Visit ESPN to view the 2024 NFL Playoff bracket for live scores and results.

In this edition of The First Read, Jeffri Chadiha provides an overview of everything that's at stake in the final week of the 2025 NFL regular season. Plus, a special ranking of Coach of the Year candidates and the must-see game in Week 18.

The final two spots in the NFL playoffs will be decided by a pair of winner-take-all games between division rivals during the regular season’s last week. The winner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens' Week 18 matchup will earn the AFC North division title and the AFC’s last postseason berth as the conference's No. 4 seed.

The San Francisco 49ers forced a regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks where the winner will claim the NFC's No. 1 seed and the NFC West title. The New England Patriots secured the AFC East title with the Buffalos Bills' dramatic loss to the Eagles.

In today's newsletter, we'll recap the Christmas sports slate and look ahead to the weekend, which includes more than a handful of critical football games as the NFL playoffs continue to take shape. Nikola Jokić posted a masterful 56-16-15 triple-double to highlight the NBA's Christmas slate.

Don't miss the Bears vs 49ers game tonight on NBC and Peacock. Live coverage begins with Football Night In America at 7 PM ET.

Here's how the NFL playoff picture looks after the Houston Texans' win over the Los Angeles Chargers, which clinched the Texans a playoff berth, eliminated the Indianapolis Colts and won the AFC West for the Denver Broncos.