The final week of the 2025 NFL season is here, and the playoff picture is mostly settled. Twelve of 14 spots have already been claimed. We’re waiting to see only whether the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Carolina Panthers win the NFC South and whether the Pittsburgh Steelers or Baltimore Ravens win the AFC North.

But uncertainty abounds within the playoff field. Four division titles, both first-round byes and every first-round matchup will be decided this weekend.

Some scenarios are quite simple. If the Seattle Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers, for example, they will be the NFC’s No. 1 seed; if they lose, they will be the No. 5 seed.

But most teams have a much more complicated picture, with their playoff seed depending not just on the outcome of their game but also on other matchups. Particularly in the AFC, the right combination of outcomes could result in rarely used tiebreakers deciding several postseason seeds.

The diagrams below illustrate essentially every possible way the season might end for all potential playoff teams. (We’ve also printed detailed lists for the most complicated scenarios.) As always, if you want to dig deeper, our interactive playoff simulator is live and at your service.

All times are Eastern.

AFC East Buffalo Bills Bills (11-5)

Possible outcomes for the Bills

No. 5 seed with:

No. 6 seed with:

No. 7 seed with:

The Bills are locked into a wild-card berth, but their seeding will depend on their game with the Jets and the outcomes of the Texans, Jaguars and Chargers games.

If the Bills, Texans and Chargers win and the Jaguars lose, all four teams would finish 12-5. The Texans would win the AFC South (and the No. 3 seed), while the three AFC wild-card seeds would be decided by tiebreakers determined on Sunday. Start exploring that possibility here.

AFC South Jacksonville Jaguars Jaguars (12-4)

Possible outcomes for the Jaguars

No. 1 seed + bye with:

No. 2 seed with:

No. 3 seed with:

Wild-card with:

The Jaguars are in the driver’s seat for the AFC South title. The AFC’s No. 1 seed (and bye week) is still within reach, too. But with a loss and some bad luck, they could slip to a wild-card berth.

If the Jaguars lose and Texans win, the Texans would claim the AFC South title (and the No. 3 seed). The Jaguars’ seed would then come down to tiebreakers with the Chargers and Bills that depend on other Week 18 games. Start exploring that possibility here.

Houston Texans Texans (11-5)

Possible outcomes for the Texans

No. 3 seed with:

No. 5 seed with:

No. 6 seed with:

No. 7 seed with:

If the Texans want an AFC South championship (and the No. 3 seed), they need to beat the Colts and hope the Jaguars lose to the Titans. If that doesn’t happen, they’d be a wild-card team, with their seed depending on what happens in the Jaguars, Chargers and Bills games.

AFC West Los Angeles Chargers Chargers (11-5)

Possible outcomes for the Chargers

No. 5 seed with:

No. 6 seed with:

No. 7 seed with:

The Chargers are locked into a wild-card berth, but their seeding depends on their game with the Broncos and the outcomes of the Texans, Jaguars and Bills games.

If the Chargers, Texans and Bills win and the Jaguars lose, all four teams would finish 12-5. The Texans would claim the AFC South title (and the No. 3 seed), while the three AFC wild-card seeds would be set by tiebreakers that depend on other Week 18 games. Start exploring that possibility here.

NFC North Chicago Bears Bears (11-5)

The Bears will most likely represent the No. 2 seed, hosting the Packers in the first round of the playoffs. But if they lose to the Lions and the Eagles beat the Commanders, they would fall to No. 3, hosting the Rams or 49ers in the first round of the playoffs.

NFC South Tampa Bay Buccaneers Buccaneers (7-9)

The Bucs’ path to the playoffs got narrower after the Falcons stunned the Rams on Monday night. They now need to beat the Panthers in Week 18 and hope the Saints beat the Falcons. If that happens, the Bucs will win the NFC South. Otherwise, they will miss the playoffs.

NFC West Seattle Seahawks Seahawks (13-3)

The Seahawks have a straightforward set of possibilities. If they beat the 49ers on Saturday night, they will win the NFC West and clinch the No. 1 seed. If they lose, they will be the No. 5 seed, visiting the Bucs or Panthers in the first round of the playoffs.

Los Angeles Rams Rams (11-5)

The Rams are guaranteed a wild-card spot. If the Seahawks beat the 49ers on Saturday night and the Rams beat the Cardinals, the Rams would get the No. 5 seed. Otherwise, they’d get the No. 6 seed.