What 14 teams are positioned to make the NFL playoffs in the 2025 regular season, from the eight division winners to six total wild cards? What would the seeding look like in the race for Super Bowl 60?
Here are the answers in Sporting News’ latest look at how the postseason field is coming together in both conferences going to a full slate of games in Week 13
POWER RANKINGS: Rams take over at top as Eagles, Bills, Steelers drop for Week 13
NFL playoff picture for Week 13
David Butler II-Imagn Images
AFC
1. New England Patriots 10-2 (first place, AFC East)
The Patriots, who have their bye in Week 14, have one more win than the Broncos and have a half-game lead for the top seed. They also lead the Bills by 2.5 games in the quest to win the division title ahead of hosting the Giants on Monday night.
2. Denver Broncos 9-2 (first place, AFC West)
The Broncos are a win behind the Patriots and a full game ahead of the Colts, who beat them in Week 2. They hold a two-game lead over the second-place Chargers and three-game lead over the third-place Chargers. Denver travels to Washington on Sunday night.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars 8-4 (first place, AFC South)
The Jaguars took back the division lead with a win over the Titans coupled by a Colts loss to the Texans. Jacksonville now has control before the teams play twice
4. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-5 (first place, AFC North)
The Steelers jumped back into the divison lead by a half-game over the Ravens ahead of their home game vs. the Bills after the Ravens lost to the Bengals on Thursday night. Pittsburgh and Baltimore have yet to play each other, but that comes in Weeks 14 and 18.
5. Indianapolis Colts 8-4 (second place, AFC South)
The Colts dropped here after losing to the Texans, now trailing the Jaguars by a common-games tiebreaker. They also are only game ahead of the Texans after losing to them.
6. Los Angeles Chargers 7-4 (second place, AFC West)
The Chargers are two games behind the Broncos and hold this top wild-card spot after their Week 12 bye ahead of playing the Raiders because of a better conference record (6-2) than both the Jaguars (4-2) and Bills (4-3).
7. Buffalo Bills 7-4 (second place, AFC East)
The Bills fell here after losing to the Texans to open Week 12, so it’s imperative for their division and wild-card chances to win at Pittsburgh on Sunday with the Steelers being the team right behind them, one game back.
Who’s in the hunt?
8. Houston Texans (7-5)
9. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
10. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
11. Miami Dolphins (5-7)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
The Texans got closer to a playoff spot by beating the Colts. The Chiefs and Ravens took some big blows with their Thanksgiving losses as favorites, giving a big shot for the teams ahead to add some cushion.
Who’s left?
13. New York Jets (3-9)
14. Cleveland Browns (3-9)
15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)
16. Tennessee Titans (1-11)
The Titans were the first of these teams eliminated in Week 14.
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NFC
1. Chicago Bears 9-3 (first place, NFC North)
The Bears lead the division by a half-game over Packers and two full games over the Lions. They jumped the losing Rams for the NFC top seed with their win over the Eagles by a conference-record tiebreaker (6-2 vs. 4-3).
2. Los Angeles Rams 9-3 (first place, NFC West)
The Rams fell behind the Bears by that tiebreaker but still lead the losing Eagles by one game in the race for the top seed. Their division lead is down to a half-game over the Seahawks and a half-game over the 49ers.
3. Philadelphia Eagles 8-4 (first place, NFC East)
The Eagles dropped behind the Bears and stayed behind the Rams with their Week 13 Friday loss. They also saw their division lead over the winning Cowboys drop to 1.5 games. For now, the Cowboys hold the division-record tiebreaker (3-1 vs. 2-2) over the Eagles.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7-5 (first place, NFC South)
The Buccaneers are still up a half-game and a division-record tiebreaker on the Panthers after they beat the Cardinals and the Panthers beat the Rams.
5. Seattle Seahawks 8-3 (second place, NFC West)
The Seahawks are looking strong to at least keep a wild card, also only a game behind the Rams and a half-game ahead of the 49ers. The Vikings at home on Sunday is another favorable matchup.
6. Green Bay Packers 8-3-1 (second place, NFC North)
The Packers got a huge win in Detroit on Thanksgiving to sweep the Lions for the season and put pressure on the Bears. Whether division or wild-card race, Green Bay strengthened its playoff position in a critical week.
7. San Francisco 49ers 9-4 (third place, NFC West)
The 49ers seem back on track to at least earn a wild card behind the Rams, who they now trail by only a half-game after beating the Browns on Sunday.
Who’s in the hunt?
8. Detroit Lions 7-5
9. Dallas Cowboys 6-5-1
10. Carolina Panthers 7-6
11. Minnesota Vikings 4-7
12. Atlanta Falcons 4-8
13. Washington Commanders 3-8
The Lions saw their division-winning and wild-card chances took another hit vs. the Packers. The Cowboys beating the Eagles and Chiefs back-to-back at home has resurrected their playoff chances, with the division becoming a better path than wild card. The Panthers will still hope to rally to win the NFC South.
Who’s left?
14. Arizona Cardinals 3-9
15. New Orleans Saints 2-10
16. New York Giants 2-10
All these teams have been eliminated from playoff contention after Week 13.
