The dust hasn't even settled yet. Honestly, if you blinked during the last few weeks of the season, you probably woke up to an NFL landscape that looks absolutely nothing like what we expected back in August. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs? Gone. Out of the picture entirely after a 6-11 season that felt more like a fever dream than reality. It's wild to think about, but the playoff bracket nfl 2025 update shows a league that has completely flipped on its head.
We are currently in the thick of the Divisional Round, and if Saturday was any indication, the bracket is about to get even weirder.
The Heartbreak in Denver and the Nix Factor
Let's talk about the Broncos for a second. Bo Nix isn't just a "game manager" anymore. He’s the guy who just outdueled Josh Allen in an overtime thriller that had half of Colorado holding its breath. The final score, 33-30, doesn't even tell the whole story.
Denver won because Ja'Quan McMillian decided to be a hero. He picked off Allen in overtime—a ball that should have been an easy field goal setup for Buffalo—and gave Nix the rock at the 25-yard line. Six plays later, Wil Lutz drilled a 23-yarder to send the top-seeded Broncos to the AFC Championship.
But here is the gut-punch.
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Nix broke his ankle in those final moments. He’s out.
Imagine being a Broncos fan right now. You just reached your first AFC Championship since 2015, and you have to do it with Jarrett Stidham. That is the kind of drama that makes the playoff bracket nfl 2025 update so much more than just a list of teams. It’s a literal hospital ward for some of these rosters.
The Bills' Perpetual "Next Year"
Buffalo is hurting. Again. This was the year they didn't have to deal with Mahomes. This was the year the path was wide open. Instead, they’re heading back to Orchard Park with five turnovers on the stat sheet and questions about whether the window is officially slammed shut. Josh Allen accounted for nearly 350 yards, but those two interceptions—especially the one in OT—are going to haunt him all summer.
The NFC Side: A Seattle Sledgehammer
While the AFC was a chaotic shootout, the NFC Divisional opener was a bloodbath. The Seattle Seahawks, led by Sam Darnold of all people, just dismantled the San Francisco 49ers 41-6.
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It wasn't even close.
San Francisco came in limp. They were missing George Kittle (Achilles) and basically half their secondary. Christian McCaffrey was held to just 74 total yards. Meanwhile, Kenneth Walker III was playing like he was in a video game, scoring three times.
The Seahawks are now sitting pretty as the No. 1 seed, waiting to see who they’ll face. They look like the most complete team left in the dance, especially with a defense that hasn't allowed more than 20 points in a game since mid-December.
The Remaining Matchups
If you're keeping track of your office pool, here is what the rest of the playoff bracket nfl 2025 update looks like for Sunday:
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- Houston Texans at New England Patriots (3:00 PM ET): C.J. Stroud vs. Drake Maye. It’s the battle of the young guns. The Texans looked terrifying when they blew out Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers 30-6 last week.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears (6:30 PM ET): This one feels like a toss-up. The Bears survived the Packers in the Wild Card round by the skin of their teeth, while the Rams are banking on Matthew Stafford having one more magical run left in the tank.
Why This Bracket Feels Different
Usually, by the time we get to the Divisional Round, we have a clear favorite. But look at these seeds. We’ve got a No. 6 seed (49ers) that just got bounced, a No. 5 seed (Texans) that looks like a powerhouse, and a No. 1 seed in Denver that’s currently searching for a healthy quarterback.
Basically, nobody knows anything.
The "three-peat" dream for Kansas City died months ago. The Philadelphia Eagles, who many thought were the NFC's best hope, got knocked out by the 49ers in the Wild Card round in a 23-19 upset. It’s a total reset of the NFL hierarchy.
If you are looking at the playoff bracket nfl 2025 update and trying to find a "safe" bet, you're probably going to lose your shirt. The parity is at an all-time high.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the Backup QB News: Keep a close eye on the Denver injury reports. If Stidham can’t move the needle, the AFC is New England’s or Houston’s for the taking.
- Monitor the Lines: Seattle opened as heavy favorites for the NFC Championship regardless of their opponent. If you're into sports betting, look at the "under" for their next game; their defense is historically stingy right now.
- Update Your Bracket: If you’re playing in a re-seed league, remember that the NFL re-brackets every round. The lowest remaining seed always travels to the highest.