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NFL playoff picture Week 17: Ravens survive another day, clinch NFC North for Bears
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- NFL playoff picture Week 17: Ravens survive another day, clinch NFC North for Bears
Every week for the duration of the 2025 regular season , USA TODAY Sports will provide timely updates to the NFL 's ever-evolving playoff picture – typically starting Sunday afternoon and then moving forward for the remainder of the week (through Monday's and Thursday's games or Saturday's, if applicable. And, when the holidays roll around, we'll be watching then, too).
What just happened? What does it mean? What are the pertinent factors (and, perhaps, tiebreakers) prominently in play as each conference's seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All will be explained and analyzed up to the point when the postseason field is finalized Sunday, Jan. 4.
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Here's where things stand with Week 17 underway:
Philip Rivers’ return to the NFL this season is undoubtedly one of the wildest, most unexpected turns the league’s, ahem, script has taken in years. The entire country watched him play Monday night, his second start of the 2025 campaign after a hiatus of nearly five years, as his Indianapolis Colts host the San Francisco 49ers in a game with playoff implications for both squads. Yet the stage is also a perfect time to take stock of the stellar career Rivers had already had – he was a semifinalist to join the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class − until his return forced a HOF clock rest until at least 2031. But where does Philly Riv rank in the bigger picture? We thought the best context was to slot him among the NFL quarterbacks who have played in the 21st century. (So while former MVPs like Kurt Warner and Steve McNair were eligible, for example, they might not have made the list based on their excluded accomplishments from the 1990s.) With that in mind, here are your top 25 passers from the past 25 years – and, dadgummit, we know you won’t disagree with a single aspect of this ranking!
Editor's note: This is a part of an occasional USA TODAY Sports series on the best moments, teams, players and figures in sports over the last 25 years.
(Grace Hollars, IndyStar via USA TODAY NETWORK)
25. Andrew LuckThere's a tinge of football tragedy to his story of the can't-miss guy from Stanford charged with the impossible task of replacing Peyton Manning in Indianapolis and without a sufficient level of support around him. Yet Luck seemed on his way to doing exactly that before he made the equally courageous and controversial decision to retire amid injuries and his own mental health demons in 2019 after just seven seasons. Named the Comeback Player of the Year in 2018, shoulder issues cost Luck all of 2017, he threw 39 TD passes in his last hurrah and notched a playoff victory. The Colts haven't won one since.
24. Matt HasselbeckA three-time Pro Bowler with a solid game and some awesome one-liners, he probably didn’t get his just due while spending the bulk of his career in Seattle. But while quarterbacking the precursors to the Legion of Boom years, Hasselbeck led the Seahawks to the playoffs six times, including their first Super Sunday appearance – and those ‘Hawks might have been the franchise’s first champions had the officials not assisted the Steelers in Super Bowl 40.
23. Dak PrescottHe hasn’t managed to end the Dallas Cowboys’ three-decade championship drought … but he probably doesn’t deserve all that much blame, either. Prescott broke the all-time passing yardage record for “America’s Team” earlier this season and needs eight more TD passes to take the club record (248) currently held by Tony Romo. And say this for Prescott: He’s been a classy ambassador for an organization that always has a sideshow element.
22. Joe BurrowHe took the Cincinnati Bengals to a Super Bowl and pair of AFC title games ... meaning Burrow’s probably ranked too low. But, in all seriousness, he’s been MVP-caliber pretty much since coming back from the knee injury that prematurely ended his rookie season in 2020.
21. Carson PalmerHe took the Bengals to the playoffs twice – not quite Burrow but not bad, either. (And it will always be a shame that Palmer’s first career postseason pass, a 66-yard completion, ended with him crumpled in the pocket, knee torn up. That 2005 Bengals team seemed like one that could have made a Lombardi run of its own.) Not only that, Palmer’s 38-21-1 regular-season mark with the Cardinals is easily the best in the century-old club’s history among QBs who started at least 15 games.
20. Kirk CousinsGranted, maybe he’s a better businessman than quarterback – but that’s mostly a nod to his negotiating chops. While postseason and prime-time success eluded Cousins while he was in Washington and with the Minnesota Vikings, his 44,394 career passing yards and 296 TDs both rank within the top 20 in league history.
19. Jared GoffThe No. 1 pick of the 2016 draft has had two distinct career chapters with the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions. You almost forget the four-time Pro Bowler led LA to Super Bowl 53 – maybe because that loss to the New England Patriots was so forgettable and foretold Goff’s trade to Detroit. But while he seemed like a consolation prize – at best – in the Matthew Stafford swap, Goff has quarterbacked the best Lions teams of the Super Bowl era (since 1966), even if he hasn’t yet gotten them to their first Super Sunday. By the time this season wraps, he should have four straight with at least 29 TD passes and 4,400 yards in Motown.
18. Cam NewtonAt 6-5, 245 pounds, he was a unicorn among dual-threat quarterbacks. He accounted for 45 touchdowns during his 2015 MVP season, which culminated in a Super Bowl 50 berth for Newton’s Carolina Panthers following a 15-1 regular season. He still holds most of the franchise’s career passing records.
17. Donovan McNabbHe had a love-hate relationship with the locals – some of the critiques self-inflicted – but he remains the Philadelphia Eagles' all-time leader in passing yards (32,873) and TDs (216). And while McNabb wasn’t the guy who finally got Philly its first Lombardi Trophy, he did take the Eagles to five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl appearance.
16. Michael VickHe never played in a Super Bowl nor earned a league MVP trophy – or even All-Pro honors. But there’s no denying Vick’s cultural impact or his electric play – perhaps the most incomparable dual-threat talent ever given his breakaway speed and cuts, plus a left arm that could rifle a ball to any part of the field. Let’s also give Vick a tip of the cap for being unfailingly accountable for the mistakes he made off the field following his two-season suspension for dogfighting – and his good-faith efforts on that front have continued even though he knows some will never forgive him.
15. Joe FlaccoYou’ll never meet a more down-to-earth quarterback … to the degree you meet quarterbacks … and to the degree that matters. But this guy’s a real one. He’ll be 41 next month yet can still effortlessly launch a beautiful spiral 50 yards downrange. And while Flacco might seem like a vagabond at this point, let’s not forget he went 10-5 in the playoffs with the Baltimore Ravens – including that sublime four-game run in 2012 that concluded with Super Bowl 47 MVP honors. If Flacco can find one more temporary QB1 gig before he quits, he should get to 50,000 career passing yards … maybe even 300 TDs.
14. Brett FavreHis trifecta of MVP awards and good guy image are residuals from the 1990s. But Favre remained a captivating player in his final 11 seasons, retiring after the 2010 campaign with most of the league’s major passing marks and in possession of his signature Ironman streak (321 consecutive starts, truly Gehrig-esque). And Favre was splendid – on the field anyway – right to the end, reaching the NFC championship game twice in his final four seasons, once with the Green Bay Packers and also with the Vikings.
13. Russell WilsonHard to say if any player has ever had more shifting narratives around him. Did Wilson drive the Seahawks to all that success they had during the 2010s, or was he mostly a passenger? And there’s no doubt his post-Seattle years have been even less kind to his legacy, wherever it lands. But there’s no denying his numbers (121 career wins, nearly 47,000 passing yards, and almost 400 combined passing/rushing TDs). And no one can take away Wilson’s Super Bowl 48 ring, still the only one in Seahawks history … even if he probably should have a Super Bowl 49 ring, too.
12. Philip RiversSo what if he was the third-best quarterback of the 2004 draft after Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger? So what if Rivers never played in a Super Bowl? So what if he’s spent nearly his entire career playing in ideal passing conditions with teams built to score … and Hall of Famers like LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates helping him? You don’t throw for more than 63,000 yards and 422 TDs because you’re a spoke and not a hub – also a durable one (241 career starts). And the Rivers era was one of the few times the Chargers remained consistently relevant. Physically, he was never impressive. His ability to spew an endless stream of clean trash talk? So impressive.
11. Josh AllenThe 2024 league MVP amazingly reinvented himself into a deadly accurate, multi-threat quarterback coming out of Wyoming in 2018 – essentially a better version of Newton. Allen’s 77 career rushing touchdowns are already a record among quarterbacks. He’ll likely continue to climb this list – let’s just hope he’s able to fully certify his career at some point with the Lombardi Trophy that’s proven so elusive in the Patrick Mahomes era.
10. Lamar JacksonHe’s a two-time NFL MVP … and arguably should have three. Jackson broke Vick’s record for career rushing yards by a quarterback and now has 6,513 – and he’s the only one to accrue 1,000 in a season twice. Yet Jackson is probably underrated as a passer – he’s a far better one than Vick ever was – and he seemed to improve annually prior to his frustrating 2025. He’ll likely continue to climb this list – let’s just hope he’s able to fully certify his career at some point with the Lombardi Trophy that’s proven so elusive in the Patrick Mahomes era.
9. Matt RyanYou probably forgot that he was the league MVP in 2016 … mostly because you remember his Atlanta Falcons fell apart in Super Bowl 51, really through no fault of Ryan’s. Given the contrasts in their games and personalities, following Vick in Atlanta wasn’t an enviable role for Ryan, either. But in many ways, his career mimics Rivers’ – nice guys with very similar career numbers but a close-but-no-cigar asterisk attached to their championship quests. (But Matty Ice’s in-game verbiage was definitely more colorful than Rivers’.)
8. Eli ManningHis 117-117 record in the regular season probably prevented him from being a first-ballot Hall of Famer. But two Super Bowl MVPs, 57,000 passing yards and the ability to successfully navigate the New York market for 16 seasons should land him in Canton eventually.
7. Matthew StaffordUnderrated and undervalued during his 12 years in Detroit – and Stafford was most definitely elite with the Lions, despite a shortfall of help on the roster and in management – his belated renaissance with the Rams is making up for those dark days. At this point, it would be a shock if Stafford doesn’t cap this season with his first MVP trophy. It wouldn’t be surprising either if he wins his second Super Bowl with the Rams. And if his 37-year-old body holds up for just another two or three good seasons, he should be the rare player with 70,000 career passing yards and 500 TDs by the time he’s done.
6. Ben Roethlisberger“Big Ben” was awesome between the lines from Day 1, a mountain of a man who could shed tacklers with ease while slinging the rock to all parts of the gridiron. He earned two rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers – and probably should have been Super 43’s MVP given his legendary, title-winning throw to Santonio Holmes through triple coverage and into the back corner of the end zone as time wound down. Roethlisberger’s 64,000+ passing yards and 418 career TD passes are all the more impressive given so much of it was done in the Steel City’s often unforgiving conditions. He never played for a team with a losing record, his final ledger 165-81-1.
5. Drew BreesHis 80,358 passing yards and 571 TD passes rank second only to Tom Brady in NFL annals. But perhaps the most important part of Brees’ legacy was helping to save pro football in New Orleans following the wrath of Hurricane Katrina while leading the Saints to their first – and still only – Super Bowl win in the 2009 season (Lombardi Gras). GPS-level accurate – Brees completed at least 70% of his passes in seven different seasons – the league has rarely seen as good a leader, either.
4. Aaron RodgersDuring his prime, his combination of accuracy, mobility, moxie, arm strength, competitiveness and extreme football intelligence made him something of a template for the modern quarterback – and maybe no one has ever had the ability to make the pinpoint throws he could, whether from the pocket or on the move. Only one player has more MVP trophies than Rodgers’ four, though his detractors (and Brees’) will say one Super Bowl is insufficient. Rodgers’ 102.4 career passer rating is currently the highest in NFL history.
3. Peyton ManningA record five league MVP awards. Four Super Bowl trips and two wins. Holder of most of the league’s major passing standards when he retired following the 2015 season. But perhaps the defining part of the Manning legend was his will and ability to manipulate games with his mind – the most important component for a player with an above-average arm but no wheels.
2. Patrick MahomesWe’re not even 10 years into his career, and he’s already got three Super Bowl MVPs – only Brady has more – two league MVPs and had started seven consecutive AFC championship games, a streak that will end in an unfortunate 2025 season that hasn’t been kind to Mahomes or his Kansas City Chiefs. But there are more chapters to be written in what’s already the sterling career of a player who relentlessly wins and has provided some of the most impressive individuals plays and efforts on his team’s dynastic road. Still a legit shot Mahomes could be regarded as the best to ever do it by the time he retires …
1. Tom Brady… But, for now, GOAT status most definitely remains with TB12, whose seven Super Bowl rings are still more than any NFL franchise possesses on its own. He’s got the jewelry, nearly all of the league’s notable passing marks and a record five Super Bowl MVPs. There’s so much more to an unparalleled NFL journey that began as an unheralded sixth-round pick of the Patriots. But you know the story. And you know there’s no debate here. At least not yet.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
Philip Rivers’ return to the NFL this season is undoubtedly one of the wildest, most unexpected turns the league’s, ahem, script has taken in years. The entire country watched him play Monday night, his second start of the 2025 campaign after a hiatus of nearly five years, as his Indianapolis Colts host the San Francisco 49ers in a game with playoff implications for both squads. Yet the stage is also a perfect time to take stock of the stellar career Rivers had already had – he was a semifinalist to join the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class − until his return forced a HOF clock rest until at least 2031. But where does Philly Riv rank in the bigger picture? We thought the best context was to slot him among the NFL quarterbacks who have played in the 21st century. (So while former MVPs like Kurt Warner and Steve McNair were eligible, for example, they might not have made the list based on their excluded accomplishments from the 1990s.) With that in mind, here are your top 25 passers from the past 25 years – and, dadgummit, we know you won’t disagree with a single aspect of this ranking!
Editor's note: This is a part of an occasional USA TODAY Sports series on the best moments, teams, players and figures in sports over the last 25 years.
(Grace Hollars, IndyStar via USA TODAY NETWORK)
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
Philip Rivers’ return to the NFL this season is undoubtedly one of the wildest, most unexpected turns the league’s, ahem, script has taken in years. The entire country watched him play Monday night, his second start of the 2025 campaign after a hiatus of nearly five years, as his Indianapolis Colts host the San Francisco 49ers in a game with playoff implications for both squads. Yet the stage is also a perfect time to take stock of the stellar career Rivers had already had – he was a semifinalist to join the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class − until his return forced a HOF clock rest until at least 2031. But where does Philly Riv rank in the bigger picture? We thought the best context was to slot him among the NFL quarterbacks who have played in the 21st century. (So while former MVPs like Kurt Warner and Steve McNair were eligible, for example, they might not have made the list based on their excluded accomplishments from the 1990s.) With that in mind, here are your top 25 passers from the past 25 years – and, dadgummit, we know you won’t disagree with a single aspect of this ranking!
Editor's note: This is a part of an occasional USA TODAY Sports series on the best moments, teams, players and figures in sports over the last 25 years.
(Grace Hollars, IndyStar via USA TODAY NETWORK)
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
25. Andrew LuckThere's a tinge of football tragedy to his story of the can't-miss guy from Stanford charged with the impossible task of replacing Peyton Manning in Indianapolis and without a sufficient level of support around him. Yet Luck seemed on his way to doing exactly that before he made the equally courageous and controversial decision to retire amid injuries and his own mental health demons in 2019 after just seven seasons. Named the Comeback Player of the Year in 2018, shoulder issues cost Luck all of 2017, he threw 39 TD passes in his last hurrah and notched a playoff victory. The Colts haven't won one since.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
24. Matt HasselbeckA three-time Pro Bowler with a solid game and some awesome one-liners, he probably didn’t get his just due while spending the bulk of his career in Seattle. But while quarterbacking the precursors to the Legion of Boom years, Hasselbeck led the Seahawks to the playoffs six times, including their first Super Sunday appearance – and those ‘Hawks might have been the franchise’s first champions had the officials not assisted the Steelers in Super Bowl 40.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
23. Dak PrescottHe hasn’t managed to end the Dallas Cowboys’ three-decade championship drought … but he probably doesn’t deserve all that much blame, either. Prescott broke the all-time passing yardage record for “America’s Team” earlier this season and needs eight more TD passes to take the club record (248) currently held by Tony Romo. And say this for Prescott: He’s been a classy ambassador for an organization that always has a sideshow element.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
22. Joe BurrowHe took the Cincinnati Bengals to a Super Bowl and pair of AFC title games ... meaning Burrow’s probably ranked too low. But, in all seriousness, he’s been MVP-caliber pretty much since coming back from the knee injury that prematurely ended his rookie season in 2020.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
21. Carson PalmerHe took the Bengals to the playoffs twice – not quite Burrow but not bad, either. (And it will always be a shame that Palmer’s first career postseason pass, a 66-yard completion, ended with him crumpled in the pocket, knee torn up. That 2005 Bengals team seemed like one that could have made a Lombardi run of its own.) Not only that, Palmer’s 38-21-1 regular-season mark with the Cardinals is easily the best in the century-old club’s history among QBs who started at least 15 games.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
20. Kirk CousinsGranted, maybe he’s a better businessman than quarterback – but that’s mostly a nod to his negotiating chops. While postseason and prime-time success eluded Cousins while he was in Washington and with the Minnesota Vikings, his 44,394 career passing yards and 296 TDs both rank within the top 20 in league history.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
19. Jared GoffThe No. 1 pick of the 2016 draft has had two distinct career chapters with the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions. You almost forget the four-time Pro Bowler led LA to Super Bowl 53 – maybe because that loss to the New England Patriots was so forgettable and foretold Goff’s trade to Detroit. But while he seemed like a consolation prize – at best – in the Matthew Stafford swap, Goff has quarterbacked the best Lions teams of the Super Bowl era (since 1966), even if he hasn’t yet gotten them to their first Super Sunday. By the time this season wraps, he should have four straight with at least 29 TD passes and 4,400 yards in Motown.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
18. Cam NewtonAt 6-5, 245 pounds, he was a unicorn among dual-threat quarterbacks. He accounted for 45 touchdowns during his 2015 MVP season, which culminated in a Super Bowl 50 berth for Newton’s Carolina Panthers following a 15-1 regular season. He still holds most of the franchise’s career passing records.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
17. Donovan McNabbHe had a love-hate relationship with the locals – some of the critiques self-inflicted – but he remains the Philadelphia Eagles' all-time leader in passing yards (32,873) and TDs (216). And while McNabb wasn’t the guy who finally got Philly its first Lombardi Trophy, he did take the Eagles to five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl appearance.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
16. Michael VickHe never played in a Super Bowl nor earned a league MVP trophy – or even All-Pro honors. But there’s no denying Vick’s cultural impact or his electric play – perhaps the most incomparable dual-threat talent ever given his breakaway speed and cuts, plus a left arm that could rifle a ball to any part of the field. Let’s also give Vick a tip of the cap for being unfailingly accountable for the mistakes he made off the field following his two-season suspension for dogfighting – and his good-faith efforts on that front have continued even though he knows some will never forgive him.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
15. Joe FlaccoYou’ll never meet a more down-to-earth quarterback … to the degree you meet quarterbacks … and to the degree that matters. But this guy’s a real one. He’ll be 41 next month yet can still effortlessly launch a beautiful spiral 50 yards downrange. And while Flacco might seem like a vagabond at this point, let’s not forget he went 10-5 in the playoffs with the Baltimore Ravens – including that sublime four-game run in 2012 that concluded with Super Bowl 47 MVP honors. If Flacco can find one more temporary QB1 gig before he quits, he should get to 50,000 career passing yards … maybe even 300 TDs.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
14. Brett FavreHis trifecta of MVP awards and good guy image are residuals from the 1990s. But Favre remained a captivating player in his final 11 seasons, retiring after the 2010 campaign with most of the league’s major passing marks and in possession of his signature Ironman streak (321 consecutive starts, truly Gehrig-esque). And Favre was splendid – on the field anyway – right to the end, reaching the NFC championship game twice in his final four seasons, once with the Green Bay Packers and also with the Vikings.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
13. Russell WilsonHard to say if any player has ever had more shifting narratives around him. Did Wilson drive the Seahawks to all that success they had during the 2010s, or was he mostly a passenger? And there’s no doubt his post-Seattle years have been even less kind to his legacy, wherever it lands. But there’s no denying his numbers (121 career wins, nearly 47,000 passing yards, and almost 400 combined passing/rushing TDs). And no one can take away Wilson’s Super Bowl 48 ring, still the only one in Seahawks history … even if he probably should have a Super Bowl 49 ring, too.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
12. Philip RiversSo what if he was the third-best quarterback of the 2004 draft after Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger? So what if Rivers never played in a Super Bowl? So what if he’s spent nearly his entire career playing in ideal passing conditions with teams built to score … and Hall of Famers like LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates helping him? You don’t throw for more than 63,000 yards and 422 TDs because you’re a spoke and not a hub – also a durable one (241 career starts). And the Rivers era was one of the few times the Chargers remained consistently relevant. Physically, he was never impressive. His ability to spew an endless stream of clean trash talk? So impressive.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
11. Josh AllenThe 2024 league MVP amazingly reinvented himself into a deadly accurate, multi-threat quarterback coming out of Wyoming in 2018 – essentially a better version of Newton. Allen’s 77 career rushing touchdowns are already a record among quarterbacks. He’ll likely continue to climb this list – let’s just hope he’s able to fully certify his career at some point with the Lombardi Trophy that’s proven so elusive in the Patrick Mahomes era.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
10. Lamar JacksonHe’s a two-time NFL MVP … and arguably should have three. Jackson broke Vick’s record for career rushing yards by a quarterback and now has 6,513 – and he’s the only one to accrue 1,000 in a season twice. Yet Jackson is probably underrated as a passer – he’s a far better one than Vick ever was – and he seemed to improve annually prior to his frustrating 2025. He’ll likely continue to climb this list – let’s just hope he’s able to fully certify his career at some point with the Lombardi Trophy that’s proven so elusive in the Patrick Mahomes era.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
9. Matt RyanYou probably forgot that he was the league MVP in 2016 … mostly because you remember his Atlanta Falcons fell apart in Super Bowl 51, really through no fault of Ryan’s. Given the contrasts in their games and personalities, following Vick in Atlanta wasn’t an enviable role for Ryan, either. But in many ways, his career mimics Rivers’ – nice guys with very similar career numbers but a close-but-no-cigar asterisk attached to their championship quests. (But Matty Ice’s in-game verbiage was definitely more colorful than Rivers’.)
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
8. Eli ManningHis 117-117 record in the regular season probably prevented him from being a first-ballot Hall of Famer. But two Super Bowl MVPs, 57,000 passing yards and the ability to successfully navigate the New York market for 16 seasons should land him in Canton eventually.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
7. Matthew StaffordUnderrated and undervalued during his 12 years in Detroit – and Stafford was most definitely elite with the Lions, despite a shortfall of help on the roster and in management – his belated renaissance with the Rams is making up for those dark days. At this point, it would be a shock if Stafford doesn’t cap this season with his first MVP trophy. It wouldn’t be surprising either if he wins his second Super Bowl with the Rams. And if his 37-year-old body holds up for just another two or three good seasons, he should be the rare player with 70,000 career passing yards and 500 TDs by the time he’s done.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
6. Ben Roethlisberger“Big Ben” was awesome between the lines from Day 1, a mountain of a man who could shed tacklers with ease while slinging the rock to all parts of the gridiron. He earned two rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers – and probably should have been Super 43’s MVP given his legendary, title-winning throw to Santonio Holmes through triple coverage and into the back corner of the end zone as time wound down. Roethlisberger’s 64,000+ passing yards and 418 career TD passes are all the more impressive given so much of it was done in the Steel City’s often unforgiving conditions. He never played for a team with a losing record, his final ledger 165-81-1.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
5. Drew BreesHis 80,358 passing yards and 571 TD passes rank second only to Tom Brady in NFL annals. But perhaps the most important part of Brees’ legacy was helping to save pro football in New Orleans following the wrath of Hurricane Katrina while leading the Saints to their first – and still only – Super Bowl win in the 2009 season (Lombardi Gras). GPS-level accurate – Brees completed at least 70% of his passes in seven different seasons – the league has rarely seen as good a leader, either.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
4. Aaron RodgersDuring his prime, his combination of accuracy, mobility, moxie, arm strength, competitiveness and extreme football intelligence made him something of a template for the modern quarterback – and maybe no one has ever had the ability to make the pinpoint throws he could, whether from the pocket or on the move. Only one player has more MVP trophies than Rodgers’ four, though his detractors (and Brees’) will say one Super Bowl is insufficient. Rodgers’ 102.4 career passer rating is currently the highest in NFL history.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
3. Peyton ManningA record five league MVP awards. Four Super Bowl trips and two wins. Holder of most of the league’s major passing standards when he retired following the 2015 season. But perhaps the defining part of the Manning legend was his will and ability to manipulate games with his mind – the most important component for a player with an above-average arm but no wheels.
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
2. Patrick MahomesWe’re not even 10 years into his career, and he’s already got three Super Bowl MVPs – only Brady has more – two league MVPs and had started seven consecutive AFC championship games, a streak that will end in an unfortunate 2025 season that hasn’t been kind to Mahomes or his Kansas City Chiefs. But there are more chapters to be written in what’s already the sterling career of a player who relentlessly wins and has provided some of the most impressive individuals plays and efforts on his team’s dynastic road. Still a legit shot Mahomes could be regarded as the best to ever do it by the time he retires …
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See the top 25 NFL quarterbacks of past 25 years
1. Tom Brady… But, for now, GOAT status most definitely remains with TB12, whose seven Super Bowl rings are still more than any NFL franchise possesses on its own. He’s got the jewelry, nearly all of the league’s notable passing marks and a record five Super Bowl MVPs. There’s so much more to an unparalleled NFL journey that began as an unheralded sixth-round pick of the Patriots. But you know the story. And you know there’s no debate here. At least not yet.
NFC playoff picture
x − 1. Seattle Seahawks (12-3), NFC West leaders: Splitting their season series with the Rams in Week 16's classic means they'll wind up with the No. 1 seed if they win their final two games. But the Bears , 49ers and Rams are still imminent threats to snatch home-field advantage and the first-round bye, too. Remaining schedule: at Panthers , at 49ers
y − 2. Chicago Bears (11-4), NFC North champions: Green Bay 's loss Saturday night was doubly sweet, as it also wrapped up the division title for Da Bears. Beat the Niners on Sunday night, and Chicago also has a great shot at the top seed. Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Lions
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y - 3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5), NFC East champions:With Week 16's defeat of Washington , they became the first team this season to wrap up a division − and the first to win this division in successive years since they last did it 21 years ago. But not a ton to play for over the next two weeks, the reigning champs no longer in play for the No. 1 seed. Remaining schedule: at Bills , vs. Commanders
4. Carolina Panthers (8-7), NFC South leaders: Their defeat of the Bucs in Week 16 moved them into first place. They can win the division Sunday with a win and Tampa Bay loss. A Week 18 defeat of the Buccaneers would also do the job regardless of circumstances. Remaining schedule: vs. Seahawks , at Buccaneers
x − 5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4), wild card No. 1: Win out, which would entail completing a season sweep of Seattle on the final weekend of the regular season, and the Niners would get the top seed. Continue winning, and they won't leave their building again this season − which would mean playing Super Bowl 60 at Levi's Stadium. A 4-1 record in NFC West games moved them ahead of the Rams last Monday. Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks
x − 6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4), wild card No. 2: They became the first team to clinch a playoff spot but lost the inside track for home-field advantage and a first-round bye after failing to sweep Seattle. Remaining schedule: at Falcons , vs. Cardinals
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x − 7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1), wild card No. 3: The Lions' Christmas night loss locked the battered Pack into the field . But Saturday night's loss to Baltimore means Green Bay is again relegated to a wild-card road. Remaining schedule: at Vikings
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8), in the hunt: (Their record is actually worse than the Vikings', Lions' and Cowboys ' in the overall NFC standings, hence the 11th place designation.) Week 16's loss in Charlotte was Tampa Bay's sixth in its last seven outings. But win their last two games, and the Bucs will retain the NFC South crown by a one-game margin in the common-games tiebreaker over Carolina (assuming the Panthers also finish 9-8). Beating Miami ensures Buccaneers will play for the division in Week 18; lose, and they could be finished. Remaining schedule: at Dolphins , vs. Panthers
Week 6: Washington Commanders wide receiver Chris Moore (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium. The Commanders wore their all-black alternate uniforms for the game.
(Peter Casey, Imagn Images)
Week 6: Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) carries the ball for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Falcons played the game while sporting throwback uniforms that harken back to the team's inaugural season of 1966.
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
Week 6: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen operates at the line of scrimmage before a play against the Atlanta Falcons during a "Monday Night Football" game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Bills wore throwback uniforms reminiscent of the team's look from 1962-1973 during the game.
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
Week 6: Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young looks for a receiver against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers wore this uniform combination for the first time in the 30-27 win.
(Cory Knowlton, Imagn Images)
Week 5: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel makes a catch against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. The Bills wore their new "Rivalries" uniform for the "Sunday Night Football" game, which the Patriots won, 23-20 .
Week 5: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray makes a throw during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals wore their all-black uniforms, but were defeated 22-21.
(Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images)
Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield awaits the snap against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Both teams wore throwback uniforms in the Buccaneers' 38-35 win. The Buccaneers and Seahawks entered the NFL together as expansion teams in 1976.
Week 5: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) is congratulated by teammate AJ Barner (88) after catching a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Lumen Field. The Seahawks wore throwback uniforms harkening back to the team's original look from 1976-2001.
(Steven Bisig, Imagn Images)
Week 5: Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) runs against the Washington Commanders during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers wore monochrome powder blue uniform pants and jerseys for the first time.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
Week 5: New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) is tackled by the Dallas Cowboys' Trevon Diggs (7) and Juanyeh Thomas (2) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys wore their "Arctic White" uniforms for the 37-22 win.
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
Week 5: New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields stands in the pocket against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets wore their all-black uniforms in the 37-22 loss.
(Robert Deutsch, Imagn Images)
Week 4: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) hands the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos wore their "Midnight Navy" uniforms for the 28-3 win .
Week 4: Miami Dolphins running back De'von Achane rushes the ball against the New York Jets during a 27-21 win on "Monday Night Football" at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins wore their new their Nike "Rivalries" uniforms – the team version dubbed "Dark Waters."
Week 4: The Arizona Cardinals defense tackles Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) during the first quarter of a "Thursday Night Football" game at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals became the first NFL team to wear the new Nike "Rivalries" uniform in a game. The Seahawks won the game, 23-20 .
Week 3: Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar (88) makes a catch during his team's "Monday Night Football" game against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens wore their all-black uniforms for the game dubbed, "Darkness Falls." Despite the fancy marketing moniker, the Ravens were defeated, 38-30.
(Mitch Stringer, Imagn Images)
Week 3: New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (5) stiff arms Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the second quarter at Lumen Field. The Saints wore their all-white uniform and helmet combo for the first time in the 44-13 loss.
Week 3: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers wore throwback jerseys - an homage to the team's 1950s look, as well as its 1994 Super Bowl-winning season - in the 16-15 win against the Cardinals.
Week 3: New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. New England brought out its iconic "Pat Patriot" throwback in the 21-14 defeat.
(Paul Rutherford, Imagn Images)
Week 3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) runs with the ball as New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner attempts to make the tackle during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers wore their famous "Creamsicle" throwback uniforms in the 29-27 win.
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)
Week 3: Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns debuted their "Alpha Dawg" alternate uniform for the 13-10 win.
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
Week 3: Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) celebrates after making an interception in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium. The Jaguars wore their "Prowler Throwbacks" - an homage to the team's late-1990s heyday - for the 17-10 win.
(Morgan Tencza, Imagn Images)
Week 3: Carolina Panthers tight end JaTavion Saunders runs with the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers wore their special black helmets in the 30-0 win.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
Week 2: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sporting "The Vikings Classic" throwback uniform inspired by the team's look during the 1960s and '70s, Minnesota was defeated, 22-6.
Week 2: The Green Bay Packers' Micah Parsons (1) reacts during a "Thursday Night Football" game against the Washington Commanders at Lambeau Field. The Packers wore their "Winter Warning" uniforms for the 27-18 win.
(Jeff Hanisch, Imagn Images)
Week 1: New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals at Caesars Superdome. The Saints wore their reimagined "Gameday Gold" uniforms for their season opener, marking the first time the team wore gold jerseys since the 2002 season. The Cardinals defeated the Saints, 20-13.
(Stephen Lew, Imagn Images)
1
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 6: Washington Commanders wide receiver Chris Moore (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium. The Commanders wore their all-black alternate uniforms for the game.
(Peter Casey, Imagn Images)
1
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 6: Washington Commanders wide receiver Chris Moore (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium. The Commanders wore their all-black alternate uniforms for the game.
(Peter Casey, Imagn Images)
2
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 6: Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) carries the ball for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Falcons played the game while sporting throwback uniforms that harken back to the team's inaugural season of 1966.
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
3
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 6: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen operates at the line of scrimmage before a play against the Atlanta Falcons during a "Monday Night Football" game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Bills wore throwback uniforms reminiscent of the team's look from 1962-1973 during the game.
(Brett Davis, Imagn Images)
4
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 6: Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young looks for a receiver against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers wore this uniform combination for the first time in the 30-27 win.
(Cory Knowlton, Imagn Images)
5
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 5: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Curtis Samuel makes a catch against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium. The Bills wore their new "Rivalries" uniform for the "Sunday Night Football" game, which the Patriots won, 23-20 .
6
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 5: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray makes a throw during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals wore their all-black uniforms, but were defeated 22-21.
(Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images)
7
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield awaits the snap against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Both teams wore throwback uniforms in the Buccaneers' 38-35 win. The Buccaneers and Seahawks entered the NFL together as expansion teams in 1976.
8
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 5: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) is congratulated by teammate AJ Barner (88) after catching a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Lumen Field. The Seahawks wore throwback uniforms harkening back to the team's original look from 1976-2001.
(Steven Bisig, Imagn Images)
9
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 5: Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) runs against the Washington Commanders during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers wore monochrome powder blue uniform pants and jerseys for the first time.
(Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images)
10
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 5: New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) is tackled by the Dallas Cowboys' Trevon Diggs (7) and Juanyeh Thomas (2) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys wore their "Arctic White" uniforms for the 37-22 win.
(Vincent Carchietta, Imagn Images)
11
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 5: New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields stands in the pocket against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets wore their all-black uniforms in the 37-22 loss.
(Robert Deutsch, Imagn Images)
12
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 4: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) hands the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins during the "Monday Night Football" game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos wore their "Midnight Navy" uniforms for the 28-3 win .
13
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 4: Miami Dolphins running back De'von Achane rushes the ball against the New York Jets during a 27-21 win on "Monday Night Football" at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins wore their new their Nike "Rivalries" uniforms – the team version dubbed "Dark Waters."
14
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 4: The Arizona Cardinals defense tackles Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) during the first quarter of a "Thursday Night Football" game at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals became the first NFL team to wear the new Nike "Rivalries" uniform in a game. The Seahawks won the game, 23-20 .
15
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 3: Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar (88) makes a catch during his team's "Monday Night Football" game against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens wore their all-black uniforms for the game dubbed, "Darkness Falls." Despite the fancy marketing moniker, the Ravens were defeated, 38-30.
(Mitch Stringer, Imagn Images)
16
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 3: New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (5) stiff arms Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the second quarter at Lumen Field. The Saints wore their all-white uniform and helmet combo for the first time in the 44-13 loss.
17
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 3: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Levi's Stadium. The 49ers wore throwback jerseys - an homage to the team's 1950s look, as well as its 1994 Super Bowl-winning season - in the 16-15 win against the Cardinals.
18
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 3: New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. New England brought out its iconic "Pat Patriot" throwback in the 21-14 defeat.
(Paul Rutherford, Imagn Images)
19
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) runs with the ball as New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner attempts to make the tackle during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers wore their famous "Creamsicle" throwback uniforms in the 29-27 win.
(Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images)
20
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 3: Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns debuted their "Alpha Dawg" alternate uniform for the 13-10 win.
(Ken Blaze, Imagn Images)
21
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 3: Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) celebrates after making an interception in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium. The Jaguars wore their "Prowler Throwbacks" - an homage to the team's late-1990s heyday - for the 17-10 win.
(Morgan Tencza, Imagn Images)
22
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 3: Carolina Panthers tight end JaTavion Saunders runs with the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers wore their special black helmets in the 30-0 win.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
23
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 2: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sporting "The Vikings Classic" throwback uniform inspired by the team's look during the 1960s and '70s, Minnesota was defeated, 22-6.
24
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 2: The Green Bay Packers' Micah Parsons (1) reacts during a "Thursday Night Football" game against the Washington Commanders at Lambeau Field. The Packers wore their "Winter Warning" uniforms for the 27-18 win.
(Jeff Hanisch, Imagn Images)
25
/25
Can't-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals at Caesars Superdome. The Saints wore their reimagined "Gameday Gold" uniforms for their season opener, marking the first time the team wore gold jerseys since the 2002 season. The Cardinals defeated the Saints, 20-13.
(Stephen Lew, Imagn Images)
AFC playoff picture
y − 1. Denver Broncos (13-3), AFC West champions: After surviving the Chiefs on Christmas night , win in Week 18, and Denver gets the top seed … and might even have it by Sunday. The Bolts' loss Saturday wrapped up the Broncos' first division title in a decade. Remaining schedule:vs. Chargers
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x − 2. New England Patriots (12-3), AFC East leaders: Officially headed to the playoffs, the Pats are also still in driver's seat to win AFC East and just a tiebreaker (common games) of sitting atop the conference if they continue to match the Broncos win for win. Remaining schedule: at Jets , vs. Dolphins.
x − 3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4), AFC South leaders: They won their seventh straight in Week 16 with an impressive win over Denver . Indianapolis ' loss Monday stamped the Jags' playoff invite. Remaining schedule: vs. Colts , at Titans
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6), AFC North leaders: No matter what else happens over the next two games, sweep the Ravens , and Pittsburgh secures the division. A win Sunday in Cleveland will also sew up the crown. Remaining schedule: at Browns , vs. Ravens
x − 5. Buffalo Bills (11-4), wild card No. 1: Still alive to win their sixth straight AFC East crown, the Bills were guaranteed at least their playoff shot with the Colts ' loss Monday. Remaining schedule:vs. Eagles , vs. Jets
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x − 6. Houston Texans (11-5), wild card No. 2: They've won nine of 10, including eight in a row after Saturday's triumph over the Chargers , but haven't been able to overtake similarly surging Jacksonville yet for the top spot in the AFC South. Still, Saturday's victory over the Bolts clinched at least a wild-card berth for Houston, which has a shot to win the division for a third straight season − now needing just a Week 18 win and one loss by the Jags. The Texans ' victory officially eliminated Indianapolis. Remaining schedule:vs. Colts
x − 7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5), wild card No. 3: Saturday's stumble against Houston ended their bid to rally for the AFC West title. Now the Bolts will have to chart their postseason path as a wild-card entrant. Remaining schedule:at Broncos
9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8), in the hunt:(The eliminated Colts are technically in eighth place in the AFC.) They lost control of their playoff destiny with Week 16's loss to New England . But Saturday night's win in Green Bay bought them at least 24 more hours. If Pittsburgh loses Sunday, the Steelers and Ravens will vie for the AFC North crown in Week 18. Remaining schedule: at Steelers
NFL playoff-clinching scenarios for Week 17
Denver clinches AFC's No. 1 seed with:
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▶ Patriots loss + Bills loss or tie + Jaguars loss or tie
New England clinches AFC East with:
-
Win + Bills loss or tie OR
-
Tie + Bills loss
Pittsburgh clinches AFC North with:
▶ Win or tie
Seattle clinches NFC West and NFC's No. 1 seed with:
▶ Win + Rams loss or tie + 49ers-Bears tie
Seattle clinches NFC West title with:
-
Win + Rams loss or tie + 49ers loss or tie OR
-
Tie + Rams loss + 49ers loss
Carolina clinches NFC South with:
-
Win + Buccaneers loss or tie OR
-
Tie + Buccaneers loss
NFL teams eliminated from playoff contention in 2025
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x – clinched playoff berth
y – clinched division
z – clinched home-field advantage, first-round bye
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL playoff picture Week 17: Ravens survive, clinch NFC North for Bears
