Ivan Urena

2026 Strength of Schedule (based on 2025 regular-season records):

2026 Opponents:

Since 1978, TB has been eliminated all 5 times it has needed help in the final week to make the postseason (1998, 2008, 2010, 2016, 2025). During that span, only the Raiders have been eliminated more times when needing help in the final week without making the playoffs on any of those occasions (6).

AFC and NFC Seeding Scenarios (Updated after Sunday 1:00pm games):

CIN needed a win + CLE loss + PIT win (even though PIT was eliminated) to create a 3-way tie at 8-8 (CIN would win on best H2H, 3-1 over CLE 2-2, PIT 1-3). Otherwise, CLE would win the division. With PIT’s loss on Saturday of the final weekend, CLE won the AFC Central and CIN was eliminated (2 of 2)

Re: CAR/TB/ATL scenario: Another example of two division teams fighting for a playoff spot in the season’s final week that would have their playoff hopes decided by a division rival that was already eliminated was CLE/CIN/PIT in 1985….(1 of 2)

Week 18 NFC Seeding Scenarios entering Sunday:

2025 Week 18 NFC Seeding Scenarios:

2025 Week 18 AFC Seeding Scenarios. All 64 combinations (assumes no ties):

Correction made to line 9 above. If BUF wins and both HOU and LAC lose, then the seeding order for the 5 thru 7 seed is BUF-HOU-LAC.

2025 Week 18 AFC Seeding Scenarios (Updated):

If Atlanta loses or ties on MNF, it would be the first time there are TWO winner-take-all games entering the final week of the season since 2013 when PHI/DAL played for the NFC East title; and GB/CHI for the NFC North crown.

The last seed being locked in with 1 week to play has only happened 4 times: 2001 TB, 2012 CIN, and 2019 MIN were the 6 seed under the 12-team playoff format; and 2025 GB as the 7 seed is the first to do so under the expanded 14-team format.

Remaining NFC West scenarios:

At least one team has been locked into a specific seed with one week to play each season since 2004 (22nd straight year). Green Bay is the first team locked into the 7 seed with one week left since the playoffs expanded to 14 teams in 2020.

Teams to clinch on Christmas (continued):

First-round bye:
2005 CHI
2006 NO
2009 SD
2017 PIT

Home-field advantage:
1995 DAL
2000 TEN
2011 GB
2017 PHI
2024 KC

Teams to clinch on Christmas:

Playoff berth:
1989 PIT
2005 NYG
2006 PHI
2011 ATL
2016 KC
2016 MIA
2025 GB

Division title:
1989 MIN (NFC Central)
1994 MIA (AFC East)
2000 TEN (AFC Central)
2005 CHI (NFC North)
2016 PIT (AFC North)
2020 NO (NFC South)

If PIT, HOU, GB, and CAR all clinch this week, it would mark the first time the entire playoff field is set prior to the final week of the season since 1974.

h/t (@JoeNFL on X)

There are now just 4 playoff spots up for grabs which is tied for the fewest entering the final two weeks of the season since 1990 (1990, 2019).

10 playoff spots clinched is the most with 2 weeks to play in NFL history. This is also the highest percentage of playoff berths clinched with 2 weeks to go in the regular season:

10 of 14 (71.4%): 2025
8 of 12 (66.7%): 1990, 2019
9 of 14 (64.3%): 2022, 2024
5 of 8 (62.5%): 1974

8 teams clinched playoff berths in Week 16—tied for the most playoff spots clinched in one week in NFL history (1982 Week 16).

5 teams have clinched playoff berths so far this week. If IND loses or ties tonight on MNF, 3 more teams (BUF, JAX, LAC) would clinch for a total of 8. It would mark the most teams to make the postseason in one week since 1982 when 8 teams qualified for the 16-team Super Bowl tournament in Week 16.

The Steelers are in Super Bowl contention with 2 weeks to play for a record 22nd consecutive season (2004-25). Pittsburgh surpasses the 1966-86 Dallas Cowboys who were in playoff contention with 2 weeks to go for 21 straight seasons.

Since 2002 realignment, this is only the third time, and first since 2013, that 7 of the 8 divisions are still up for grabs entering the final two weeks of the regular season (2010, 2013, 2025).

Five NFC teams (LAR, SEA, PHI, CHI, SF) have clinched playoff spots through Week 16. This is only the third time as many as five NFC teams have secured a playoff berth with 2 weeks to go (1990, 2021, 2025).

This is the 16th consecutive season that none of the No. 1 seeds have been clinched with 2 weeks to play. The 2009 Indianapolis Colts are the last team to lock up the 1 seed with 2 or more weeks remaining in the regular season.

Number of teams in Super Bowl contention with 2 weeks to play (since 2002):

2025: 18
2024: 19
2023: 24
2022: 24
2021: 24
2020: 21
2019: 17
2018: 19
2017: 19
2016: 22
2015: 18
2014: 21
2013: 19
2012: 19
2011: 22
2010: 20
2009: 19
2008: 19
2007: 16
2006: 24
2005: 17
2004: 26
2003: 17
2002: 21

Needing only five teams to be weeded out of playoff contention is the fewest with three weeks left since 1973:

1973: 13 teams in playoff contention, 8 team-playoff field

2025: 19 teams in playoff contention, 14-team playoff field

The Steelers have been in Super Bowl contention with 3 weeks to play for 26 consecutive seasons which is the third-most all-time:

30 (Oakland/L.A. Raiders, 1967-96)
27 (Miami, 1977-2003)
26 (PITTSBURGH, 2000-25)*

* active streak

Most consecutive seasons a team has been in Super Bowl contention with 3 weeks to play, active streak:

26 (Pittsburgh, 2000-25)
20 (Green Bay, 2006-25)
17 (Seattle, 2009-25)