Week 18 is in the books, and the dust has settled on a chaotic finale. The AFC playoff picture is officially locked, loaded, and ready to ruin your bracket. Let’s break down the madness, the miracles, and the absolute misery that defined the end of the 2025 regular season.
The Broncos Buck Their Way To the No. 1 Seed In the AFC
Let’s start at the top. The Denver Broncos aren’t just participating; they are running the show. By grinding out a 19-3 win over the Chargers, Denver secured the coveted No. 1 seed and the bye week that comes with it. At 14-3, Bo Nix and that suffocating defense have earned the right to kick their feet up while the rest of the conference bludgeons each other next weekend.
Meanwhile, in Foxborough, the nightmare scenario for the rest of the league has come true. The New England Patriots are good again. Led by MVP frontrunner Drake Maye, the Pats dismantled the Dolphins 38-10 to finish 14-3. They don’t get the bye, but securing the No. 2 seed and the AFC East crown for the first time since 2019 is a statement.
The Wild Card Weekend Menu
So, who is dancing next week? Here is how the AFC Wild Card matchups shook out:
- Los Angeles Chargers (7) at New England Patriots (2): The Chargers limp into the playoffs to face a buzzsaw in the freezing cold. Good luck.
- Buffalo Bills (6) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3): Josh Allen and the Bills lost the division but are still dangerous. They head to Duval County to face a Jags team that quietly won 13 games. This has shootout written all over it.
- Houston Texans (5) at Pittsburgh/Baltimore (4): We are still waiting on the Sunday Night Football result to see who wins the North, but C.J. Stroud and the Texans are a problem for whoever has to host them.
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