There is still another week left where the playoff picture could change, but if the playoffs began today, the Wild Card Round would be filled with some high-end matchups and the potential for some notable upsets.
More than most previous seasons, this year has been filled with parity - both top seeds for the playoffs in 2024, the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs, are out of the playoffs this year. At this rate, we could see two Wild Card teams in the Super Bowl this year.
Let's dive into the entire Wild Card Round for the 2025 NFL Playoffs if the postseason picture remained the same.
Wild Card Round in 2025 playoffs if postseason picture remains the same
AFC
Bye: Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are very likely earning the top AFC seed if the can beat the Justin Herbert-less LA Chargers in Week 18.
(7) Buffalo Bills @ (2) New England Patriots
The Buffalo Bills did beat the New England Patriots in their house a few weeks ago, so this Wild Card matchup could be a lot closer than the seeding might indicate, and the Patriots might simply need another year before making a deep run.
(6) Los Angeles Chargers @ (3) Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars throttled the Los Angeles Chargers in Jacksonville a few weeks ago, so a similar result could be the case here, as the Chargers are a flimsy, banged up team right now with the worst offensive line in the league.
(5) Houston Texans @ (4) Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are not built to win a playoff game and would likely get blown out by the Houston Texans, a team that has gone 11-2 over their past 13 games after an 0-3 start.
NFC
Bye: Seattle Seahawks
Seattle is in the driver's seat for the first-round bye in the NFC playoffs and could have one of the top homefield advantages in all of sports if they can fend off the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18.
(7) Green Bay Packers @ (2) Chicago Bears
The Green Bay Packers have clinched the seventh seed for the third year in a row, so this might be who they are at this point. Chicago has won the NFC North and would be able to take care of business in the first round.
(6) Los Angeles Rams @ (3) Philadelphia Eagles
It's been a troubling past two weeks for the LA Rams, and now they may be forced to go on the road to Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs. They lost to Philly in the Divisional Round in 2024.
(5) San Francisco 49ers @ (4) Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have been a fun story, but this team simply isn't ready for a postseason run, and the San Francisco 49ers will enter the playoffs as one of the more experienced teams in the NFC. This game would be over by halftime.