2025 NFL Playoff Picture Begins to Take Shape
As the 2025 NFL season wraps up, the playoff landscape is starting to take form.
This past Sunday’s games shifted the dynamics for teams in both the AFC and NFC. Let’s unpack what happened.
AFC Playoff Standings
The standings in the AFC look interesting, with a new leader emerging.
- Denver Broncos (9-2)
- New England Patriots (9-2)
- Indianapolis Colts (8-2)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)
- Buffalo Bills (7-3)
- Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4)
- Houston Texans (5-5)
- Kansas City Chiefs (5-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (5-5)
- Miami Dolphins (4-7)
- Cincinnati Bengals (3-7)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
- New York Jets (2-8)
- Cleveland Browns (2-8)
- Tennessee Titans (1-9)
Denver, which now sits atop the standings, triumphed over the Kansas City Chiefs, pushing their record to 9-2. They are tied with the Patriots, yet Denver holds the tiebreaker due to a better conference record.
Indianapolis, previously on top for weeks, has slipped to third place.
Pittsburgh still leads the AFC North, occupying the fourth position. The Buffalo Bills, along with the Chargers and Jaguars, will appear as wild-card teams.
As Week 11 concludes, playoff teams from last year—Houston, Kansas City, and Baltimore—are facing elimination. The Texans have the upper hand in tiebreakers, having defeated Baltimore and holding a superior conference record compared to Kansas City.
Meanwhile, Baltimore’s loss to Kansas City earlier has put them in a precarious 10th place.
AFC Playoff Predictions
Should the playoffs commence today, the Broncos would earn the top seed in the AFC, securing the only bye week in the conference. The wild-card matchups would be:
- No. 2 New England vs. No. 7 Jacksonville
- No. 3 Indianapolis vs. No. 6 Los Angeles
- No. 4 Pittsburgh vs. No. 5 Buffalo
NFC Playoff Standings
In the NFC, the playoff standings currently reflect:
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
- Los Angeles Rams (8-2)
- Chicago Bears (7-3)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4)
- Seattle Seahawks (7-3)
- Green Bay Packers (6-3-1)
- San Francisco 49ers (7-4)
- Detroit Lions (6-4)
- Carolina Panthers (6-5)
- Minnesota Vikings (4-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-7)
- Atlanta Falcons (3-7)
- Washington Commanders (3-8)
- New Orleans Saints (2-8)
- New York Giants (2-9)
Following their win over Seattle, the Rams have claimed the top position in the NFC West, which has also elevated them to the second seed. However, they share the same record as the Eagles but sit behind because Philadelphia bested them earlier this season—two missed field goals late on really shifted the standings.
The Chicago Bears, after a loss to the Detroit Lions, find themselves in third place in the NFC North and are momentarily out of playoff contention. They currently trail the Bears, while the Packers hold the sixth spot. If the playoffs began now, Coach Dan Campbell might just be watching from home.
NFC Playoff Outlook
If the NFL playoffs kicked off today, the Eagles would enter as the top seed and enjoy a bye week. The wild-card matchups would be:
- No. 2 Los Angeles hosting No. 7 San Francisco
- No. 3 Chicago hosting No. 6 Green Bay
- No. 4 Tampa Bay hosting No. 5 Seattle
Impact of Cowboys vs. Raiders
What’s at stake in the upcoming game between the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders for the playoff race?
Not a whole lot, honestly. A victory for Dallas could tighten their pursuit of the Eagles in the NFC East. Meanwhile, the Raiders already dodged one elimination scenario earlier this week. Still, a combined win from the Broncos and Chargers would extinguish their division hopes. They’re still technically in the fight for the AFC West title, but they’ll need some outside help to stay relevant in the playoff picture.
