The article reviews the final grades for AFC teams in the 2025 NFL season, highlighting the fall from grace of the Chiefs and Ravens, and analyzing the season performances, key moments, and offseason outlooks for teams like Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Miami, New York Jets, Tennessee, and others, emphasizing injuries, roster changes, and strategic considerations for rebuilding and future success.
The Denver Broncos secured the AFC's No. 1 seed with a 19-3 victory over the Chargers, bringing them closer to their Super Bowl LX goal, emphasizing the importance of home-field advantage and ongoing team improvements.
With the NFL regular season ending, playoff seeds are still undecided for most teams, with the AFC and NFC both having multiple scenarios that could determine seedings and matchups, including division titles and first-round byes, as teams vie for playoff positioning in the final week.
The article outlines the playoff clinching scenarios for NFL teams in Week 18, detailing which teams have secured playoff berths and division titles, and what outcomes are needed for others to clinch their spots or division titles in both the AFC and NFC conferences.
The NFL's Week 18 determines the final playoff spots and seedings, with key matchups affecting the AFC and NFC playoff picture, including division titles and top seeds for teams like Denver, New England, Jacksonville, and San Francisco.
The New England Patriots, AFC East champions, need to win their final game against the Dolphins and hope for a Denver loss to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs, with their seeding also depending on other game outcomes.
The Chargers have secured a playoff spot and are competing for various seed positions in the AFC, including the No. 1 seed, depending on their wins and other game outcomes in Week 17. Their potential seeds range from first to seventh, with specific scenarios outlined for each, and their playoff matchups will depend on these final standings.
The article outlines the playoff clinching scenarios for NFL teams in Week 17, detailing which teams have secured playoff berths or division titles and what outcomes are needed for others to clinch their spots or division titles in both the AFC and NFC conferences.
The Chargers secured their second consecutive playoff appearance after a 34-17 win over the Cowboys, aided by a Colts loss, and are contending for the AFC West title and top seed, with two games remaining in the season.
The article outlines the NFL Week 16 playoff scenarios, detailing which teams have clinched playoff berths and the specific conditions under which other teams can secure their spots, including key matchups and potential outcomes in both the AFC and NFC conferences.
The Steelers lead the Dolphins 14-3 at halftime in a crucial AFC matchup, with playoff implications for both teams; Miami needs a win to stay in playoff contention, while Pittsburgh aims to strengthen its position in the AFC North.
Former All-Pro Aqib Talib warned that if the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense, which has shown potential, catches fire in the playoffs, it could significantly impact the AFC by making Pittsburgh a formidable contender, especially if they secure a home playoff game, something they haven't had since 2020.
The Steelers' defense, after a strong performance forcing six turnovers in a win over the AFC top seed Colts, has the potential to be a playoff threat if they maintain this level of play, causing concern for other AFC teams about facing them at home in Acrisure Stadium.
Both AFC and NFC playoff races saw significant shifts in Week 9, with top seeds like the Colts, Packers, and Lions losing, while teams like the Eagles, Bills, and Jaguars gained ground, highlighting a competitive and unpredictable midway point in the NFL season.
Week 9 of the NFL season saw significant developments impacting the AFC playoff race, including the Chiefs' fourth loss, Steelers' dominant defense, Ravens' resurgence with Lamar Jackson, injuries to key players like C.J. Stroud and Joe Alt, and the Patriots' winning streak, highlighting the league's parity and the importance of every game in shaping the postseason picture.
