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It’s unbelievable that there are only two weeks left in the NFL season. Where did the time go?
For some teams, they hope Week 17 is a gift instead of coal in their stockings. There are a handful of scenarios where teams can not only clinch playoff spots, but potentially hold on to division titles or the top seed in their conferences.
The Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots have already made the playoffs.
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Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Denver, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
The Broncos could go even further this week when they play the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Eve. Denver will clinch the AFC West title and the No. 1 seed along with a first-round bye if they win, the Chargers lose or tie, the Patriots lose, the Bills lose or tie, or the Jaguars lose or tie. The Broncos only win the division title with a win along with a Chargers loss or tie, or if they tie and the Chargers lose.
The Jaguars could win the AFC South with a win and a Houston Texans loss or a tie, or if they tie and the Texans lose. The Patriots can win the AFC East title with a win and a Bills loss or a tie, or if they tie and the Bills lose.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers also have a clinch scenario. They could win the AFC North title with a win or tie or a Baltimore Ravens loss or tie.
Houston can clinch a playoff spot with a win or tie or an Indianapolis Colts loss or tie. The Texans can win at least one tie in a strength of schedule win tiebreaker over the Colts. With the latter, the Texans need this to happen: the Ravens, Bills, Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers all win their games, coupled with losses to the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins.
NFC is just as complicated. The 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks are already in the playoffs. Some of these teams can achieve more.
The Seahawks have the No. 1 seed on the line — as amazing as that sounds. Seattle wins the NFC West and a first-round bye with a win, a Rams loss or a tie in the 49ers-Bears game. The Seahawks will win the NFC West title with a win, a Rams loss or tie and a 49ers loss, or a tie or tie with a Rams and 49ers loss.
The Carolina Panthers enter the postseason with a win and a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss or a tie or a tie and a Buccaneers loss. In this scenario, the Panthers would win an NFC South division title.
Pittsburgh Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers, from left, Mike Tomlin and Cameron Heyward walk off the field after Pittsburgh won an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
The Bears could wrap up the NFC North title with a win. It can also happen with a Green Bay Packers loss or if both teams are tied in their respective games.
The Packers could at least clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Ravens or a Detroit Lions loss or tie.
Needless to say, there is a lot at stake this week.
Thursday 25 December 2025
- Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Commanders (1 p.m. ET)
- Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings (4:30 p.m. ET)
- Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs (8:15 p.m. ET)
Saturday 27 December 2025
- Houston Texans @ Los Angeles Chargers (4:30 p.m. ET)
- Baltimore Ravens @ Green Bay Packers (8 p.m. ET)
Sunday 28 December 2025
Seattle Seahawks players celebrate after an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
- Arizona Cardinals @ Cincinnati Bengals (1 p.m. ET)
- Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cleveland Browns (1 p.m. ET)
- New Orleans Saints @ Tennessee Titans (1 p.m. ET)
- Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts (1 p.m. ET)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Miami Dolphins (1 p.m. ET)
- New England Patriots @ New York Jets (1 p.m. ET)
- Seattle Seahawks @ Carolina Panthers (1 p.m. ET)
- New York Giants @ Las Vegas Raiders (4:05 p.m. ET)
- Philadelphia Eagles @ Buffalo Bills (4:25 p.m. ET)
- Chicago Bears @ San Francisco 49ers (8:20 p.m. ET)
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Monday 29 December 2025
- Los Angeles Rams @ Atlanta Falcons (8:15 p.m. ET)
