NFL playoff picture: Implications of Jaguars’ victory over Colts for AFC standings

NFL Week 14 Update

In Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season, the Jacksonville Jaguars pulled ahead of the Indianapolis Colts, claiming the top spot in the AFC South.

As fate would have it, these two teams squared off in Week 14.

Both squads entered the Sunday match with identical 8-4 records, but Jacksonville’s performance against common opponents—6-2 compared to Indianapolis’ 5-3—secured them the tiebreaker advantage.

However, that tiebreaker wasn’t necessary.

The Jaguars triumphed over the Colts with a score of 36-19, improving their record to 9-4 and seizing first place in the AFC North. In the overall AFC playoffs, Jacksonville sits in third, trailing the surprising New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos, who are set to play against the Las Vegas Raiders later today.

As for the Colts, they still have a chance for the playoffs, but things could shift quickly depending on the outcomes across the league. Entering Week 14, they were in sixth in the AFC standings, one of four teams sitting at 8-4. Jacksonville’s tiebreaker advantage puts them first in the division, while the Los Angeles Chargers have secured fifth place ahead of both Indianapolis and the Buffalo Bills.

The Colts do hold a 6-3 record in conference play, giving them a tiebreaker edge over Buffalo, placing them in the sixth slot while the Bills are in seventh. However, Buffalo just clinched a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, bumping them to 9-4 and moving the Bills into fifth. Subsequently, the Chargers have moved to sixth place, with the Colts now at 8-5 in seventh.

Moreover, the Colts need to watch tonight’s matchup between the Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs. A win for Houston could cement the Colts’ exclusion from playoff contention; if the Texans win, their record would jump to 8-5, along with a strong 7-2 conference standing.

With Indianapolis sitting at 8-5 and a 6-4 record in the AFC, there’s a possibility that a Texans win could lead to their spot in the playoffs being taken.

Adding to their woes, the Colts’ starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, left the game with an Achilles injury, and there’s growing concern that he may miss the remainder of the season.