With the Lions’ 23-10 defeat to Minnesota on Christmas Day, the NFC has narrowed to a single open spot. Meanwhile, Denver’s 20-13 victory over Kansas City on Thursday night has pushed the Broncos (13-3) nearer to the AFC West title and the No. 1 seed.
NFC Standings
- NFC East: Eagles (10-5) clinch the division; Bears (11-5) finish second.
- NFC North: Packers (9-5-1) secure at least a wild-card berth after the Lions’ exit.
- NFC South: Panthers (8-7) and Buccaneers (7-8) battle for the final playoff spot.
- NFC West: Seahawks (12-3), 49ers (11-4) and Rams (11-4) occupy the top three positions.
The Lions’ elimination leaves the Packers as the only NFC team that has yet to clinch a spot, while the Panthers and Buccaneers remain in contention for the last wildcard.
AFC Standings
- AFC East: Patriots (12-3), Bills (11-4), Jaguars (11-4) and Chargers (11-4) have all secured playoff berths.
- AFC North: Steelers (9-6), Texans (10-5), Colts (8-7) and Ravens (7-8) are fighting for the final two AFC spots.
- AFC South: Texans (10-5), Steelers (9-6), Colts (8-7) and Ravens (7-8) are competing for the last two AFC positions.
- AFC West: Broncos (13-3) are the only team in the West that has a realistic chance to win the division and claim the No. 1 seed.
With 10 days remaining in the regular season, only Philadelphia has locked up a division title. Eleven of the fourteen playoff spots have been secured, and six teams are in the race for the last three.
Key Game Outcomes
- Holiday Tripleheader: The opening game of the NFL’s holiday tripleheader had no impact on the playoffs. Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys beat the Washington Commanders 30-23.
- Lions vs. Vikings: Detroit’s 23-10 loss to Minnesota on Christmas Day eliminated the Lions (8-8) and allowed Green Bay (9-5-1) to clinch at least a wild-card berth.
- Broncos vs. Chiefs: Denver’s 20-13 victory over Kansas City on Thursday night moved the Broncos (13-3) closer toward securing the AFC West and the No. 1 seed.
Updated Playoff Picture
AFC East
- New England clinches with a win over the Jets and a loss or tie by Buffalo or a tie against New York and loss by the Bills.
- Buffalo would clinch with victories over Philadelphia and the Jets and if the Patriots lose to either the Jets or Dolphins.
AFC North
- The Steelers clinch with a win or tie against the Browns or if the Ravens lose or tie the Packers on Saturday night.
- The Ravens would clinch if Pittsburgh loses to Cleveland and they beat Green Bay and the Steelers in the final two games.
AFC South
- Jacksonville clinches with a win over Indianapolis and a loss or tie by Houston or a tie against the Colts and a loss by the Texans.
- Houston needs a win or tie over the Chargers or a loss or tie by the Colts to clinch a playoff spot.
- The Texans can win the division with victories over the Chargers and Colts in the final two games and one loss by the Jaguars against Indianapolis or Tennessee.
- The Colts can’t win the division. They need Houston to lose to the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday to stay alive.
AFC West
- The Broncos clinch if the Chargers lose or tie Houston. Denver can also secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed this weekend if the Chargers lose or tie and the Patriots lose and the Bills lose or tie and the Jaguars lose or tie.
NFC East
- The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles became the first team to win this division in consecutive seasons in two decades. They’ll be the NFC’s No. 2, 3 or 4 seed.
NFC North
- Chicago clinches with a win over San Francisco, a loss by Green Bay or if both teams tie.
- The Packers have to win their final two games against the Ravens and Vikings and the Bears would have go 0-2 or 0-1-1 for Green Bay to win the division.
NFC South
- Carolina clinches with a win over Seattle and a loss or tie by Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers clinch with victories over Miami and the Panthers in the final two games.
NFC West
- The Seahawks clinch the division with a victory over Carolina and a loss or tie by the Rams and a loss or tie by the 49ers or a tie against the Panthers and losses by the Rams and 49ers.
- The 49ers would clinch the division and the No. 1 seed if they beat the Bears and Seahawks in their final two games at home.
- The Rams still have a path to a division crown, but must finish with a better record than both Seattle and San Francisco.
Key Takeaways
- The Lions’ loss leaves the NFC with only one playoff spot open.
- The Broncos’ win over Kansas City brings them closer to the AFC West crown and the No. 1 seed.
- Eleven of fourteen playoff spots are secured; six teams remain in contention for the final three positions.
The NFL playoff landscape is now clearer, but the final stretch of the season promises high stakes and dramatic turns as teams vie for the last coveted spots.
