The end of the season is hurtling towards us, and things are heating up nicely.

The #1 seed in both conferences is still up for grabs, especially in the NFC, where three teams from the West all have paths to the bye and home field advantage throughout the postseason.

Three teams — Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle — clinched a playoff spot in Week 16 after missing the postseason last year, extending the streak of at least one team qualifying for the playoffs a year after missing out to 36 consecutive seasons. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles became the first repeat winners of the NFC East for 21 years after they beat the Washington Commanders on Saturday night.

At the other end of the table as it were, the race for the first overall pick in April is still very much on, with the two teams boasting 2-13 records set to face off in Week 17, while the four 3-12 squads look on.

It’s going to be a rollercoaster last couple of weeks of the season, so let’s have a look at what gifts the Christmas week games can bring us.

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GAME OF THE WEEK

Seattle Seahawks (12-3) at Carolina Panthers (8-7)

Two NFC division leaders clash in Charlotte, with the #1 seeded Seahawks taking on the current #4 seeded Panthers.

The Seahawks have already clinched a playoff berth, their first since 2022, and are looking to bring home their first NFC West title since 2020. They could secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and the all-important bye with a win, a Rams loss or tie and a tie between the 49ers and Bears. If that’s a bit of a long shot, a Seahawks win, a Rams loss or tie and a 49ers loss would give Seattle the division at least.

The Panthers are seeking their first NFC South title since 2015 and a first playoff berth since 2017. They can clinch both with a win and a Buccaneers loss or tie — before meeting their divisional rival, for the second time in three weeks, on the final Sunday of the regular season.

The Seahawks have been incredible on the road under head coach Mike McDonald and boast a 6-1 record away from home in 2025. The Panthers are 5-2 at home, with the most recent win coming against the Bucs last week. The Seahawks are third in points scored and second in points allowed this season, while allowing just 94 rushing yards per game. The Panthers are 27th and 13th in the same categories and are 11th in rushing yards gained per outing.

Sam Darnold, who is fifth in the NFL with 3,703 passing yards and has thrown 24 touchdowns this season, didn’t manage those figures in two seasons spent with the Panthers in 2021-22. His opposite number, Bryce Young, is on a five-game streak with at least one touchdown pass thrown. Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of four players in NFL history with more than 90 receiving yards in 13 games within a single season and sits atop the league with 1,637 receiving yards while chipping in with 10 TD catches. Panthers’ rookie wide receiver Tet McMillan needs 76 yards to reach 1,000 for the season, while Panthers running back Rico Dowdle eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season last week, giving him his second such season in a row.

The Seahawks have won four of the last five matches between these two sides and own a 9-4 all-time advantage.

PREDICTION: The Seahawks move a step closer to securing the #1 seed, while the Panthers must wait until Week 18 to clinch their playoff berth.

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WELL WORTH A WATCH

Chicago Bears (11-4) at San Francisco 49ers (11-4)

Two 11-4 squads face off in Santa Clara, with the Bears coming to town to face the 49ers in what could be a deciding factor in the battle for the NFC’s top seed.

Both sides are already going to the playoffs, with the Bears returning to the postseason for the first time since 2020 and the Niners making it for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The Bears can secure the NFC North title with a win over the Niners, while San Fran need help if they are to take home the NFC West title at all.

The Bears are 5-3 on the road under Ben Johnson, while Kyle Shanahan’s side are 4-2 at Levi’s Stadium in 2025. The Bears are second in the league with 152 rushing yards per game this season, while the 49ers have relied more on their passing game, ranking fifth with 249 yards per game through the air.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who racked up 250 passing yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Green Bay Packers last week, has at least 200 passing yards and score in his last three games played in primetime, and tossed a pair of touchdowns in his last match against the 49ers. D’Andre Swift needs seven rushing yards for 1,000 this season and has racked up at least 70 yards from scrimmage in his last five games on the road. His fellow back Kyle Monangai has 731 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 2025, good for fourth and sixth among all rookies this season.

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is coming off a career high five touchdown passes against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night and has thrown at least one scoring pass in every game he has played this season. Christian McCaffrey has been Mr Do-It-All again in 2025, with 1,888 yards from scrimmage (1,039 rushing, 849 receiving), his fifth season with at least 1,600 yards from scrimmage. He needs 151 receiving yards to become the first player ever to record two seasons with 1,000 yards rushing and receiving.

These two sides have met 67 times in the regular season and the record stands at 33-33-1, although the home side has won each of the last two meetings and the Niners have taken three of the last five overall.

PREDICTION: The 49ers keep up their bid for the #1 seed, as unlikely as it seems, while the Bears must wait until Week 18 to bring home their division title.

New York Giants (2-13) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)

While most eyes around the league will be focused on the race to the playoffs, at the other end of the scale comes a clash between two sides ‘fighting’ over the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The Giants and the Raiders have both lost their last nine games and, if the season ended today (which it won’t), Big Blue would pick first and Vegas second. The Giants are 0-8 on the road this season while the Raiders are just 1-6 in home games in 2025. The Giants are 31st in rushing yards allowed per game and, in a classic case of the moveable force meeting the resistible object, face a Raiders side who are dead last in rushing yards on offense.

Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart is tied for first among rookies with 13 TD passes this season, while also sitting in second spot with 1,835 pass yards. Only four QBs have more than Dart’s 407 rush yards in 2025. Wan’Dale Robinson leads the team with 901 receiving yards and needs 99 for a first 1,000-yard season, which he might get within sight of if he keeps up his road form of more than 60 receiving yards in two of his last three games. Rookie pass rusher Abdul Carter took a while to find his feet in the NFL, but has notched a sack in each of his last three games. His fellow edge defender Brian Burns is second in the NFL with 15 sacks in 2025 while also chipping in with 20 tackles for loss.

Geno Smith spent some time with the Giants earlier in his career and was the man brought into the starting lineup to snap Eli Manning’s epic streak of starts when Ben McAdoo was head coach. Unable to replicate his Seattle form that prompted HC Pete Carroll to bring his to Vegas, Smith has 18 touchdowns against 15 picks this season. Running back Ashton Jeanty is coming off a career high 188 yards from scrimmage against the Houston Texans last week and is just the third rookie in NFL history with 50+ receptions (50), at least five rush TDs and five receiving scores. Tight end Brock Bowers leads the team with 680 receiving yards and has found the end zone in three of his last four games.

The Raiders own a 9-6 advantage all time against the Giants, although the Giants have won three of the last five meetings.

PREDICTION: The Raiders snap their losing streak, but the Giants gain ground in the battle for the first overall pick in 2026.

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ALSO ON IN WEEK 17

Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1) at Washington Commanders (4-11)

The Cowboys have dropped their last three games and are officially out of playoff contention. The Commanders were pushed around by the Eagles in Week 16 and may be without Marcus Mariota at quarterback. Which of these sides can pull out a win to give their fans something to smile about after another lost season?

Detroit Lions (8-7) at Minnesota Vikings (7-8)

The Lions’ playoff chances are on life support after two straight defeats, while the Vikings have won three in a row, albeit in ugly fashion. Can the Lions keep their season alive, or will the Vikings play spoiler against their old foes?

Denver Broncos (12-3) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)

The Broncos saw their long win streak come to an end at home to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week but remain in pole position to claim the #1 seed in the AFC. The Chiefs are simming to the end of the season and will be down to their third string quarterback after Gardner Minshew’s leg injury last week. Can the Broncos take one step closer to the division title, or can the fading Chiefs provide one last magic moment in a season desperately short of them — and give the schedulers some relief after their Christmas Day lineup fell apart?

Houston Texans (10-5) at Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)

The Texans stuttered against the Raiders but still registered their seventh straight win. The Chargers eased past the Cowboys thanks to the 31st 300-yard game of Justin Herbert’s NFL career and have now won their last four games. Can the Texans notch the win needed to secure a playoff spot, or will the Chargers stay hot and keep up their outside hopes of a division title?

Baltimore Ravens (7-8) at Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)

The Ravens lost to the New England Patriots on Sunday night and saw Lamar Jackson pick up another injury. The Packers lost an emotional clash to the Bears and are seeing their NFC North title hopes disappearing like tears in the rain. Can the Ravens keep their season alive for another week, or will the Packers get right with the playoffs approaching?

Arizona Cardinals (3-12) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)

The Cardinals have lost seven in a row and are still in the mix for the first overall pick. The Bengals, meanwhile, looked more like their old selves against the Miami Dolphins as Joe Burrow passed for 309 yards and four touchdowns. Which side will come out on top in the Carson Palmer Bowl?

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6) at Cleveland Browns (3-12)

The Steelers clinched yet another winning season under Mike Tomlin in Week 16, as the old ball coach ties Marty Schottenheimer (19 seasons) for the fourth-most seasons with a .500-or-better record by a head coach since 1970, trailing just Don Shula (24), Andy Reid (23) and Bill Belichick (21). The Browns held their own for a long time against the Bills, but ultimately fell to their fourth loss in a row. Can the Steelers get the win needed to secure a division title, or will the Browns pull off an upset to keep the Ravens in the hunt?

Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) at Indianapolis Colts (8-7)

The Jaguars went into Denver and smacked the presumptive AFC top seed in the mouth on their way to a sixth straight win. The Colts are coming off a blowout to the 49ers that earned them a fifth straight loss. Can the Jaguars stay hot and all but clinch a division title, or can the Phil Rivers-led Colts get back to winning ways and cause an upset against their old rivals?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8) at Miami Dolphins (6-9)

The Bucs have lost their last three games and ceded control of the NFC South to the Panthers in defeat last week, while the Dolphins were blown out of the water by the Bengals and have now lost their last two games. Can the Bucs get a win to take their season into the final week, or will the Dolphins do the Panthers a massive favour and grab a much-needed morale boost?

New England Patriots (12-3) at New York Jets (3-12)

The Patriots rebounded from their Week 15 meltdown to take care of business against the Ravens and still have a shot at the #1 seed in the AFC. The Jets have lost their last three games, including a serious smacking against the Saints last week. Can the Patriots take care of business against their old foes, or have the Jets got an upset in them?

New Orleans Saints (5-10) at Tennessee Titans (3-12)

The Saints have won three in a row and are going into the offseason with some momentum behind rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. The Titans picked up their first home win of the season in Week 16 against a listless Chiefs, but which rookie quarterback will come out on top this time?

Philadelphia Eagles (10-5) at Buffalo Bills (11-4)

The Eagles have won two in a row and retained their crown atop the NFC East after seeing off the Commanders on Saturday. The Bills have won their last four games and still have a chance at winning the AFC East. Can the Eagles get a win to keep up their paper-thin hopes of earning the #1 seed, or can the Bills keep up the pressure on the Patriots as they look to retain the AFC East title?

Los Angeles Rams (11-4) at Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

The Rams lost to the Seahawks in Week 16 and saw their chances of earning the top seed in the NFC diminish significantly, with special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn paying the price for several gaffes throughout the campaign. The Falcons have won their last two games and have improved the likelihood of the first round pick they’ll send the Rams not being a top ten selection. Can the Rams bounce back and keep the Seahawks in their sights, or will the Falcons and coach Raheem Morris pull off the upset?

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