2025 NFL playoff picture, standings: Chiefs making playoff run after win over Lions; Colts No. 1 in AFC

A look at the playoff standings after just six weeks

By Jeff Kerr

Oct 12, 2025 at 11:26 pm ET • 6 min read

NFL: San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Six weeks into the NFL season and playoffs -- yes playoffs -- are being discussed. The NFL is a third of the way through its 18-week slate after this week's games, and there are already a few surprises.

The Indianapolis Colts lead the AFC South through a third of the season and the Jacksonville Jaguars are a playoff team. The New England Patriots are a Buffalo Bills loss away from taking over the division lead in the AFC East!

The NFC West currently has three teams in the playoff picture through six weeks, while the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles are still contenders for the top seed -- even with the Eagles losing two in a row. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the first team in the conference with a 5-1 record!

Below is a breakdown of the conference standings after the Week 6 Sunday afternoon slate.

AFC playoff picture

Seed	Team	W	L	PCT
1	Colts	5	1	.833
2	Steelers	4	1	.800
3	Bills	4	1	.800
4	Chargers	4	2	.667
5	Jaguars	4	2	.667
6	Broncos	4	2	.667
7	Patriots	4	2	.667
8	Chiefs	3	3	.500
9	Texans	2	3	.400
10	Bengals	2	4	.333
11	Raiders	2	4	.333
12	Ravens	1	5	.167
13	Dolphins	1	5	.167
14	Browns	1	5	.167
15	Titans	1	5	.167
16	Jets	0	6	.000

1. Indianapolis Colts (5-1)

The Colts are the only team in the AFC with five wins and hold the No. 1 seed after six weeks. They lead the Jaguars by a game in the AFC South.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1)

The Steelers are in command of the AFC North, leading the division by three games in the loss column over the Bengals. They face the Bengals on the road next week. Pittsburgh holds the tiebreaker over Buffalo based on conference record as the Steelers are 3-0 and Bills are 3-1.

3. Buffalo Bills (4-1)

The Bills didn't play yet this week, as they travel to Atlanta to face the Falcons on Monday. They lead the Patriots by a game in the loss column in the AFC East.

4. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)

The Chargers have the lead in the AFC West over the Broncos based on their head-to-head win earlier this season. Both teams are 4-2 in the division.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)

The Jaguars have the No. 5 seed in the AFC, holding a tiebreaker over the Broncos and Patriots based on having a better conference win percentage in conference games. Jacksonville is 2-1 in conference play (.667), while Denver is 3-2 (.600) and New England is 2-2 (.500).

6. Denver Broncos (4-2)

The Broncos are the No. 6 seed in the AFC, losing the head-to-head tiebreaker to the Chargers for the AFC West lead. They have a better win percentage in the AFC than the Patriots, but not the Jaguars.

7. New England Patriots (4-2)

The Patriots are the No. 7 seed in the AFC, having a game lead in the loss column over the Texans and Chiefs. A Bills loss Monday gives the Patriots the AFC East lead via the head-to-head tiebreaker.

8. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)

The Chiefs sit one game in the loss column behind the Chargers and Broncos for the AFC West lead. They are one game out of the final playoff spot as well after Sunday's win over the Lions.

9. Houston Texans (2-3)

The Texans are off this week and play the Seahawks next week. They are two games behind the Colts in the loss column for the AFC South.

10. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)

The Bengals hold a conference win percentage tiebreaker over the Raiders, as they are 2-1 in the AFC (.667) while the Raiders are 2-2 (.500).

11. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4)

The Raiders sit in last place in the AFC West, two games in the loss column out of a playoff spot.

12. Baltimore Ravens (1-5)

The Ravens are the No. 12 seed in the AFC. Baltimore has the tiebreaker over Tennessee and Miami based on having a better win percentage in conference games. Baltimore is 1-3 in the AFC (.250), while Miami is 1-4 (.200). Cleveland (0-3) and Tennessee (0-4) don't have a conference win. The division tiebreaker for third in the AFC North was initially used to eliminate Cleveland as Baltimore wins the tiebreaker based on head-to-head win percentage.

13. Miami Dolphins (1-5)

The Dolphins are the No. 13 seed in the AFC based on their lone conference win (over the Jets). They are three games in the loss column out of a playoff spot.

14. Cleveland Browns (1-5)

The Browns have a better strength of victory over the Titans, which is how they get the tiebreaker for the No. 14 seed in the conference standings. Cleveland has a .700 strength of victory while Tennessee is .333.

15. Tennessee Titans (1-5)

The Titans are the No. 15 seed in the AFC, three games in the loss column out of a playoff spot.

16. New York Jets (0-6)

The Jets are the only winless team in the NFL. They are four games in the loss column out of a playoff spot and last in the AFC East.

NFC playoff picture

Rank	Team	W	L	T	PCT
1	Buccaneers	5	1	0	.833
2	Packers	3	1	1	.700
3	49ers	4	2	0	.667
4	Eagles	4	2	0	.667
5	Seahawks	4	2	0	.667
6	Lions	4	2	0	.667
7	Rams	4	2	0	.667
8	Vikings	3	2	0	.600
9	Commanders	3	2	0	.600
10	Panthers	3	3	0	.500
11	Falcons	2	2	0	.500
12	Bears	2	2	0	.500
13	Cowboys	2	3	1	.417
14	Cardinals	2	4	0	.333
15	Giants	2	4	0	.333
16	Saints	1	5	0	.167

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1)

The Buccaneers are the No. 1 seed in the NFC and lead the NFC South. They play the Lions next week.

2. Green Bay Packers (3-1-1)

The Packers take over the NFC North lead with the Lions loss Sunday night. They lead teh NFC North by one game in the loss column.

3. San Francisco 49ers (4-2)

The 49ers lead the NFC West based on having a better divisional record (3-0) than the Rams (1-1) and Seahawks (0-1). They also beat the Rams and Seahawks head to head. The 49ers have a better conference win percentage (4-1, .800) than the Eagles (3-1, .750).

4. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)

The Eagles lead the NFC East by a half game over the Commanders. Philadelphia has lost two straight.

5. Seattle Seahawks (4-2)

The Seahawks are the No. 5 seed in the NFC, holding a strength of victory tiebreaker (.478) over the Lions (.273). The Seahawks also hold the tiebreaker over the Rams for the No. 6 seed based on having a better division record than Los Angeles. Seattle is 1-1 in the NFC West while Los Angeles is 0-1.

6. Detroit Lions (4-2)

The Lions fall out of the NFC North lead with their loss to the Chiefs. They own the No. 6 seed based on having a better conference win percentage (1-1, .500) than the Rams (0-2, .000).

7. Los Angeles Rams (4-2)

The Rams hold the final playoff spot in the NFC, leading the Vikings and Commanders by a half game for the final playoff spot.

8. Minnesota Vikings (3-2)

The Vikings had a bye this week and will face the Eagles in Week 7.

9. Washington Commanders (3-2)

The Commanders face the Bears on Monday night. A better division win percentage (1-0, 1.000) will give them the division lead over the Eagles (1-1, .500).

10. Carolina Panthers (3-3)

The Panthers have more losses than the Falcons, so how are they in second place in the NFC South? They both have a .500 record, but Carolina beat Atlanta -- so there's the head-to-head tiebreaker.

11. Atlanta Falcons (2-2)

The Falcons hold the tiebreaker over the Bears for the No. 11 seed based on conference win percentage. The Falcons are 2-2 in the NFC games (.500) while the Bears are 1-2 (.333).

12. Chicago Bears (2-2)

The Bears are the No. 12 seed in the NFC but play the Commanders on Monday night.

13. Dallas Cowboys (2-3-1)

The Cowboys are the No. 13 seed in the NFC, one game behind the Eagles in the loss column for the division lead.

14. Arizona Cardinals (2-4)

The Cardinals sit in last place in the NFC West, two games in the loss column behind the 49ers for first place. They have a better conference win percentage (2-2, .500) than the Giants (1-3, .250) for the No. 14 seed.