With the Lions losing on Christmas Day in Minnesota, the NFC playoff field is nearly set.
The NFC’s postseason qualifiers are the Seahawks, Bears, Eagles, Rams, 49ers, Packers, and the eventual winner of the NFC South.
It will be the Panthers or the Buccaneers winning that division, and hosting a wild-card game as the No. 4 seed against the No. 5 seed.
As to the rest of the seeding, it’s all TBD. Which gives the last two weekends some extra sizzle — possibly with the No. 1 seed coming down to the Week 18 game between the Seahawks and the 49ers.
Three NFC teams that didn’t make it last year are in for 2025: Bears, Seahawks, and 49ers. The number will increase to four if the Panthers take the NFC South from the Bucs, who have won it every year since 2021.
Bounced from the 2024 field are the Lions, Vikings, and Commanders. The failure of the Lions to make it is stunning; they were 15-2 last year. They’re 8-8 through sixteen games in 2025.
The Panthers offensive line could get some help for their remaining games.
The team announced that they have designated guard Robert Hunt for return from injured reserve on Wednesday. Hunt will begin practicing with the team and he can be activated at any point in the next 21 days.
Hunt tore his biceps in Week 2 and had surgery to repair the injury. He started the first two games of the season at right guard and started 16 times for Carolina during the 2024 season.
The Panthers host the Seahawks this Sunday and will clinch the NFC South with a win and a Bucs loss. If that does not happen, they will need to beat the Bucs in Week 18 to make the playoffs.
The Cardinals have added a second kicker to their active roster.
The team announced on Tuesday that they have signed Joshua Karty off of the Rams’ practice squad. They also signed cornerback Kalen King off of Carolina’s practice squad. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen and cornerback Garrett Williams were placed on injured reserve in corresponding moves.
Karty was 10-of-15 on field goals and 23-of-26 on extra points before the Rams replaced him with Harrison Mevis earlier this season. Chad Ryland has been the Cardinals’ kicker and remains on the roster despite missing six field goals in the team’s last six games.
King was a 2024 Packers seventh-round pick and he appeared in one game for the Panthers this season.
Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze has missed the last three games with a foot injury, but head coach Ben Johnson gave an optimistic update on his status Tuesday.
Johnson said, via multiple reporters, that Odunze is “right on track” in his recovery from the issue. Johnson added that the Bears believe Odunze is “going to be able to help us” before the season is over.
The Bears play the 49ers on Sunday night and then close out the regular season against the Lions. They’ve also clinched a playoff berth, so Odunze can still give the team a boost even if he doesn’t make it back before Week 18.
Odunze has 44 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns this season.
The Broncos and Seahawks have already claimed playoff berths, but both teams still have plenty to play for in Week 17.
Denver can clinch the top seed in the AFC if they beat the Chiefs on Thursday night while the Chargers, Patriots, Jaguars, and Bills all lose their games. They can also claim the AFC West title with a win and a Chargers loss or tie against the Texans on Saturday. They also win the division with a tie and a Chargers loss.
The Seahawks have a trickier path to the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They need a win over the Panthers on Sunday along with a Rams loss and a tie between the Bears and 49ers. The NFC West will be theirs with a win and losses or ties by both the Rams and the 49ers. A Seahawks tie would be enough if both the Rams and 49ers lose their games.
Elsewhere in the AFC, the Jaguars will win the South with a win over the Colts and a Texans loss or tie while the Patriots will take the East with a win over the Jets and a Bills loss or tie against the Eagles. A Steelers win over the Browns or a Ravens loss to the Packers will make Pittsburgh the AFC North champs.
The Texans will clinch a playoff spot with a win or a Colts loss. The Packers are in a similar situation in the NFC as they’ll book a postseason spot with a win or a Lions loss to the Vikings on Christmas.
The Bears will be the NFC North champs with a win or a Packers loss while the Panthers will take the NFC South with a win and a Bucs loss or tie in Miami.
If the Packers, Texans, Panthers, and Steelers all clinch their playoff spots this week, all 14 playoff berths will be filled before the final week of the regular season.
