Lions, Broncos have big playoff implications with Christmas games 

With the playoff picture starting to take shape for the 2025 NFL season, the slate of Christmas games for Thursday is not exactly full of major playoff implications. In fact, the first game in the tripleheader (between NFC East rivals Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders) is between two teams already eliminated from playoff contention.

There are, however, still big things at stake in the other two games.

Detroit Lions playing for their postseason lives

After dropping Sunday's game to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Lions are now facing a literal must-win situation for Thursday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. There is simply no other way around it. This is an elimination for the Lions, and if they do not come away with a win, they are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. That would be a stunning development for a team that opened the season as a potential Super Bowl contender.  

Even a win would only leave their playoff probability at 9%, which is not where they expected to be this season. 

Detroit not only needs to win its remaining two games, but it also needs the Green Bay Packers to lose their remaining two games. That means a Lions loss to the Vikings would officially clinch a playoff spot for the Packers, and leave just one playoff spot up for grabs in the NFC. That would be the NFC South race between the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers that will be decided in their Week 18 game. 

The Packers would still have a chance win the NFC North even if they clinch a playoff spot on Thursday. They play the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. 

Denver Broncos still playing for No. 1 seed in AFC

When the 2025 NFL schedule was released, the Christmas night game between the Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs seemed like it would be a massive game in the AFC playoff race.

It sort of is. But only for the Broncos.

Denver has already clinched its playoff spot, while the Chiefs are already mathematically eliminated. 

While the Broncos already have their playoff spot secured, the AFC West and No. 1 seed in the AFC are still very much in play. The Broncos have one of the NFL's biggest home-field advantages, not only with their crowd, but also the mile-high elevation that tends to wreak havoc on opponents. 

They are in full control of their path to clinching that and can get there with wins over the Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers over the next two weeks.