NFL -- USA

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Super Bowl VIII (1974): Powerful running back Larry Csonka carries two Minnesota defenders near the end zone as Miami won its second Super Bowl in a row. Csonka became the first running back to win Super Bowl MVP, rushing for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Focus on Sport/Getty Images

Super Bowl IX (1975): Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris fights off Minnesota defender Paul Krause during Pittsburgh's 16-6 victory in Super Bowl IX. Harris ran for 158 yards and a touchdown on his way to winning MVP. Focus on Sport/Getty Images

 

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NFL facing possible nightmare playoff scenario in Week 17 that could kill the drama in final week of season​

The NFL definitely doesn't want this to happen​

By John Breech

Getty Images

The 2025 NFL season has been full of drama, but that drama might not carry over into the final week of the season.

Heading into Week 17, there are still four playoff spots up for grabs and seven division races that haven't been decided, which seems like a recipe for a dramatic finish over the final two weeks.

The problem for the NFL is that there's a nightmare scenario where almost every division race comes to an end and every playoff spot gets clinched in Week 17 and it's a scenario that's not too far-fetched. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, there has never been a season where EVERY playoff spot and EVERY division was clinched before the final week of the season, so this would definitely be an unwanted situation by the NFL.

 

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AFC WEST

There are two notable games with playoff implications in the AFC West this weekend:

Broncos at Chiefs
Texans at Chargers

How the division race could end this week: A Denver win on Christmas Day combined with a Chargers loss to Houston would clinch the AFC West for the Broncos.

AFC NORTH
There are two games in the AFC North that could lead to the division race ending:

Ravens at Packers
Steelers at Browns

How the division race could end this week: A win by Green Bay would clinch a playoff spot for the Packers AND it would also clinch the AFC North for the Steelers. That seems like the kind of result that would cause a nightmare for the NFL, so let's assume that happens.

AFC SOUTH
There are two big games happening in the AFC South in Week 17:

Texans at Chargers
Jaguars at Colts

Breakdown: In our nightmare scenario for the NFL, we have the Texans beating the Chargers, so there's no way the Jaguars would be able to clinch the division in Week 17.

AFC EAST
The Patriots could win the AFC East this week. Let's check out the two games that will have an impact on the division race:

Patriots at Jets
Eagles at Bills

How the division race could end this week: If the Patriots beat the Jets and the Bills lose to Philadelphia, then New England will clinch the division title, and that's exactly what we're going to have happen in our nightmare scenario.

Now, let's head to the NFC. There are only three division races going on in this conference because the Eagles have already clinched the NFC East.

 

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NFC NORTH

The Bears are the only team that has clinched a playoff spot in the NFC North, but that could change this week:

Bears at 49ers
Ravens at Packers

How the division race could end this week: The Bears will win the division with a win over the 49ers while the Packers can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Ravens. In our nightmare scenario, we'll say the Bears beat the 49ers and the Packers beat the Ravens. (The Lions are still alive in the playoff race, but we're not going to worry about them here. If they lose to the Vikings on Christmas, they'll be eliminated. Even if they win on Christmas, they'd still be eliminated on Saturday if Green Bay beats Baltimore).

NFC SOUTH

There are two huge games happening in the NFC South this week:

Seahawks at Panthers
Buccaneers at Dolphins

How the division race could end this week: The Panthers will win the division with a win over the Seahawks combined with a Dolphins win over the Buccaneers and for the sake of our nightmare scenario, we'll assume that happens.

NFC WEST

The NFC West already has three playoff teams and all three teams can still clinch the No. 1 overall seed. Here's a look at the big games in this division in Week 17:

Seahawks at Panthers
Bears at 49ers
Rams at Falcons

Breakdown: For the sake of our nightmare scenario, we'll say the Seahawks and 49ers both lose while the Rams win.

If all of this happens, six of the eight division races would be decided and all 14 playoff spots would be clinched, which would certainly be a nightmare scenario heading into Week 18.

 

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Here's what the playoff standings would look like if our nightmare scenario played out in Week 17:

AFC
1. Broncos -- AFC West winner
2. Patriots -- AFC East winner
3. Jaguars -- AFC South leader
4. Steelers -- AFC North winner
5. Texans -- Clinched playoff spot
6. Chargers -- Clinched playoff spot
7. Bills -- Clinched playoff spot

NFC
1. Bears -- NFC North winner
2. Rams -- NFC West leader
3. Eagles -- NFC East winner
4. Panthers -- NFC South winner
5. Seahawks -- Clinched playoff spot
6. 49ers -- Clinched playoff spot
7. Packers -- Clinched playoff spot

 

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The NFL doesn't announce the Week 18 schedule until Week 17 is over and with this scenario, it would be almost impossible to come up with an entertaining schedule for the final week of the season. The league needs a doubleheader for Saturday and a prime-time game for Sunday, but there wouldn't be a single game with a "win-and-in" scenario. The No. 1 seed in both the NFC and AFC would be up for grabs, so the NFL would likely focus on those.

You could put Chargers-Broncos in the Sunday night spot because Denver would likely be playing for the No. 1 seed, but if the Patriots and Jaguars both lost earlier in the day, then the game would mean nothing to Denver.

You could put Seahawks-49ers on Sunday night, but if the Rams beat the Cardinals earlier in the day, then L.A. would clinch the NFC West and the Seattle-San Francisco game would only be for wild card seeding.

 

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You could put Lions-Bears on Sunday night. Assuming our nightmare scenario plays out in Week 17, the Bears would likely be playing for the No. 1 seed.

The NFL doesn't like to put an eliminated team in the Sunday night slot, but it's not unprecedented. In 2022, the Lions were already eliminated but they got scheduled in the Sunday night game against a Packers team that needed a win to get to the playoffs.

The Lions had nothing to play for, but they still managed to pull off a 20-16 stunner that kept Green Bay out of the postseason.

 

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The problem with putting Lions-Bears on Sunday night would be that if the Rams lost to Arizona, then the Bears would have already clinched the top seed heading into the game and they'd have nothing to play for.

Last year, the final game was between the Lions and Vikings with the winner earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC and the loser getting stuck in the wild card round. The Lions ended up thrashing Minnesota 31-9 to earn the NFC's only bye. A similar scenario could play out this year if both the Seahawks (at Panthers) and 49ers (vs. Bears) win on Sunday. If that happens, the NFC West and No. 1 seed would be on the line when the two teams meet in Week 18. You can bet the NFL would love to see that scenario and not the nightmare one I put together here.

 

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Agent's Take: From Patrick Mahomes' recovery, to Travis Kelce's potential retirement, Chiefs' future uncertain​

The Chiefs are in an unfamiliar spot after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014​

By Joel Corry

Getty Images

The idiom, "All good things must come to an end" is applicable to the 2025 Kansas City Chiefs. For the first time since quarterback Patrick Mahomes became a starter in 2018, the road to the Super Bowl doesn't go through the Chiefs in the AFC.

A stranglehold on the AFC West is over after nine straight division titles. Not only is Kansas City missing the playoffs but is assured of the first losing season during Andy Reid's 13-year tenure as Chiefs coach. With a 6-9 record, a top 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft is a distinct possibility.

Here's a look at what lies ahead for the Chiefs.

Travis Kelce's​

Travis Kelce is a first ballot Hall of Famer when the five-year waiting period is over once he hangs up his cleats. The 36-year-old contemplated retirement after the 2024 season. His return was motivated by trying to avenge a lopsided loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.

Although Kelce is clearly on the decline, he still ranks among the top 10 for tight ends in receptions (seventh), receiving yards (third) and touchdown catches (tied for 10th) this season. Kelce's 68 catches for 803 yards with five touchdowns in 15 games would be a career year for a lot of tight ends. He was just named to the Pro Bowl for the 11th straight time.

 

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Patrick Mahomes' recovery

Mahomes, who has been the gold standard for quarterbacks over the last few seasons, tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee late in the fourth quarter of Week 15's contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. If Mahomes' recovery goes according to plan, he should be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season.

Adrian Peterson tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee on Christmas Eve during Week 16 of the 2011 season. He didn't miss any games in 2012. In fact, Peterson had a career year. He finished nine yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards.

There isn't any reason to think that Mahomes won't continue to be an elite quarterback once he is healthy. Joe Burrow tore the ACL, MCL, PCL and meniscus in his left knee 10 games into his rookie season with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020. He led the Bengals to the Super Bowl the following season.

 

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Packers clinch NFL playoff spot as Lions lose to Vikings​

Green Bay accepted the Christmas gift of a third consecutive playoff appearance and sixth in seven years

AFP
December 26, 2025

The Green Bay Packers advanced to the NFL playoffs on Thursday without stepping onto the field, clinching a post-season berth when the Detroit Lions lost 23-10 at Minnesota.

Green Bay accepted the Christmas gift of a third consecutive playoff appearance and sixth in seven years.

Minnesota's defenders forced six turnovers by Detroit that led to 16 points as the Lions fell to 8-8 and became unable to catch the Packers (9-5-1) for the last available NFC wildcard.

"Can't turn the ball over six times and expect to win," Lions coach Dan Campbell said. "That's what got us.

"The effort is there. We're just a little off and it's costing us."

Lions defender Aidan Hutchinson called missing the playoffs "frustrating" and "disappointing".

A one-yard touchdown run by Aaron Jones gave Minnesota the lead but Jared Goff's four-yard touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa made it 7-7 at half-time.

Minnesota's Will Reichard kicked field goals from 52 and 56 yards and Detroit's Jake Bates responded with a 48-yard kick to make it 13-10.

Jordan Addison answered with a 65-yard touchdown run to put the Vikings 20-10 ahead with 3:43 to play and Reichard added a final field goal.

Other NFC clubs that have secured playoff berths are reigning champion Philadelphia, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles Rams.

AFC teams that have clinched post-season berths are Denver, New England, Denver, Buffalo, Jacksonville and Los Angeles Chargers.

Broncos edge Chiefs

The Denver Broncos improved to an NFL-best 13-3 with a 20-13 victory at Kansas City, seizing a lead in the fight for a first-round AFC playoff bye before rivals play on Sunday.

The Chiefs, whose star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is out for the season with a knee injury, took a 7-6 half-time lead on Chris Oladokun's five-yard touchdown toss to Brashard Smith.

Harrison Butker added a 53-yard field goal for the Chiefs in the third quarter. Bo Nix ran nine yards for a Denver touchdown but Butker's 47-yard field goal tied the game at 13-13.

Nix flipped a one-yard touchdown toss to R.J. Harvey with 1:45 remaining to give Denver the final victory margin.

The Broncos defensive unit stopped Kansas City at the Denver 26-yard line on downs to secure the triumph.

It was Denver's 11th victory of the season by one score or less and snapped a nine-game losing streak at Kansas City.

Singer Taylor Swift attended to watch her fiancee, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who played what could be his final home game for Kansas City.

In an earlier game between teams out of playoff contention, Dak Prescott threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns to spark Dallas in a 30-23 victory at Washington.

The Cowboys' quarterback completed 19-of-37 passes without an interception while Malik Davis ran 20 times for 103 yards for Dallas (7-8-1).

"I'm blessed doing what I love on such a great holiday," Prescott said.

 

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