Receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown talks about Detroit Lions making the playoffs
Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown talks about his playoff hopes and Little Caesars pizza showdown experience.
USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates on the NFL’s evolving playoff picture each week during the 2025 regular season. It usually starts on a Sunday afternoon and continues through the rest of the week (Monday and Thursday games, if applicable, or Saturday games, and I plan to watch them once the holidays are over).
What the hell happened? What does that mean? As the seven-team brackets for each conference begin to take shape, what will be the relevant factors (and perhaps the tiebreakers)? Everything will be explained and analyzed leading up to the postseason berths being decided on Sunday, January 4th.
Here’s how things went for week 16:
AFC playoff photos
x − 1. Denver Broncos (12-2), AFC West Leader: Sunday’s loss to New England, the first team in the league to win 12 games and the first AFC team to make the playoffs, also increased the Broncos’ chances of finishing as the No. 1 seed. If enough problems arise, you can claim it in week 16. remaining schedule: vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers
2. New England Patriots (11-3), AFC East leader: After 10 games, they lost the district championship on Sunday and lost valuable ground to the No. 1 seed. However, the Pats are still the favorites to win the AFC East and can clinch a playoff berth with a win in Baltimore. remaining schedule: Ravens, Jets, vs. Dolphins.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4), first in the AFC South: A sixth straight win on Sunday will at least clinch a wild card spot. However, if they lose, they could fall from the top spot. remaining schedule: Broncos vs. Colts vs. Titans
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) AFC North Leader: They attacked Miami on Monday night, eliminating the Dolphins from postseason contention. No matter what else happens in the next three games, Pittsburgh will clinch the division by dominating the Ravens. remaining schedule: Lions, Browns, vs. Ravens
5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4), Wild Card No. 1: They completed the Chiefs’ winning season and officially eliminated the three-time defending AFC champions from playoff consideration. The Bolts currently have six of seven wins, but need one more win (and help) to qualify for Sunday. They have a one-win advantage (8 wins, 2 losses) over Buffalo in AFC play. remaining schedule: Cowboys vs. Texans vs. Broncos
6. Buffalo Bills (10-4), Wild Card No. 1: The Bills, who have resolved their split with the Pats and are still in the hunt for a sixth consecutive AFC East championship, could lock into that field this weekend. remaining schedule: Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets
7. Houston Texans (9-5), third place wild card: They have won seven of eight games, including six straight. Another win and loss to Jacksonville moved Houston into first place in the AFC South. remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, at. Chargers, vs. Colts
8. Indianapolis Colts (8-6); In the hunt: Now, in the hands of 44-year-old QB Philip Rivers, they face a steep climb back to relevance. A 7-1 start already feels like ancient history. Rivers put up a valiant effort last weekend against Seattle, his first NFL action in about five years, but fell short. And the Colts’ schedule doesn’t slow down anytime soon, including a date with San Francisco on Monday night. remaining schedule: vs. 49ers, vs. Jaguars, at Texans
9. Baltimore Ravens (7-7) In the hunt: If they win, they will maintain their third straight district title. remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, Packers, Steelers
NFC Playoffs Photos
x − 1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3), NFC West Leaders: Splitting the season series against the Rams in Thursday night’s Classic means the No. 1 seed is up for grabs if they win their remaining two games. remaining schedule: Panthers, 49ers
2. Chicago Bears (11-4), NFC North leader: With a stunning overtime win against Green Bay on Saturday night, they clinched a playoff berth and remain the No. 1 seed in the NFC. If Detroit loses on Sunday, Da Bears will officially be out. remaining schedule: 49ers vs. Lions
y – 3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5), NFC East Champions: By defeating the Commanders on Saturday, they became the first team to finish the First Division this season, and the first team to win. this Since splitting 21 years ago, the company has split several years in a row. Philadelphia’s victory also officially eliminated the hated Cowboys from playoff contention. remaining schedule: Game against Bills, vs. Commanders
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7); NFC South Leader: I hope coach Todd Bowles (expletive) pays close attention this week. The Bucs suffered their fifth loss in their past six games and fell to .500 in Week 15, but the loss to Carolina returned them to first place. A one-game advantage in the common game tiebreaker is currently the difference between them and the Panthers. Even if they beat Carolina twice, the Bucks will still win the NFC South. remaining schedule: Panthers game, Dolphins game, vs. Panthers
x − 5. Los Angeles Rams (11-4), Wildcard #1: They became the first team to qualify for the playoffs, but were unable to sweep Seattle, losing the inside track to gain home-field advantage and receiving a bye in the first round. remaining schedule: Falcons vs. Cardinals
6. San Francisco 49ers (10-4), second wild card: A win on Monday would seal their spot and tie for second place in the NFC West. A win would give the Niners a sweep over Seattle on the final weekend of the regular season and clinch the No. 1 seed. remaining schedule: Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks
7. green bay packers (9-5-1), Wildcard #3: They were understaffed into Saturday night, but things got even worse after that. However, the Pack should have been able to escape Chicago with a victory. The Lions could come within a half-game of them on Sunday. remaining schedule: vs. Ravens, Vikings
8. Detroit Lions (8-6), on the hunt: The blowout loss to the Rams left them 1.5 games out of the expected playoff spot. Still, Detroit remains within striking distance of a wild-card berth and perhaps could still claim the NFC North crown. remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, Vikings, Bears
9. Carolina Panthers (7-7) in the hunt: Had they defeated the Saints on Sunday, they would have needed one win over Tampa Bay to win the NFC South. But the Panthers turned heads in New Orleans. Carolina and the Buccaneers will decide this on the field in two meetings from Weeks 16 to 18. remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, vs. Seahawks, Buccaneers
Week 16 NFL Playoff Decision Scenarios
Denver Broncos earn AFC West and No. 1 seed in the AFC:
▶ Win + Chargers lose or tie + Patriots lose + Bills lose or tie
Denver wins AFC West:
- Win + Chargers loss or tie or
- Broncos tie + Chargers lose
Buffalo qualifies for the playoffs:
- Win + Colts loss or tie or
- Win + Texans loss or tie or
- Tie + Colts lose or
- Tie + Texans lose
New England qualifies for the playoffs with:
- Win or draw? or
- Colts lose or tie or
- Texans lose or tie
Jacksonville qualifies for the playoffs with:
- Win + Colts loss or tie or
- Win + Texans loss or tie or
- Tie + Colts lose or
- Tie + Colts tie + Texans lose
Los Angeles Chargers qualify for playoffs:
- Win + Colts loss or tie or
- Win + Texans loss or tie or
- Tie + Colts lose or
- Tie + Colts tie + Texans lose
Chicago qualifies for the playoffs with:
▶ Lions lose or draw
San Francisco qualifies for the playoffs with:
- win or
- Lions lose or
- tie + lions tie
NFL teams will be eliminated from playoff contention in 2025
▶ New York Giants
▶ Arizona Cardinals
▶ New Orleans Saints
▶ Tennessee Titans
▶ Las Vegas Raiders
▶ Commander Washington
▶ Atlanta Falcons
▶ New York Jets
▶ Cleveland Browns
▶ Cincinnati Bengals
▶ Kansas City Chiefs
▶ Minnesota Vikings
▶ Miami Dolphins
▶ Dallas Cowboys
× – qualify for the playoffs
yes – clinched division
z- Secure home field advantage and win a 1st round bye
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