2025 NFL playoff picture, standings: Who's in, who's out, who's in the hunt across AFC and NFC races
An updated rundown of which teams are secure (or not) in the late-year hunt
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7 min read
The 2025 NFL season is more than halfway complete now that Week 11 is in the books. Only seven full weeks of regular season action remain until the start of the playoffs. Which means, while the postseason picture is far from finalized, the race for playoff berths -- and top seeding -- is well underway.
Some preseason favorites like the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles are well on their way to the dance. Others, like the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs and defending AFC North champion Baltimore Ravens, are on the outside looking in as of mid-November. Meanwhile a slew of surprise contenders, from the Denver Broncos to the Indianapolis Colts, are currently challenging for the right to an early-playoff bye thanks to their win streaks.
Where, exactly, do all the playoff contenders sit as we enter Week 12? Which teams would be in the postseason if the schedule were halted today? And which clubs still have a shot to sneak into the mix down the stretch? Below is an updated rundown of the entire playoff picture, complete with remaining schedules for primary contenders:
Complete playoff picture
This is the NFL playoff picture as it stands, with the following teams tabbed for postseason spots:
AFC standings
- 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)
1. Denver Broncos (9-2)
- Remaining schedule: @ Commanders, @ Raiders, vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, @ Chiefs, vs. Chargers
Denver is buoyed by Bo Nix's late-game composure and a stellar defense led by Vance Joseph. Dates with the rival Chiefs and Chargers in the final two weeks of the season will likely determine whether the Broncos can rob Kansas City of its 10th straight division crown. But this group is all but a lock to play January ball.
2. New England Patriots (9-2)
Drake Maye is still on an MVP-caliber run as the face of Mike Vrabel's lineup, and the remaining slate sets them up well for the Patriots' first AFC East title since Tom Brady's final season with the club in 2019. Four of the Pats' final six opponents have losing records, and three of those six fall within the division.
3. Indianapolis Colts (8-2)
Can Daniel Jones rediscover the early-year efficiency that made him a stunning breakout? He'll have to do so against some stingy defenses down the stretch, with almost every one of Indianapolis' remaining opponents boasting a top-10 scoring "D." Accordingly, the Colts might be the safest bet to slip in these standings.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)
Aaron Rodgers has Pittsburgh atop the North, but for how long? The aging quarterback has been streaky, and now he's also hurt. The Steelers don't have a cakewalk finish, either; even factoring in Mike Tomlin's solid track record against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, the Bills and Lions also figure to pose formidable threats.
5. Buffalo Bills (7-3)
- Remaining schedule: @ Texans, @ Steelers, vs. Bengals, @ Patriots, @ Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets
Josh Allen is still capable of playing Superman, as evidenced in Buffalo's last win. But Sean McDermott's defense has been more volatile. New England may be out of reach atop the AFC East, but the Bills have a relatively clear path to a wild card berth if they can claim four or five of their final seven matchups.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
- Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, vs. Eagles, @ Chiefs, @ Cowboys, vs. Texans, @ Broncos
Among the current wild-card contenders, the Chargers might be in the most danger of losing their spot entirely. The Raiders in Week 12 should be very beatable. Otherwise, however, the Bolts will be up against some of the NFL's best defenses while struggling to keep Justin Herbert comfortable behind a depleted offensive line.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4)
The mercurial Jaguars roared back to life in Week 11 by smashing the Chargers, and they've got a very favorable schedule moving forward. Two dates with the rival Titans bodes well for Liam Coen's squad, as do matchups with a pair of teams starting backup quarterbacks in the Cardinals and Jets.
In the hunt
The Texans (5-5) aren't to be written off in the South despite C.J. Stroud's absence, with DeMeco Ryans' defense ranking No. 1 in the NFL. The Chiefs (5-5) are generally solid but struggling to finish, which is unusual for Patrick Mahomes' squad; they're due to stick around. And the Ravens (5-5) don't seem to have Lamar Jackson operating at full confidence, but their defense has turned a corner since mid-October.
NFC standings
- 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)
1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)
- Remaining schedule: @ Cowboys, vs. Bears, @ Chargers, vs. Raiders, @ Commanders, @ Bills, vs. Commanders
The reigning Super Bowl champions are more rugged than explosive, but Vic Fangio's defense is playing lights out. Perhaps matching up with more hit-or-miss defenses in Dallas, Las Vegas and Washington will be the key to unlock the Jalen Hurts-led passing attack. Either way, the NFC's No. 1 seed is within reach.
2. Los Angeles Rams (8-2)
- Remaining schedule: vs. Buccaneers, @ Panthers, @ Cardinals, vs. Lions, @ Seahawks, @ Falcons, vs. Cardinals
Matthew Stafford is slinging it with as much, if not more, confidence than he did in his title-winning Rams debut. That means L.A. is poised to feast on lesser clubs like Carolina, Arizona and Atlanta moving forward. The real question is whether Sean McVay's group can also outduel heavyweights like the Bucs and Lions.
3. Chicago Bears (7-3)
- Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, @ Eagles, @ Packers, vs. Browns, vs. Packers, @ 49ers, vs. Lions
The No. 3 seed is where bigger questions arise in both conferences. Chicago, after all, has not necessarily been a clean operation with Caleb Williams at the controls. But the unit keeps winning under Ben Johnson's watch. Now comes a slew of big tests against more formidable foes like Philly and Green Bay.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4)
- Remaining schedule: @ Rams, vs. Cardinals, vs. Saints, vs. Falcons, @ Panthers, @ Dolphins, vs. Panthers
Every year, the Bucs scrape their way through the NFC South race, regardless of who's healthy around Baker Mayfield. The remaining schedule suggests a fifth straight division crown is well within reach, though Week 12's matchup with the Rams could be a better litmus test for how far Tampa Bay is poised to go in January.
5. Seattle Seahawks (7-3)
- Remaining schedule: @ Titans, vs. Vikings, @ Falcons, vs. Colts, vs. Rams, @ Panthers, @ 49ers
Even after falling to the rival Rams in Week 11, Seattle should hang around in the race for the NFC West title due to Mike Macdonald's physical defense. It helps the Seahawks have a couple upcoming matchups with young and/or replacement quarterbacks; Week 13's date with Sam Darnold's old friends in Minnesota should be spicy.
6. Green Bay Packers (6-3-1)
- Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, @ Lions, vs. Bears, @ Broncos, @ Bears, vs. Ravens, @ Vikings
Raise your hand if you expected them to be trailing the Bears at this point in the year. Matt LaFleur's offense has been more scattershot than usual, but the NFC North is still up for grabs with a whopping five divisional matchups still on tap. We expect this group in the postseason one way or another. But it'll still be a fight.
7. San Francisco 49ers (7-4)
- Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, @ Browns, vs. Titans, @ Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks
Brock Purdy finally returned in Week 11, taking over for long-term substitute Mac Jones, and San Francisco's attack hit new heights. All year, the 49ers have hung around, though, and now their defense should get some confidence-boosting matchups by facing three straight inferior clubs in Carolina, Cleveland and Tennessee.
In the hunt
The Lions (6-4) are probably out of the mix for the No. 1 seed they held a year ago, but Dan Campbell's unit still has too much talent on both sides of the ball to be written off, especially with so many NFC North showdowns still on the schedule. The Panthers (6-5) have an outside chance to leapfrog the Bucs in the South if Bryce Young can find a way to stay steady under center. And the Cowboys (4-5-1) would need their Quinnen Williams-boosted defense to stay strong for pretty much the rest of the year to have a chance at overtaking wild card contenders in Green Bay and San Francisco.
