NFL Week 17 schedule has plenty of big playoff implications

There are not many playoff spots still up for grabs going into Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season, but it is still going to be a significant week. Divisions can be clinched, teams can be eliminated and most of the field could be set before Week 18 arrives. 

Here are some of the biggest games and things up for grabs going into the weekend. 

Los Angeles Chargers vs. Houston Texans has big meaning for several teams

Thanks to the Denver Broncos' win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas day, they are one step closer to the AFC West division crown and perhaps even the No. 1 seed overall in the AFC.

While they cannot secure the No. 1 seed this weekend, they could secure the AFC West crown if the Los Angeles Chargers lose to the Houston Texans on Saturday. 

The Chargers are still going to the playoffs no matter what, but a win for them would still set up a potential monster Week 18 matchup for the division and potentially the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC. 

A Chargers loss on Saturday would also mean a Texans win, which would punch their ticket to the playoffs and eliminate the Indianapolis Colts from playoff contention. 

Even if the Texans do not beat the Chargers, they would still have a 94 percent playoff probability. 

Multiple paths for AFC North to potentially be decided

Thanks to the Pittsburgh Steelers' win over the Detroit Lions in Week 16, and the Baltimore Ravens losing to the New England Patriots, there are multiple potential paths for the AFC North to be decided this weekend. The first of those would be the Ravens simply losing to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night.

The Ravens losing that game would eliminate them from playoff contention and clinch the division for the Steelers. The Ravens may be without starting quarterback Lamar Jackson in that game as he deals with a back injury, while Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love will be sidelined after suffering a concussion in their Week 16 game against the Chicago Bears. Malik Willis is likely to start in his place. 

If the Ravens win that game, the Steelers can still clinch the division if they beat the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. 

Carolina Panthers could clinch NFC South

That's a statement that almost nobody would have expected at the start of the season. It is almost a reality, however. A Panthers win over the Seattle Seahawks, combined with a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss to the Miami Dolphins, would give the Panthers the NFC South crown and eliminate Tampa Bay from playoff contention.

On the other hand, a Panthers loss, or a Buccaneers win, would set up a winner-take-all game for the division between the two teams in Week 18 next Sunday. 

Other potential clinching scenarios

The New England Patriots clinch the AFC East with a win over the New York Jets and a Buffalo Bills loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Seahawks would clinch the NFC West with a win over the Panthers, combined with a San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams loss or tie. 

The Chicago Bears clinch the NFC North with either a Packers loss on Saturday or a win over the 49ers.