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Nfl Playoff Scenarios 2025 26 Afc Nfc Bracket Picture And Pre Week 15

Bonisiwe Shabane
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nfl playoff scenarios 2025 26 afc nfc bracket picture and pre week 15

Believe it or not, the Carolina Panthers are your new division leaders in the NFC South. Thursday night's loss dropped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the top spot, giving a Carolina team that won just seven games over the past two seasons control of its own destiny. The Panthers and Bucs do play twice over the final three weeks, though, so that divisional race will carry plenty of intrigue into the final month. The NFC South chase isn't the only one heating up as we approach the bulk of the Week 15 slate. Here's an updated look at the latest standings, this week's clinching scenarios, and the latest odds from .css-wrcrjw{margin:0;font-size:1.6rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:Proxima Nova,Proxima Nova Fallback Helvetica,Proxima Nova Fallback Arial;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;line-height:1.92rem;color:var(--br--palette-foreground__link__secondary__default-mainChannel);font-size:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;white-space:normal;}.css-3nqh9c{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:rgba(var(--br--palette-primary-mainChannel) / 0.4);margin:0;font-size:1.6rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:Proxima Nova,Proxima Nova Fallback Helvetica,Proxima Nova Fallback Arial;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;line-height:1.92rem;color:var(--br--palette-foreground__link__secondary__default-mainChannel);font-size:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;white-space:normal;}.css-3nqh9c:hover{text-decoration-color:inherit;}.css-lu48cp{margin:0;font:inherit;color:var(--br--palette-primary-main);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:rgba(var(--br--palette-primary-mainChannel)... .css-1582m2i{margin:0;font:inherit;font-weight:700;}Division Leaders

2. New England Patriots (11-2; AFC East): N/A With two weeks left in the NFL season, the playoff field is mostly set: Ten teams have clinched playoff berths and four more are still available. Here’s how the NFL playoff picture looks heading into Week 17: 1. Broncos (12-3) If they win out, they’re the No.

1 seed in the AFC. 2. Patriots (12-3) Would lose the common-games tiebreaker to the Broncos. 3. Jaguars (11-4) The clear favorites in the AFC South. 4.

Steelers (9-6) In the driver’s seat in the AFC North. The 2025 NFL regular season is entering its final weeks, and teams are beginning to secure playoff berths and even division titles. Ten teams have clinched playoff berths. So far in the AFC it's the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills. In the NFC, the playoff teams are the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles. Only the Eagles have clinched their division, but more are expected to claim their respective division titles in Week 17.

There are four more playoff spots up for grabs; two more teams from each conference will join the fray before we set our playoff field. The final two weeks of the season kick off with a tripleheader of games on Christmas. The outcomes will provide more clarity for the playoff picture. The NFL playoffs will begin in three weeks, and while there are still four playoff spots up for grabs, here's an early look at some predictions and picks for who will win the AFC,... Week 16 delivered historic playoff drama across both conferences as ten teams clinched postseason berths. The Seahawks rallied from a 30-14 fourth quarter deficit to stun the Rams 38-37 in overtime on Thursday night and clinched a playoff berth while taking over the NFC’s No.

1 seed at 12-3. The Bears mounted a miraculous comeback to beat the Packers 22-16 in overtime on Saturday after recovering an onside kick and clinching a playoff berth at 11-4. The Broncos hold the AFC’s No. 1 seed at 12-3. The Patriots clinched at 12-3. The Jaguars clinched at 11-4 with their sixth straight victory.

Five AFC teams and five NFC teams have clinched playoff berths. Updated: After Monday Night Football, Week 16 (December 23, 2025), 2025 season Fourteen teams make the postseason with seven from each conference. The top seed gets a first round bye and home field advantage. The Broncos clinched a playoff berth and hold the AFC’s No. 1 seed at 12-3.

The Patriots clinched at 12-3 and hold the No. 2 seed. The Jaguars clinched at 11-4 and hold the No. 3 seed. The Chargers and Bills both clinched at 11-4. The Seahawks clinched and hold the NFC’s No.

1 seed at 12-3. The Bears clinched at 11-4 and hold the No. 2 seed. The Eagles clinched the NFC East at 10-5. The 49ers and Rams both clinched at 11-4. Ten teams have clinched playoff berths with one week remaining.

Want to test different scenarios? Check out our Free Playoff Picture Simulator for Week 17 to see how each game impacts the playoff race. In a dramatic late-season stretch, the 2025-26 NFL playoff picture underwent a major reshuffle after Week 15. denver secured the AFC West crown and its path to the No. 1 seed, while los Angeles clinched the NFC West but fell behind Seattle on tiebreakers following an overtime loss to the Rams’ rival. Kansas City saw its playoff streak end, opening the door for a tightly contested finish as wild-card races grab center stage.

With three weeks left, every matchup matters for seeding, division titles, and postseason positioning. From coast to coast,teams are racing to lock in home-field advantage and avoid the dreaded “play-in” scenarios. The latest results also intensify the chatter about potential breakouts in Week 16 and beyond. For real-time updates,readers can consult the official playoff picture page from the NFL and cross-check with league-wide projections as the schedule unfolds. The Broncos continued their dominant run, improving to 12-2 and clinching the AFC West. Their record puts them squarely in the driver’s seat for the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.

In the East, the Patriots hold a pleasant lead at 11-3, but a loss could still alter the destiny of the conference’s seeding table. Across the rest of the conference, the South remains a three-team fight among the Jaguars, Texans, and Colts, each with a legitimate shot at a division title or a wild-card berth. The Chargers and Bills occupy the wild-card spots, while the Ravens hover on the cusp of clinching with some help. The Week 16 slate features key showdowns that could reshape the tally: a potential No.1 seed decision between the Broncos and a high-pedigree foe, a win-and-in scenario for Patriots at baltimore, and a divisional-momentum... As every year, December is the "hottest month" in the NFL, and now is no exception, when a few weeks before the end of the regular season the scenarios for the playoffs are varied... In both conferences, every victory - and every slip-up - is more important than ever.

While some franchises are looking to secure their ticket to Super Bowl LX, others are clinging to their last chances to stay alive in the postseason race This is what the 2025-26 NFL Playoff Picture looks like, with the bracket, standings and most important scenarios in the AFC and NFC heading into the end of the season. 2. New England Patriots (12-3, AFC East)* 3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4, AFC South)

We have the 2025-26 NFL Playoff picture, current standings, and projected seeds for you. Week 16 delivered massive drama: Eagles repeat as NFC East champs and eliminate Cowboys; Bears rally in OT to lead NFC North; Jaguars stun Broncos; Chargers secure key win; Panthers upset Bucs to take... Monday: 49ers crush Colts 48-27 behind Purdy’s 5 TD passes, improving to 11-4 and keeping NFC top-seed hopes alive. Below is the updated playoff picture as of December 22, 2025 (post-Monday Night Football). Check the official NFL Playoff Picture for real-time updates. Download our free printable 2026 NFL playoff bracket and the NFL Christmas Schedule to track your predictions.

Last updated: December 22, 2025 (after MNF). Stay tuned for Santa Updates. Week 16 delivered drama. You can check out the latest playoff seeds and positioning if the playoffs were set today below. The Broncos (12-3) clinched the AFC West but dropped a game, keeping the top-seed race tight with the Patriots (12-3). Jaguars lead the South; Steelers hold the North edge.

Colts’ loss drops their playoff odds dramatically.

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