The 2025 NFL Playoffs get started on Saturday, January 11 with the first two teams kicking off the Wild Card round. The playoff field will feature 14 teams with 12 of them playing that first weekend and the No. 1 seed in each conference getting a bye to the Divisional Round. Eight teams will face off in the Divisional round, four teams in the Conference Championship round, and the final two in Super Bowl 59 on Sunday, February 9, 2025.
Below is each team that has clinched a berth into the 2025 NFL Playoffs.
Kansas City Chiefs
When clinched: Week 13
How they clinched: Win over Raiders (19-17) combined with Dolphins loss to Packers (30-17)
The Chiefs are not winning pretty, but they’re still winning. They became the first team to clinch a playoff berth in 2024 and maintain their hold on the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Bills hold the head-to-head tiebreaker but remain a game back in the AFC standings. The Chiefs have a 3.5-game lead on the Chargers in the AFC West. They entered Week 13 ranked 11th in point differential and seventh in DVOA, but they remain tied with the Lions for the best record in the league.
Buffalo Bills
When clinched: Week 13
How they clinched: Win over 49ers (35-10) combined with Dolphins loss to Packers (30-17)
The Bills are rolling. After finally beating the rival Chiefs in a Week 11 classic, Buffalo punched its ticket to the playoffs by dismantling Kansas City’s opponent in last year’s Super Bowl. Buffalo rocked the 49ers on a snow-covered home field, in the process clinching the AFC East and the automatic playoff berth. Buffalo holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Chiefs, and could be the No. 1 seed in the playoffs if KC’s luck finally runs out. Josh Allen is playing at an MVP level. Buffalo is the first team to clinch the division with five weeks to play since the 2009 Colts.
Detroit Lions
When clinched: Week 14
How they clinched: Win over Packers (34-31)
The Detroit Lions are a UNIT! They’ve now won eleven straight games to clinch a playoff spot with a month still left in the season. They have plenty left to play for with the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers nipping at their heels in the division race while the Philadelphia Eagles are lurking in the conference standings. And it won’t get easier as they see the Buffalo Bills in Week 15, last year’s Super Bowl rep in Week 17, and those Vikings in the final week of the season.
Philadelphia Eagles
When clinched: Week 14
How they clinched: Win over Panthers (22-16) combined with Lions win over Packers (34-31), Falcons loss to Vikings (42-21), and Cardinals loss to Seahawks (30-18)
The Eagles stumbled out of the gate, going 2-2 to open the season and ceding ground to the Washington Commanders. However, they’ve since turned things around with nine straight wins to secure their fourth straight playoff berth. The run has also put them three games up on the Washington Commanders in the NFC East with four games remaining on the schedule.
Houston Texans
When clinched: Week 15
How they clinched: Win over Dolphins (20-12) combined with Colts loss to Broncos (31-13)
The Texans stumbled midway through the season, but the AFC South has been bad enough that they’ve been able to clinch the division title with three weeks remaining. Houston opened the season with a 5-1 record, but then lost three of four to drop to 7-5 and leave things open. However, with three wins in their past four games and the Colts losing four of five in a recent stretch, the Texans will host a playoff game in January.
Pittsburgh Steelers
When clinched: Week 15
How they clinched: Dolphins loss to Texans (20-12) and Colts loss to Broncos (31-13)
The Steelers are rolling through the AFC North, but it will be at least one more week before they can clinch the division. However, in spite of losing to the Eagles in Week 15, the Steelers still punched their initial ticket. The Steelers have impressed since Russell Wilson took over as starting quarterback, winning seven of eight prior to the loss to the Eagles. They can clinch the AFC North as soon as Week 16 when they travel to face the Ravens.
Minnesota Vikings
When they clinched: Week 15
How they clinched: Packers win over Seahawks
Minnesota’s magical season with Sam Darnold will result in a playoff berth. Before the Vikings even took the field in Week 15 on Monday night against the lowly Chicago Bears, Minnesota punched its ticket to the postseason thanks to Seattle’s loss to Green Bay on Sunday Night Football. The Vikings bring the heat defensively with Brian Flores calling the plays, and head coach Kevin O’Connell has been able to find success with Darnold and standout receiver Justin Jefferson. Few expected the Vikings to be this good this season, but here they are.
Baltimore Ravens
When they clinched: Week 16
How they clinched: Ravens beat Steelers
The Baltimore Ravens finally punched their ticket to the playoffs on Saturday before Christmas by beating their division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. They still have a shot at the AFC North and the two teams are tied right now. Baltimore stumbled out of the gate, going 0-2 to the Chiefs and (somehow) the Raiders, but they’ve gone 10-3 since then. They took the Chiefs to the limit in Week 1 and beat the Bills in Week 4, Broncos in Week 9, and Chargers in Week 12. Baltimore can make some postseason noise.
Green Bay Packers
When they clinched: Week 16
How they clinched: Packers beat Saints
The Green Bay Packers are officially playoff-bound in 2024, but they’ll do it from a wild card position. Because the Vikings and Lions play each other, at least one of those two teams will finish ahead of the Packers. In Weeks 17 and 18, Green Bay is playing for playoff positioning in a crowded wild card race.