NFL playoff bracket 2025: Wild-card playoff matchups, schedule set for AFC, NFC

The dash to Tremendous Bowl 59 begins now.

With the NFL common season wrapping up, 14 groups have punched their ticket to the playoffs and have their sights set on a run. Twelve of them should win 4 video games to realize their final aim, and the journey begins on wild-card weekend.

Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson might be among the many stars preventing for his or her playoff lives only a week after the top of the common season, whereas a pair of 14-win groups within the NFC are additionally prone to seeing their seasons finish if they do not carry out within the wild-card spherical.

Solely two groups are lucky sufficient to keep away from the opening spherical of the playoffs, and each will patiently await their divisional-round opponent 

This is an entire have a look at the NFL playoff bracket and the wild-card weekend schedule.

MORE 2025 NFL PLAYOFF NEWS:

NFL playoff bracket 2025

NFL wild-card matchups 2024

AFC

Buffalo Payments (2) vs. Denver Broncos (7)

The Payments shortly dismantled an overmatched Steelers staff within the wild-card spherical final season. Can the Broncos give Buffalo extra of a problem? Taking part in on the street in Buffalo with every thing on the road is a monumental activity for a rookie quarterback, however the identical will be stated about attending to the playoffs in any respect. Bo Nix powered Denver to a shock playoff look with the assistance of a strong cross rush, however the Payments have their sights on lastly making a visit again to the Tremendous Bowl and are hoping to make fast work of the Broncos. The excellent news for each groups: snow is not within the forecast, at the least for now. 

Baltimore Ravens (3) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (6)

If momentum issues, the Steelers will not be arrange nicely within the playoffs. Not solely has Pittsburgh misplaced 4 consecutive video games, however the Ravens have additionally gained 4 in a row and are 12-3 since beginning the season 0-2. If the Steelers wish to erase the ugliness of the previous 4 weeks, nevertheless, there could be no higher means than an upset of their bitter AFC North rivals. Pittsburgh has discovered methods to rein in Lamar Jackson earlier than, however that is proving to be more durable than ever this season. The Ravens are hoping a win over the Steelers would simply function a kickstart for the reigning MVP’s long-awaited Tremendous Bowl run. 

Houston Texans (4) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (5)

The Chargers made their intentions clear in Week 18: they needed the No. 5 seed, they usually deliberate to play their starters to get it. It paid off, and Jim Harbaugh’s staff will face the reeling Texans within the wild-card spherical. Houston, down each Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, completed with the identical document as final season however did not shut out the 12 months practically as nicely. Simply 4-5 of their final 9 video games, the Texans are hoping to take the momentum from a Week 18 win over the Titans and shield their residence discipline in opposition to a Chargers staff with a high-level QB in Justin Herbert and a resurgent protection. 

NFC

Philadelphia Eagles (2) vs. Inexperienced Bay Packers (7)

Somebody’s season will finish the identical means it started. The Packers and Eagles opened their schedule in opposition to one another in Brazil in September, they usually meet once more within the wild-card spherical in what is going to undoubtedly be a cold Lincoln Monetary Discipline. The Eagles cruised by the NFC with 14 wins, however it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient for a bye. As a substitute, Philadelphia should defend residence turf and push recollections of final season’s collapse out of thoughts in opposition to Jordan Love and a Packers staff that is aware of what it takes to upset a No. 2 seed after final 12 months’s street win over the Cowboys.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) vs. Washington Commanders (6)

The Buccaneers secured the No. 3 seed with a win and a Rams loss on Sunday, guaranteeing they’ll host the Commanders on Wild Card Weekend. Tampa Bay earned a 37-20 win over Washington in Week 1, however Jayden Daniels has come a good distance since his NFL debut. The rookie led the Commanders to 12 wins and hasn’t slowed down, proving at a number of factors that he’s able to delivering when the lights shine the brightest. Baker Mayfield is 2-0 within the wild-card spherical, nevertheless, and enters the playoffs assured after a sizzling end to the season.

Los Angeles Rams (4) vs. Minnesota Vikings (5)

The Rams are the one staff aside from the Lions to defeat the Vikings this season, successful a recreation that successfully ended on a controversial non-call of a possible facemask penalty. Nonetheless, L.A. performed nicely on each side of the ball in that recreation and may lean on that have in opposition to a Vikings staff that should bounce again from a brutal offensive effort in opposition to the Lions in Week 18. Sam Darnold is trying to prolong his dream season past wild-card weekend, whereas the Rams are looking for their first journey to the divisional spherical since their Tremendous Bowl run three years in the past.

NFL wild-card TV schedule

Right here is the entire schedule for Wild Card Weekend, which features a “Monday Evening Soccer” matchup:

Wild-card spherical

NFL playoff schedule 2025

Wild-card spherical

Saturday, January 11

Sunday, January 12

Monday, January 13

Divisional Spherical

Saturday, January 18

Sunday, January 19

Championship Spherical

Sunday, January 26

Tremendous Bowl

Sunday, February 9

NFL playoff seeds 2025

AFC

NFC