The 2025 playoff race is heating up, with just six weeks of the regular season left and plenty pushing for position or precariously placed clinging on to a spot. Here, we take a look at the teams in the mix...
In seven seasons as the Chiefs' starting quarterback, Patrick Mahomes has never not led his team to the AFC Championship game, which he subsequently turned into five Super Bowl appearances and three rings.
BUT, that stellar record is severely under threat in 2025 as the Chiefs currently sit outside of the playoff picture in the AFC, battling for a wild card spot.
An overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 corrected a two-game skid and gave hope to a late run, but they've left themselves an uphill battle down the stretch after Thursday night's 31-28 Thanksgiving defeat to the Dallas Cowboys.
Chiefs remaining fixtures: vs Texans, vs Chargers, @ Titans, vs Broncos, @ Raiders
Josh Allen and the Bills have perennially played bridesmaid to the Chiefs' bride in the AFC but, even with Kansas City faltering in 2025, Buffalo are failing to take advantage.
The Bills have disappointing losses to the New England Patriots, at home, as well as the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans on their record - Atlanta and Miami both holding losing records and Houston when fielding their backup QB.
The Bills are currently clinging on to a wild card spot, but they're in danger of wasting a golden opportunity for a deep playoff run - or even a first trip to the Super Bowl in more than three decades.
Buffalo weathered an early storm against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday to strengthen their chances with a 26-7 victory.
Bills remaining fixtures: vs Bengals, @ Patriots, @ Browns, vs Eagles, vs Jets
The Lions have been on the cusp of the Super Bowl for the past two seasons, with head coach Dan Campbell's explosive offense taking them to the NFC Championship game in 2023 and then the NFL's joint-best record (15-2) a year ago, only to go one-and-done in the playoffs.
They're nowhere near hitting such heights in 2025, however, and are in danger of missing out on a wild card spot as they currently trail both the upstart Chicago Bears, boasting their former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their first-year head coach, and the Green Bay Packers in their division.
Detroit's job became even harder on Thursday when they were beaten 31-24 by the Packers at home on Thanksgiving.
Lions remaining fixtures: vs Cowboys, @ Rams, vs Steelers, @ Vikings, @ Bears
Ever the enigma, the Cowboys weren't exactly tipped by many to even make the playoffs - especially after trading away arguably the best defender in the NFL, Micah Parsons, to the Packers on the eve of the season.
That move certainly hasn't helped their cause, with their defense among the league's worst in both yards and points allowed per game. BUT, their offense, one of the league leaders, has repeatedly bailed them out of trouble.
Dallas have been maddeningly inconsistent, with a tie against the Packers and win over the Eagles giving nod to their talents, only to also contrast massively with defeats to the likes of the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals.
The Cowboys simply must find some consistency down the stretch if they are to force their way into the NFC playoff picture. They boosted their chances significantly on Thanksgiving with a 31-28 victory over the Chiefs, inspired by Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
Cowboys remaining fixtures: @ Lions, vs Vikings, vs Chargers, @ Commanders, @ Giants
The Baltimore Ravens (6-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6) are both flirting with danger in terms of securing an AFC wild card spot, making their battle for the AFC North division title even more crucial.
The Ravens' five-game winning streak came to an inglorious end after an uncharacteristic, mistake-prone performance against the struggling Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving Day, although the Steelers are trying to cope with a banged up Aaron Rodgers at QB.
The two teams are still to play each other twice, though - including on the final day of the season - so expect this race to go right down to the wire.
Pittsburgh slipped to 6-6 in a 26-7 loss to the Bills on Sunday, setting up a crucial divisional clash with John Harbaugh's side next time out.
Ravens remaining fixtures: vs Steelers, @ Bengals, vs Patriots, @ Packers, @ Steelers
Steelers remaining fixtures: @ Ravens, vs Dolphins, @ Lions, @ Browns, vs Ravens
The San Francisco 49ers (9-4) and Carolina Panthers (7-6) are jostling for position in the NFC playoff picture, with the 49ers doing a world of good for their chances after a 26-8 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13.
The 49ers, despite battling devastating injuries to many of their star names, currently boast one of the NFC wild card spots, keeping the Lions, Panthers and Cowboys at bay - but can they hold on to that position down the stretch?
Carolina produced one of the upsets of the season in Week 13 when they beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-28 to continue their push in the NFC South.
49ers remaining fixtures: BYE WEEK, vs Titans, @ Colts, vs Bears, vs Seahawks
Panthers remaining fixtures: BYE WEEK, @ Saints, vs Buccaneers, vs Seahawks, @ Buccaneers
That's right, the Panthers potentially have another route into the playoffs, with current NFC South division leaders the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5) having just come off three straight defeats and four in five. Nonetheless, Baker Mayfield guided Todd Bowles' team to a 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13 to keep the Panthers at bay for now.
The Bucs are another team badly banged up - star QB Baker Mayfield the latest to go down with a shoulder injury in the Week 12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams - and so suddenly Carolina and co have a sniff in the South.
The Atlanta Falcons (4-8), who at one point had lost five straight, just suffered another major dent to their chances in a 27-24 loss to the New York Jets.
Buccaneers remaining fixtures: vs Saints, vs Falcons, @ Panthers, @ Dolphins, vs Panthers
Falcons remaining fixtures: vs Seahawks, @ Buccaneers, @ Cardinals, vs Rams, vs Saints
The AFC has a distinctly mid 2000s and early 2010s feel about it, with the New England Patriots (10-2), Denver Broncos (9-2) and Indianapolis Colts (8-4) battling it out for supremacy in scenes reminiscent of when those sides were led by all-time QB greats and rivals Tom Brady (Patriots) and Peyton Manning (Colts, Broncos).
The Patriots have won a staggering nine straight, a mark the Broncos aren't far from matching, in the midst of a run of eight in a row.
As for the Colts, they lost a little bit of ground with a heartbreaking overtime loss to your usual AFC powerhouse of the Chiefs, but boast the NFL's highest-scoring offense so are certainly not to be counted out. Their dip in form continued on Sunday, though, when they lost 20-16 to the Texans and their high-powered defense, their third defeat in the last four.
Patriots remaining fixtures: vs Giants, BYE WEEK, vs Bills, @ Ravens, @ Jets, vs Dolphins
Broncos remaining fixtures: @ Commanders, @ Raiders, vs Packers, vs Jaguars, @ Chiefs, vs Chargers
Colts remaining fixtures: @ Jaguars, @ Seahawks, vs 49ers, vs Jaguars, @ Texans
In the NFC, it is the Chicago Bears (9-3) who occupy top spot in the seedings ahead of the Rams (9-3) and the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (8-4), who were beaten 24-15 by Ben Johnson's Chicago team on Black Friday.
The Eagles - despite grumblings over their sputtering offense, and off the back of a potentially costly Week 12 loss to the Cowboys after leading 21-0 - remain in pole position to clinch their division title. With that said, victory for Dallas over Kansas City and Philly's loss to Chicago has threatened to shake things up.
The Rams have the Seattle Seahawks (9-3) to contend with in the NFC West, while the Bears' biggest challengers in the North are the Green Bay Packers (8-3-1), both of whom could yet throw their names into the hat for the No 1 seed with a late run.
Rams remaining fixtures: @ Cardinals, vs Lions, @ Seahawks, @ Falcons, vs Cardinals
Eagles remaining fixtures: @ Chargers, vs Raiders, @ Commanders, @ Bills, vs Commanders
Bears remaining fixtures: @ Packers, vs Browns, vs Packers, @ 49ers, vs Lions
Packers remaining fixtures: @ Lions, vs Bears, @ Broncos, @ Bears, vs Ravens, @ Vikings
Seahawks remaining fixtures: @ Falcons, vs Colts, vs Rams, @ Panthers, @ 49ers
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