The 2025 NFL Playoff Picture

The 2025 NFL season brings a kind of excitement that’s hard to match.

As the league begins to lay out playoff scenarios for each upcoming game, the anticipation builds. Looking ahead to Week 15, three teams—Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, and Los Angeles Rams—are in a position to potentially secure playoff spots. Let’s dive into what each team needs to do this weekend.

How the Broncos Can Secure a Spot in Week 15

This past weekend, the Denver Broncos didn’t quite clinch the AFC West due to a lost opportunity against the Los Angeles Chargers. However, there’s still a chance for them to make the playoffs. They can qualify through several possible outcomes—six, to be precise.

• A win against the Green Bay Packers, or
• A draw with the Packers while the Chargers lose to the Kansas City Chiefs, or
• A tie with the Packers if the Jacksonville Jaguars lose to the New York Jets, or
• A tie with the Packers, coupled with either a loss to the Houston Texans or a tie against the Arizona Cardinals, or
• A tie with the Packers and a loss to the Indianapolis Colts, along with a tie against the Seattle Seahawks, or
• If Houston and the Colts both lose or tie. However, this requires that neither match ends in a draw.

How the Rams Can Clinch Their Spot in Week 15

For the Los Angeles Rams, the path to the playoffs is somewhat simpler. They just need to win. With a decisive victory over the Detroit Lions, they could find themselves back in the postseason conversation.

How the Patriots Can Seal the Deal in Week 15

While the Broncos and Rams have solid chances to make the playoffs, the New England Patriots actually hold a unique opportunity to clinch their division title this week. They face their divisional rivals, the Buffalo Bills, on Sunday. If they win, they not only secure the division but also establish a strong position for the playoffs. Earlier this season, the Patriots defeated the Bills, and a win on Sunday means they could sweep the matchup. Even if the teams end up with the same record, the Patriots would win the division based on tiebreakers.

Much like the Broncos, the Patriots have six avenues to make the playoffs:

• A win against the Bills (which would also clinch the division), or
• A tie with the Bills along with a loss by the Chargers to the Kansas City Chiefs, or
• A tie with the Bills if the Jaguars lose to the Jets, or
• A tie with the Bills, coupled with a loss to the Texans or a tie against the Cardinals, or
• A tie against the Bills, while losing to the Colts and tying with the Seahawks, or
• If both Houston and Indianapolis lose or tie, unless both games end in draws.

As for the current AFC playoff standings, they’re shaping up to be quite competitive.

And in the NFC? Well, those standings are just as intriguing.