And then there was one. After 17 weeks, the final week of the NFL's 2025 regular season is upon us.
Fourteen teams will qualify for their respective conference playoffs, hoping to eventually play in the Super Bowl. Entering Week 18, 12 playoff spots have been decided, with two division titles still up for grabs. The AFC North and the NFC South will both be determined in Week 18, with the winners slotting into the No. 4 seed in their respective conference playoff pictures.
While there are only two playoff spots still up for grabs, there is still plenty of movement. Of the eventual 14 playoff teams, only one is locked into its seed heading into Week 18.
Here is a look at which teams have clinched a playoff berth in Week 18.
MORE WEEK 18 NFL:
- NFL power rankings for Week 18
- NFL Week 18 picks, predictions
- NFL Week 18 picks against the spread
NFL teams to clinch a playoff spot
- Denver Broncos
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Chicago Bears
- San Francisco 49ers
- New England Patriots
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Buffalo Bills
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Green Bay Packers
- Houston Texans
Heading into the last week of the regular season, each conference only has one spot still undecided in its bracket, and both of them are for a division title and the No. 4 seed in the bracket.
The AFC North will come down to a Week 18 matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens. The game will be featured as the final "Sunday Night Football" game of the regular season. The winner will advance to the playoffs as the No. 4 seed in the AFC, and will host the No. 5 seed, while the loser is eliminated from playoff contention.
The NFC South will come down to two games in Week 18. The Carolina Panthers take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to begin the week on Saturday afternoon. If the Panthers win, they are the No. 4 seed in the NFC, and will host the No. 5 seed team in the first round of the playoffs. If the Buccaneers win, they have to wait until Sunday to see their fate. Due to tiebreakers, if the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints, the Panthers win the NFC South, regardless of what happens in their game on Saturday.
The only way for the Buccaneers to make the playoffs is for Tampa Bay to win the NFC South by beating Carolina on Saturday, and for New Orleans to beat Atlanta on Sunday. Otherwise, the Buccaneers will be eliminated.
The other 12 playoff spots have been claimed by teams, though there is still plenty of seeding to work out. Only the Green Bay Packers are locked into a spot and will be the No. 7 seed for the NFC, going on the road to take on whichever team ends up with the No. 2 seed in the first round.
MORE: Updated 2026 NFL Draft order
Projected NFL playoff bracket 2025
Below is a look at the NFL's projected playoff bracket as it stands heading into Week 18.
AFC
1. Denver Broncos (BYE)
2. New England Patriots vs. 7. Buffalo Bills
3. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. 6. Los Angeles Chargers
4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. 5. Houston Texans
NFC
1. Seattle Seahawks (BYE)
2. Chicago Bears vs. 7. Green Bay Packers
3. Philadelphia Eagles vs. 6. Los Angeles Rams
4. Carolina Panthers vs. 5. San Francisco 49ers
MORE: Updated AFC, NFC playoff pictures heading into Week 18
Updated NFL playoff picture
Here's how the standings in both conferences break down heading into Week 18, along with the other teams that are still in the playoff hunt.
AFC
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched |
| 1 | Broncos | 13-3 | AFC West |
| 2 | Patriots | 13-3 | AFC East |
| 3 | Jaguars | 12-4 | Playoff berth |
| 4 | Steelers | 9-8 | N/A |
| 5 | Texans | 11-5 | Playoff berth |
| 6 | Chargers | 11-5 | Wild-card spot |
| 7 | Bills | 11-5 | Wild-card spot |
In the hunt: Ravens (8-8)
NFC
| Seed | Team | Record | Clinched |
| 1 | Seahawks | 13-3 | Playoff berth |
| 2 | Bears | 11-5 | NFC North |
| 3 | Eagles | 11-5 | NFC East |
| 4 | Panthers | 8-8 | N/A |
| 5 | 49ers | 12-4 | Playoff berth |
| 6 | Rams | 11-5 | Playoff berth |
| 7 | Packers | 9-6-1 | No. 7 seed |
In the hunt: Buccaneers (7-8)