The National Football League's 2025 regular season reached its thrilling climax in Week 17, with the final playoff berths decided in a series of high-stakes encounters across the league. The action on Sunday, 28th December 2025, determined which teams would advance to the postseason and which would see their campaigns come to an end.
Playoff Dreams Realised and Dashed
In a critical late-afternoon showdown, the New England Patriots secured their playoff place with a hard-fought 24-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills. The win, sealed by a late defensive stand, propelled the Patriots into the postseason and simultaneously eliminated their AFC East rivals from contention. This result was a defining moment of the weekend, reshaping the AFC playoff landscape in the final hours of the regular season.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions clinched the NFC North division title with a comprehensive 31-10 win over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Lions' dominant performance underscored their status as one of the conference's top seeds heading into the playoffs, marking a significant achievement for the franchise.
Key Results and Standout Performances
The day was packed with significant results beyond the playoff deciders. The Kansas City Chiefs, having already locked up their postseason position, finished strong with a 30-17 win over the Denver Broncos. The San Francisco 49ers also ended on a high note, defeating the Seattle Seahawks 27-14 in a match that had implications for NFC seeding.
Other notable scores from Week 17 included:
- Cincinnati Bengals 34, Cleveland Browns 21
- Philadelphia Eagles 23, Dallas Cowboys 20 (in overtime)
- Los Angeles Rams 28, Arizona Cardinals 24
- Miami Dolphins 26, New York Jets 13
These results finalised the standings and set the matchups for the upcoming Wild Card weekend. The dramatic finish in several games kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last whistle of the 2025 regular season.
Looking Ahead to the Postseason
With the Week 17 curtain now closed, the focus shifts entirely to the NFL playoffs. The bracket is set, and teams will have a week to prepare for the win-or-go-home atmosphere of the Wild Card round. The outcomes of this final weekend have created several intriguing postseason fixtures, with traditional rivalries and fresh matchups on the schedule.
The conclusion of Week 17 not only marks the end of the regular season but also sets the stage for the most intense and unpredictable phase of the American football calendar. The road to the championship is now clear for the remaining contenders.
