2025 NFL Sunday Playoff Impact Breakdown

As the 2025 season enters its most critical stretch, every game on this Sunday slate carries playoff weight. Several teams sit on the edge of clinching a postseason berth, others are fighting to stay alive, and a few are dangerously close to falling out completely. With race-tight division battles and high-stakes Wild Card chaos, this week may be one of the most important of the season.

Below is your full game-by-game preview, including which teams can clinch, who might collapse, and what each matchup means for the playoff race.

San Francisco @ Cleveland (CBS)

Location: Cleveland, OH

• 49ers: Strengthen NFC West control; near-clinch territory.
• Browns: Another loss pushes them out of the AFC race.

Jacksonville @ Tennessee (CBS)

Location: Nashville, TN

• Jaguars: Move closer to clinching AFC South.
• Titans: A loss all but eliminates them.

Houston @ Indianapolis (CBS)

Location: Indianapolis, IN

• Texans: Loss puts them in wild card danger.
• Colts: Win keeps firm playoff footing; could create future clinch scenario.

New Orleans @ Miami (FOX)

Location: Miami Gardens, FL

• Dolphins: Win keeps them inside the AFC top spots.
• Saints: Loss likely ends NFC playoff hopes.

Atlanta @ New York Jets (FOX)

Location: East Rutherford, NJ

• Falcons: Win keeps their wild card chances alive.
• Jets: Nearly eliminated if they fall again.

Arizona @ Tampa Bay (FOX)

Location: Tampa, FL

• Buccaneers: Still in the NFC South race; must win.
• Cardinals: One step closer to full elimination.

Los Angeles Rams @ Carolina (FOX)

Location: Charlotte, NC

• Rams: Need this win for wild card survival.
• Panthers: Already out; only spoiler role left.

Minnesota @ Seattle (FOX)

Location: Seattle, WA

• Seahawks: Win pushes them toward clinching a wild card.
• Vikings: A loss likely knocks them out.

Buffalo @ Pittsburgh (CBS)

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

• Bills: Stay in AFC wild card control with a win.
• Steelers: Must win to stay alive.

Las Vegas @ Los Angeles Chargers (CBS)

Location: Inglewood, CA

• Chargers: Still alive – but only with a win.
• Raiders: Another loss nearly seals a lost season.

Denver @ Washington (NBC)

Location: Landover, MD

• Broncos: Win keeps them firmly in AFC contention.
• Commanders: Loss eliminates them from playoff potential.

Final Thought

This Sunday is a separation point: contenders like the 49ers, Dolphins, Seahawks, and Bills can strengthen their postseason path, while teams like the Vikings, Commanders, Raiders, and Saints are fighting for their last breath.