As the 2025 NFL regular season winds down, the Christmas Day tripleheader brings a mix of holiday cheer and postseason urgency. While the opening matchup between the Cowboys and Commanders is more about pride than playoff positioning-both teams have already been eliminated-the other two games on the slate carry real stakes. For the Lions and Broncos, Thursday’s games could shape the end of their seasons in very different ways.
Lions Facing Win-or-Go-Home Scenario
Let’s start in the NFC North, where the Detroit Lions find themselves in a spot no one expected back in September. After falling to the Steelers on Sunday, the Lions are now staring down an elimination game against the Minnesota Vikings.
The math is simple: lose, and the season’s over. Win, and the door to the playoffs stays cracked open-barely.
It’s a stunning turn for a team that entered the year with Super Bowl aspirations. But now, even if Detroit pulls out a win on Thursday, their playoff chances still sit at just 9%. That’s the kind of late-season pressure that tests a team’s resolve, coaching, and locker room leadership.
The Lions' path to the postseason isn’t just narrow-it’s dependent on help. They need to win out, which includes a Week 18 rematch with these same Vikings, and they’ll also need the Green Bay Packers to drop both of their remaining games.
That’s a tall order. A Detroit loss on Thursday wouldn’t just end their season-it would punch Green Bay’s ticket to the playoffs and reduce the NFC wild card drama to a single spot, still up for grabs in the NFC South between the Buccaneers and Panthers.
Interestingly, Green Bay could still walk away with the NFC North crown even if they clinch a playoff spot this week. Their Saturday matchup with the Baltimore Ravens looms large in that race.
Broncos Eyeing the AFC’s Top Spot
The nightcap on Christmas features a once-hyped AFC West showdown that’s taken a bit of a turn-but don’t be fooled, there’s still plenty on the line. The Denver Broncos, already locked into the postseason, are still very much in the hunt for the AFC’s No. 1 seed.
Their opponent? The Kansas City Chiefs, who, in a surprising twist, have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
That’s not something we’ve said often in the Mahomes era, but this season’s been a different ride for Kansas City. Meanwhile, Denver has quietly put together a campaign that could end with the conference’s top seed-and all the perks that come with it.
The Broncos are in the driver’s seat. Win their final two games-starting with the Chiefs on Thursday night and wrapping up with the Chargers in Week 18-and they’ll lock up home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
And that’s no small thing. Denver’s home-field advantage is one of the most unique in the league, thanks to not just the crowd noise but the altitude at Mile High.
Teams don’t just play the Broncos in Denver-they battle the elements, too.
So while the Chiefs may be playing out the string, Denver has everything to play for. A win keeps their shot at the No. 1 seed alive and sets up a potential postseason run with the road to the Super Bowl running through the Rockies.
Bottom Line
Not every Christmas game is dripping with playoff drama, but two out of three isn’t bad. The Lions are clinging to postseason life, the Broncos are chasing the AFC’s top spot, and the Packers are watching it all closely. For fans, it’s a holiday slate with real implications-and a reminder that in the NFL, December football always matters.