NFL playoff bracket: Updated matchups for wild card round, playoff picture

The 2025 NFL regular season is complete, and the field for the NFL playoffs is set.

Entering Week 18, 12 of the 14 available playoff spots had already been clinched. However, four division titles were still up for grabs, and even more seeding scenarios remained undecided – including the No. 1 overall seed in each conference.

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By the end of Sunday's games, the full field of 14 teams and the shape of the league's playoff bracket took shape.

Here's a look at the the NFL playoff bracket:

NFL playoff bracket

Here's a look at the NFL playoff bracket – and the matchups for the wild-card round:

AFC wild card matchups

1. Denver Broncos (14-3, AFC West winners) – BYE

The Broncos wrapped up the No. 1 seed with their win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18. Los Angeles rested its starters, unable to improve its seeding in the playoff picture, and Denver got the coveted lone bye in the AFC.

Denver will face the lowest-ranked seed in the conference in the divisional round of the postseason.

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2. New England Patriots (14-3, AFC East winners) vs. 7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, wild card No. 3)

The Patriots were only a Broncos loss away from winning the No. 1 seed in the AFC team, but they will settle for the No. 2 seed in the conference instead. New England wrapped up the No. 2 seed in Week 18 after defeating the Miami Dolphins.

The Patriots and Dake Maye are slated to host the Chargers, who rested Justin Herbert and their starters against Denver in Week 18. Los Angeles has a banged-up offensive line, but it will set up an intriguing first-round matchup between two of the NFL's most promising young quarterbacks.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4, AFC South winners) vs. 6. Buffalo Bills (12-5, wild card No. 2)

The Jaguars stomped the Tennessee Titans in Week 18 to clinch the AFC South. The Bills needed the Texans to lose in Week 18 to have a shot to move up to the conference's No. 5 seed, but Houston took care of business, setting up a tough road clash for Josh Allen and Co.

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Liam Coen is a coach of the year candidate in his first season with the team, and Trevor Lawrence should get some MVP votes. Buffalo will be eager to make a deep run in a postseason that doesn't have Mahomes, Jackson or Burrow standing in Allen's way.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, AFC North winners) vs. 5. Houston Texans (12-5, wild card No. 1)

The Steelers clinched the AFC North and locked into the No. 4 seed in the AFC after defeating the Ravens to wrap up the regular season on Sunday night. Pittsburgh has some positive momentum heading into the NFL playoffs, but the Texans have the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense in EPA per play, per Next Gen Stats.

Houston clinched the AFC's No. 5 seed after beating the Colts on Sunday afternoon. A loss would have allowed the Bills to leapfrog them and force the Texans into a tougher matchup with the Jaguars, but Demeco Ryan's squad put its best foot forward to clinch the AFC's top wild-card spot.

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NFC wild card matchups

1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3, NFC West winners) – BYE

The Seahawks clinched the NFC West with a win over the 49ers on Saturday night in Week 18. They now get a much-needed week off.

They will face the worst team in the divisional round, based on seeding, at home.

2. Chicago Bears (11-6, NFC North winners) vs. 7. Green Bay Packers (9-7-1, wild card No. 3)

The Bears played all their starters in Week 18 and still lost to the Detroit Lions at the buzzer. Fortunately for Bears fans, Philadelphia opted to rest most of its starters and also lost and the Bears locked up the No. 2 seed.

As for the Packers, Jordan Love will return to the lineup and Green Bay managed to split the season series with Chicago. The Bears have been tremendous in close games, but that Ben Johnson pixie dust could run out in the playoffs, making this wild-card clash one of the best to watch.

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3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6, NFC East winners) vs. 6. San Francisco 49ers (12-5, wild card No. 2)

The Eagles played third-string quarterback Tanner McKee in Week 18 and rested most starters. They lost to the Washington Commanders and fumbled away an opportunity to move up to the No. 2 seed after the Bears lost to the Lions in Week 18. Still, the defending champs have one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the league and will host a battered 49ers squad.

The 49ers had a chance to earn a bye against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18, but Brock Purdy and co. didn't do enough to earn a win and the top seed over their divisional rival. Instead, they must travel across the country to face the reigning champs in the wild card.

4. Carolina Panthers (8-9, NFC South winners) vs. 5. Los Angeles Rams (12-5, wild card No. 1)

The Panthers joined a rare list of playoff teams with a sub-.500 record. They are the fifth in NFL history and squeaked into the postseason by virtue of a Falcons win over the Saints in Week 18.

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Los Angeles moved up to the No. 5 seed after the 49ers lost to the Seahawks and the Rams defeated the Cardinals to finish the regular season. It's a rematch of Week 13, a game that the Panthers won, 31-28. Matthew Stafford is an MVP candidate, and Sean McVay's squad is considered one of the top Super Bowl contenders despite hitting the road in the playoffs.

NFL playoff schedule

The NFL playoffs kick off on Jan. 10 with the league's wild-card weekend before concluding on Feb. 8 with Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara.

Wild-card weekend

All times Eastern

Saturday, Jan. 10

Sunday, Jan. 11

Monday, Jan. 12

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Divisional round

Saturday, Jan. 17

• AFC/NFC divisional game: 4:30 p.m.

• AFC/NFC divisional game: 8:15 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 18

• AFC/NFC divisional game: 3 p.m.

• AFC/NFC divisional game: 6:30 p.m.

NFL conference championship round

Sunday, Jan. 25

• AFC championship game: 3 p.m.

• NFC championship game: 6:30 p.m.

Super Bowl 60

• Date: Feb. 8, 2026

• Location: Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California)

• Time: 6:30 p.m.

• TV: NBC

NFL playoff field, teams

AFC

2. New England Patriots (14-3, AFC East winners)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, AFC North winners)

7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, wild card No. 3)

NFC

1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3, NFC West winners)

6. San Francisco 49ers (12-5, wild card No. 2)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-7-1, wild card No. 3)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL playoff picture: Full playoff bracket, wild-card matchups