NFL Playoff Picture 2024-25: Standings, Bracket Scenarios After Seahawks vs. Bears | News, results, highlights, stats and rumours

Thursday’s nap-inducing, 6-3 victory for the Seattle Seahawks over the Chicago Bears did little to change the overall playoff picture around the NFL, but there could be plenty of mixing this weekend.

Below, we take a look at the updated playoff standings and postseason implications for some of the weekend’s biggest games.

1. Kansas City Chiefs: 15-1

3. Baltimore Ravens: 11-5

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: 10-6

6. Los Angeles Chargers: 9-6

Wins tie break over Denver based on head-to-head winning percentage.

8. Indianapolis Colts: 7-8

Wins tie break over Cincinnati and Miami based on best winning percentage in conference play.

Wins tie break over Cincinnati based on best winning percentage in conference play.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: 7-8

12. Cleveland Browns: 3-12

Wins tie break over Jacksonville based on head-to-head winning percentage. Wins tie break over Las Vegas and New England based on best winning percentage in conference play. The division tie break was originally used to eliminate Tennessee (Jacksonville wins the tie break over Tennessee based on head-to-head winning percentage).

13. Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-12

Wins tie break over Las Vegas and New England based on best winning percentage in conference play. The division tie break was originally used to eliminate Tennessee (Jacksonville wins the tie break over Tennessee based on head-to-head winning percentage).

14. Tennessee Titans: 3-12

Wins tie break over Las Vegas and New England based on best winning percentage in conference play.

15. Las Vegas Raiders: 3-13

Wins tie break over New England based on best winning percentage in conference games.

16. New England Patriots: 3-12

Notes: The Chiefs, Bills, Ravens, Texans and Steelers have earned playoff berths. The Chiefs, Bills and Texans have won division crowns. The Chiefs have earned home court advantage in the playoffs. The Jets, Browns, Jaguars, Titans, Raiders and Patriots have been eliminated from the playoffs.

Wins tie break over Minnesota based on head-to-head winning percentage.

2. Philadelphia Eagles: 12-3

Wins tie break over Tampa Bay based on head-to-head winning percentage.

5. Minnesota Vikings: 13-2

6. Green Bay Packers: 11-4

7. Washington Commanders: 10-5

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-7

11. Arizona Cardinals: 7-8

12. San Francisco 49ers: 6-9

13. New Orleans Saints: 5-10

14. Carolina Panthers: 4-11

16. New York Giants: 2-13

Notes: Lions, Eagles, Vikings and Packers have earned playoff berths. The Cowboys, Cardinals, Niners, Saints, Bears, Panthers and Giants have been eliminated from playoff contention.

We now have three games in the books in Week 17, and the three contests have decided a lot. The Chiefs clinched the top overall seed in the AFC playoffs on Wednesday, beating the Steelers, while that result paired with Baltimore’s win moved the Ravens into first place in the AFC North by one game.

And Thursday’s result means Seattle remains in the hunt for the NFC West division title. If the Rams lose — including Week 18’s matchup between the teams — the Seahawks will win the division. If the Rams win this week, meanwhile, Seattle could still win the division by beating LA in Week 18, though they would need a few other dominoes to fall into place.

There are plenty of more interesting games to follow.

The Eagles are one win — or a Washington loss — away from winning the NFC East and will face a Cowboys team on Sunday that won’t have star wideout CeeDee Lamb. Washington, meanwhile, faces a Falcons team fighting for both an NFC South title and playoff berth.

The biggest game of the week will be the Vikings taking on the Packers as Minnesota looks to keep pace with Detroit in the NFC North. Wins by both the Lions and Vikings would set up a winner-take-all game in Week 18 with both the NFC North title and the top overall seed in the NFC playoffs up for grabs.

In the AFC, the best remaining game of the week will be Denver taking on Cincinnati, with the Bengals clinging to slim playoff hopes. The Bengals can only make the playoffs by winning along with the Broncos losing their last two games and both the Dolphins and Colts each losing one more contest. That probably won’t happen this week, with the Dolphins taking on the Browns and the Colts playing the Giants, while next week the Bengals play the Steelers, the Broncos play the Chiefs, the Dolphins play the Jets and the Colts play the Jaguars.

It’s a long shot for the Bengals, but hope still lives.