packers loss vs. Ravens, or
  • Bears tie vs. 49ers and Packers tie vs. Ravens

Green Bay Packers

Clinch Playoff Berth

  • Win vs. Ravens, or
  • Lions loss/tie vs. Vikings
Dan Girolamo Written by Sports EditorDan Girolamo
Dan is a multifaceted content creator who specializes in sports, pop culture, and entertainment. His entertainment work has been featured on Digital Trends, where he has interviewed Brendan Fraser, Jamie Lee Curtis, Alison Brie, Adam DeVine, Sadie Sink, Chris O'Dowd, Machine Gun Kelly, and Frank Grillo. Dan's entertainment work has also been featured on Coming Soon, Hidden Remote, and WatchMojo. Dan's other passion in life revolves around sports, graduating from Marist College with a degree in Sports Communication and Journalism. From columns about the latest in New York sports to gambling predictions, Dan continues to find success in written and broadcast journalism. Previous written work can be found at Unafraid Show, while broadcast clips can be seen on WAVE.tv and CBS Sports.
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