With just one game remaining in the 2025 regular season, the NFL playoff picture is nearly complete. It was a dramatic end to the season, with several division titles still up in the air heading into Week 18, as the NFC South, AFC South and AFC North all came down to the wire.
Among the more shocking season finishes was that of the Carolina Panthers, who eked through into the postseason with a 8-9 record despite a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. The NFC South title came down to the two teams out of contention in the race for the division, as the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints faced off. The Falcons walking away with a win officially meant that the Falcons, Panthers and Bucs all finished the year with an 8-9 record, but Carolina earned the division title thanks to the tie breakers falling their way.
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Here’s a look at how the AFC and NFC have shaken out with just one game left to be decided for the AFC’s fourth seed with the AFC North title on the line in Sunday evening’s showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
AFC playoff picture
No. 1 seed: Denver Broncos (14-3, first-round bye*)
No. 2: New England Patriots (14-3)
No. 3: Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)
No. 4: Pittsburgh Steelers OR Baltimore Ravens
No. 5: Houston Texans (12-5)
No. 6: Buffalo Bills (12-5)
No. 7: Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
That means the Broncos have earned a first-round bye, and in the wild card, the:
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Patriots will host the Chargers
Jaguars will host the Bills
Steelers or Ravens will host the Texans
NFC playoff picture
No. 1 seed: Seattle Seahawks (14-3, first-round bye*)
No. 2: Chicago Bears (12-6)
No. 3: Philadelphia Eagles (12-6)
No. 4: Carolina Panthers (8-9)
No. 5: Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
No. 6: San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
No. 7: Green Bay Packers (9-7-1)
That means the Seahawks have earned a first-round bye, and in the wild card, the:
Bears will host the Packers
Eagles will host the 49ers
Panthers will host the Rams
In other NFL news coming out of Week 18, the top of the draft order has been decided, with the Las Vegas Raiders clinching the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Rounding out the top five:
New York Jets (second overall)
Arizona Cardinals (third)
Tennessee Titans (fourth)
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more from the afternoon window in Week 18:
Live74 updates
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 5:00 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
At 3-14, not much went right for the New York Jets. After Sunday’s 35-8 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Jets became the first team since interceptions were tracked in 1933 to go an entire season without recording an interception.
Before the Jets, no team has recorded fewer than two interceptions in a single season. The Jets also did not have many fumbles that rolled their way. Their four fumble recoveries on the year ranked better than only three teams in the league.
The Jets just wrapped up their 15th consecutive season of missing the playoffs.
Criss Partee
Denver clinches the No. 1 seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the postseason with the victory over the LA Chargers. Bo Nix passed for just 141 yards and was sacked four times, but the defense held its own, giving up a field goal in the win.
Trey Lance got the start for the Chargers and played the entire game completing 20 of 44 passes for 136 yards and an interception. Lance also rushed for 69 yards in the loss. Keenan Allen had 7 receptions for 36 yards
Criss Partee
The Chiefs managed 12 points in the loss to the Raiders to close out the season. Quarterbacks Chris Oladokun and Shane Buechele combined to complete 17 of 30 passes for 82 (net) yards and were sacked eight times, losing 62 yards.
The Raiders end the season 3-14 with the win and got a combined 86 net yards passing from Aidan O’Connell and Kenny Pickett. Ashton Jeanty rushed for 87 yards to cap off is rookie campaign.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 4:30 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Washington Commanders upset the Eagles 24-17 to ruin Philadelphia’s hope of becoming the second seed in the NFC. The Eagles are now locked into the third seed and will play the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card.
Third-string quarterback Josh Johnson led the way for the Commanders. Johnson was 14-22 for 131 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception. Josh has also picked up 45 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Commanders running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. had 13 carries for 56 yards and a touchdown. Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin had four catches for 57 yards.
The Eagles rested most of their starters to prepare for next week’s playoff game. Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee was 21-40 for 241 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception.
Eagles running back Tank Bigsby led the way with 106 all-purpose yards. Eagles wide receiver also had three catches for 52 yards and eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in the regular season.
Criss Partee
The Los Angeles Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals in the regular season finale to lock up the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs. Matthew Stafford had a huge four-touchdown performance in the win, with two of them going to Colby Parkinson and the other two to Puka Nacua and Tyler Higbee. Nacua ended the game with 10 receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. Kyren Williams rushed for 60 yards, and Blake Corum added another 59.
Arizona ends the season 3-14, and Jacoby Brissett passed for 243 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception in the final game of the season. Trey McBride ended with seven catches for 65 yards, and Michael Wilson had five catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 4:22 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 4:21 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 4:20 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Detroit Lions ended the cardiac Chicago Bears’ comeback hopes and closed out the regular season with a 19-16 win.
The Lions’ win ends a three-game losing streak and sends the Bears on a two-game losing streak before their playoff game against Green Bay next week.
The Lions were led by wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. St. Brown had 11 catches for 139 yards. Lions quarterback Jared Goff was 27-42 for 331 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had 113 all-purpose yards, while wide receiver Jameson Williams added 74 receiving yards.
The Lions’ defense also held the Bears’ explosive offense in check. The Bears were held scoreless in the first half before rattling off 16 straight points in the second half.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams broke Erik Kramer’s franchise record for passing yards. Williams was 20-33 for 212 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. Bears rookie tight end Coltson Loveland had 10 catches for 91 yards and a touchdown that set up a two-point conversion that tied the game.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 4:19 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown’s catch-and-run puts the Lions in field range with under a minute in the fourth quarter.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 4:17 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Bears defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down late in the fourth quarter. The Lions are in the red zone and are tied with the Bears 16-16.
Criss Partee
Las Vegas sacks quarterback Shane Buechele in the end zone for a safety. The Raiders lead the Chiefs 11-9 late in the fourth quarter.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 4:12 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Washington Commanders take the lead late in the fourth quarter after a run from quarterback Josh Johnson. Johnson is 14-22 for 131 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception. Josh has also picked up 45 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
The Commanders lead 24-17 with 2:32 left in the fourth quarter.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 4:09 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Chicago Bears Kevin Byard snags his seventh interception of the year late in the fourth quarter.
The Lions and Bears are tied 16-16. The Bears have the ball with 2:00 left in the fourth quarter.
Criss Partee
Matthew Stafford is looking to lock up the league MVP award and throws his fourth touchdown of the game, hitting Colby Parkinson for the second time in the end zone. LA leads Arizona 37-20 in the fourth quarter.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 4:03 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Jets get their first score of the game late in the fourth quarter on a Brady Cook touchdown pass to fullback Andrew Beck. The Bills lead the Jets 35-7.
Criss Partee
Denver is minutes away from locking up the No. 1 seed if they can hold onto a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter. Bo Nix has 96 passing yards and 50 rushing. Trey Lance has 85 passing yards for the Chargers.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Josh Johnson’s touchdown pass to tight end John Bates ties the game up in the fourth quarter.
Criss Partee
Not a ton of offense in this game, but the Riaders are hoping to end the season with a win. Shane Buechele entered the game at QB for KC in the second half. The Raiders lead the Chiefs 9-6 in the fourth quarter.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 3:57 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The cardiac Bears strike again after a touchdown and two-point conversion, tying the game late in the fourth quarter. Caleb Williams’ touchdown pass was to tight end Coltson Loveland before connecting with Cole Kmet in the back of the end zone for two.
The Lions and Bears are tied 16-16 in the fourth quarter.
Criss Partee
The Rams extend their lead over the Cardinals to 30-20 on Matthew Stafford’s third touchdown of the game. This time Stafford hit Tyler Higbee for the touchdown.