The race for the 2025 playoffs is heating up. There are only six weeks left in the regular season and many players are either pushing for positions or holding on precariously. Here we take a look at the teams in the mix.
Which team is in danger of being eliminated?
Kansas City Chiefs (6-5)
In seven seasons as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback, Patrick Mahomes has never led his team to the AFC Championship Game, and since then he has made five Super Bowl appearances and three rings.
Patrick Mahomes won three Super Bowls in seven seasons as a starting pitcher for the Kansas City Chiefs.
But that stellar record is under serious threat in 2025, as the Chiefs are currently out of the AFC playoffs and fighting for a wild card spot.
An overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 corrected a two-game skid and gave them some late hope, but they continue to struggle uphill.
Chiefs’ remaining games scheduled: @Cowboys, vs. Texas, vs. Chargers, @Titans, vs. Broncos, @Raiders
Buffalo Bills (7-4)
Josh Allen and the Bills have continued to be the Chiefs’ bridesmaids in the AFC, but even with Kansas City faltering in 2025, Buffalo hasn’t been able to take advantage.
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Highlights of the Week 9 matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills during the 2025 NFL season.
The Bills have suffered disappointing losses at home to the New England Patriots, as well as the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, and Houston Texans. Atlanta and Miami both have losing records, and Houston fields a backup QB.
The Bills are currently clinging to a wild card spot, but are in danger of squandering a golden opportunity for a deep playoff run. They might even make it to the Super Bowl for the first time in 30 years.
Remaining bills: @ Steelers, vs Bengals, @ Patriots, @ Browns, vs Eagles, vs Jets
Detroit Lions (7-4)
The Lions have been on the verge of the Super Bowl the past two seasons, thanks to coach Dan Campbell’s explosive offense that earned them a trip to the 2023 NFC Championship Game and then a year ago when they finished with the NFL’s tied-best record (15-2) but lost just once in the playoffs.
But they can’t reach those heights in 2025 and are in danger of missing out on a wild card spot as they trail the upstart Chicago Bears, who currently boast former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their first-year head coach, and the Green Bay Packers in their division.
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Highlights of the Week 12 matchup between the New York Giants and Detroit Lions during the 2025 NFL season.
Lions remaining games scheduled: vs Packers, vs Cowboys, @ Rams, vs Steelers, @ Vikings, @ Bears
Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1)
The Cowboys were an enigma, and many people didn’t know they would make the playoffs. Especially after trading Micah Parsons, the best defensive player in the NFL, to the Packers the day before the season.
Micah Parsons was traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers ahead of the 2025 season.
This move certainly did not help their cause. Their defense is among the worst in the league in both yards and points allowed per game. But their offense, one of the league leaders, has repeatedly gotten them out of trouble.
Dallas has been insanely inconsistent, with a tie against the Packers and a nod to their talent with a win over the Eagles. It was also a huge contrast to losses to the likes of the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals.
The Cowboys will need to continue to find consistency if they want to make the NFC playoffs.
The remaining games on the Cowboys’ schedule are: vs Chiefs, @ Lions, vs Vikings, vs Chargers, @ Commanders, @ Giants
What other playoff battles are brewing?
AFC North Battle
that Baltimore Ravens (6-5) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) Both are taking risks in terms of securing an AFC wildcard spot, making the race for the AFC North division title even more important.
Can a running back from star quarterback Lamar Jackson help the Baltimore Ravens make the playoffs?
Now, as the Steelers try to deal with a bumpy Aaron Rodgers at QB, having won their last five straight and having star quarterback Lamar Jackson back from injury appears to be an advantage for the Ravens.
However, the race is expected to conclude soon as the two teams are still scheduled to meet twice, including on the final day of the season.
Ravens’ remaining schedule: vs Bengals, vs Steelers, @ Bengals, vs Patriots, @ Packers, @ Steelers
Steelers’ remaining schedule: vs Bills, @ Ravens, vs Dolphins, @ Lions, @ Browns, vs Ravens
Could the 49ers or Panthers sneak into the NFC?
that San Francisco 49ers (7-4) and Carolina Panthers (6-5) They’re fighting for a place in the NFC playoff picture, which is expected to become much clearer after the two teams meet on Monday Night Football. Sky Sports NFLTuesday, 1:15 a.m. – Wrapping up week 12 of work.
The 49ers currently boast one of the NFC wild card spots, holding off the Lions, Panthers and Cowboys despite devastating injuries to many star names. But can it continue to hold that position?
A loss on Monday night would most obviously open the door for Carolina, where a loss would likely force them to shift their focus to winning the NFC South division.
49ers remaining fixtures: vs Panthers, @ Browns, BYE WEEK, vs Titans, @ Colts, vs Bears, vs Seahawks
Panthers’ remaining schedule: @ 49ers, vs Rams, BYE WEEK, @ Saints, vs Buccaneers, vs Seahawks, @ Buccaneers
Is the NFC North still up for grabs?
you’re right. The Panthers potentially have another path to the playoffs. Current NFC South division leader Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) After three straight losses and four of the last five, they are back in the lead.
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Highlights of the Week 12 game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams during the 2025 NFL season.
The Bucs are another team that lost badly. Star QB Baker Mayfield recently went down with a shoulder injury in a Week 12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. So suddenly Carolina and company got a whiff of the South.
that Atlanta Falcons (4-7)who at one point had lost five in a row, could certainly have thrown his hat in the ring with a late run.
Buccaneers’ remaining games scheduled: vs Cardinals, vs Saints, vs Falcons, @ Panthers, @ Dolphins, vs Panthers
Falcons’ remaining schedule: @ Jets, vs Seahawks, @ Buccaneers, @ Cardinals, vs Rams, vs Saints
Which teams are fighting for the top seed?
AFC
AFC definitely has a mid-2000s/early 2010s feel. New England Patriots (10-2), Denver Broncos (9-2) and Indianapolis Colts (8-3) QB’s all-time greats and rivals Tom Brady (Patriots) and Peyton Manning (Colts, Broncos) battle for supremacy in a scene reminiscent of when he led this team.
The Patriots have won a whopping nine games in a row, a feat rarely matched by the Broncos’ eight-game winning streak.
As for the Colts, they lost some ground in a heartbreaking overtime loss to the AFC powerhouse Chiefs, but they certainly can’t be counted as they boast the highest scoring offense in the NFL.
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Sky Sports’ J-Bell explains what makes the Indianapolis Colts offense one of the best in the NFL.
Patriots’ remaining schedule: vs Giants, BYE WEEK, vs Bills, @ Ravens, @ Jets, vs Dolphins
Broncos remaining games scheduled: @ Commander, @ Raider, vs Packers, vs Jaguars, @ Chiefs, vs Chargers
Colts’ remaining fixtures: vs Texas, @ Jaguars, @ Seahawks, vs 49ers, vs Jaguars, @ Texas
NFC
In NFC Los Angeles Rams (9-2) They have a slight edge over the current defending Super Bowl champions. Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) And the 2025 surprise package Chicago Bears (8-3) – The latter two are set to face each other in a crucial Week 13 clash.
The Eagles are currently cruising toward another division title despite a potentially costly Week 12 loss to the Cowboys after jumping out to a 21-0 lead despite complaints about a sputtering offense, while the Rams and Bears are still battling in that respect.
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Highlights of the Week 12 matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys during the 2025 NFL season.
Rams Seattle Seahawks (8-3) While they have to compete in the NFC West, the Bears’ biggest challenger in the North is Green Bay Packers (7-3-1)Both were still able to make late runs and secure themselves as No. 1 seeds.
Rams’ remaining fixtures: @ Panthers, @ Cardinals, vs Lions, @ Seahawks, @ Falcons, vs Cardinals
Eagles’ remaining games scheduled: vs Bears, @ Chargers, vs Raiders, @ Commanders, @ Bills, vs Commanders
Bears’ remaining fixtures: @ Eagles, @ Packers, vs Browns, vs Packers, @ 49ers, vs Lions
Packer’s remaining fixtures: @ Lions, vs. Bears, @ Broncos, @ Bears, vs. Ravens, @ Vikings
The remaining games on the Seahawks’ schedule are: vs Vikings, @ Falcons, vs Colts, vs Rams, @ Panthers, @ 49ers
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