As the 2025 NFL regular season reached its final weeks and the playoffs kicked off in January, there were dramatic finishes, historic performances, and unforgettable storylines. In Week 18, the Denver Broncos clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed after a defensive masterclass in a 19–3 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, a game where the Broncos’ defense dominated, and cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian even scored on a pick-six. That win gave Denver a first-round bye and its best season in years, finishing 14-3.
At the same time, the Jacksonville Jaguars claimed the AFC South title behind a powerful performance over the Titans. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence set a new franchise record with 38 total touchdowns for the season and helped Jacksonville finish strong with a dominant 41-7 win. Their success earned them a high seed and a Wild Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
The NFC also had some dramatic twists. In a rare outcome, the Carolina Panthers won the NFC South with an 8–9 record, becoming one of the few teams in NFL history to win a division with a losing record. Due to key tiebreakers over the Buccaneers and Falcons, the Panthers reached the playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles finished as the NFC’s No. 3 seed after resting starters in Week 18 and a close game against the Washington Commanders. Tight end Dallas Goedert had a standout season, setting a new team record for touchdowns by a tight end and anchoring an Eagles offense that balanced big plays with smart execution.
Off the field, December’s wild playoff race was shaped by standout individual performances. In late-season games, veteran Running Back Derrick Henry delivered a massive 216-yard, four-touchdown rushing game that shocked many and reminded everyone of his power as a workhorse back. His performance helped keep the Ravens’ playoff hopes alive and was one of the biggest single-game rushing efforts of the season. However, they just barely missed out on the playoffs as rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal as time expired, barely pushing the Steelers into the playoffs.
Wild Card Weekend had a fair share of its own exciting games. The Chicago Bears won in a thriller and had another one of their classic comebacks. The Bills vs. Jaguars and Panthers vs. Rams game also came down to the wire with the Bills and Rams just pulling away. The Texans, Chargers, and 49ers all took care of business as well.
In the Divisional Round, the Seahawks won in a stunning blowout and commanded the game the whole way through even starting with a Rasheed Shahedd kick return for a touchdown to start the game. The Patriots took care of business as well and had a great defensive performance against the Texans. The Broncos, however, barely escaped past the Bills, winning 33-30 in an overtime win. However, unfortunate news broke for them as their star quarterback, Bo Nix, broke his ankle and is out for the rest of the season, raising the question will backup quarterback Jarett Stidham be able to get it done vs. the Patriots. The Bears vs. Rams game did not disappoint, also being an overtime thriller as Caleb “Ice Man” Williams threw an improbable touchdown on 4th and 4 to send the game to overtime. Unfortunately, this was not enough as Stafford and company were able to get it done in overtime. This sets up championship weekend for Patriots vs. Broncos and Rams vs. Seahawks. It should be a thrilling weekend.
