Playoff Eventualities: Broncos and Rams Purpose to Safe Spots as Chiefs Fall Quick

Up to date Dec. 14, 2025, 4:49 p.m. ET

Each week all through the 2025 common season, USA TODAY Sports activities will present well timed updates to the NFL‘s ever-evolving playoff image − usually beginning Sunday afternoon after which shifting ahead for the rest of the week (by means of Monday’s and Thursday’s video games or Saturday’s, if relevant. And, when the vacations roll round, we’ll be watching then, too).

What simply occurred? What does it imply? What are the pertinent components (and, maybe, tiebreakers) prominently in play as every convention’s seven-team bracket begins to crystallize? All can be defined and analyzed as much as the purpose when the postseason area is finalized on Sunday, Jan. 4.

This is the place issues stand with Week 15 underway:

NFC playoff image

1. Los Angeles Rams (10-3), NFC West leaders: They’ve regained the within observe for home-field benefit and a first-round bye, benefiting from Chicago’s loss to Inexperienced Bay in Week 14. The Rams’ Week 11 defeat of Seattle at the moment stays pivotal, although the rematch comes Thursday night time. Beat Detroit on Sunday, and a playoff spot is secured. Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, at Seahawks, at Falcons, vs. Cardinals

2. Inexperienced Bay Packers (9-3-1), NFC North leaders: They’re again on prime of the division and only a half-game off the convention tempo. However the Pack would wish to beat Denver and for the Rams and Seahawks to lose as a way to rise to the highest spot Sunday. Remaining schedule: at Broncos, at Bears, vs. Ravens, at Vikings

3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-5), NFC East leaders: Get-right win vs. Raiders offers them some wanted respiration room. Remaining schedule: at Commanders, at Payments, vs. Commanders

4. Carolina Panthers (7-6), NFC South leaders: They took outright possession of the division Thursday night time with Tampa Bay’s collapse to Atlanta. However Carolina and the Buccaneers will determine this on the sector with two conferences between Weeks 16 and 18 − although the Panthers might do it earlier by beating New Orleans and Tampa Bay the subsequent two weekends. Remaining schedule: at Saints, vs. Buccaneers, vs. Seahawks, at Buccaneers

5. Seattle Seahawks (10-3), wild card No. 1: All three of the ‘Hawks’ losses are towards NFC opponents, together with two within the division − defeats that do not serve them effectively in tiebreaker situations. Splitting their season sequence with the Rams on Thursday can be a assist. Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, vs. Rams, at Panthers, at 49ers

6. Chicago Bears (10-4), wild card No. 2: How tightly packed is the NFC? One slender Week 14 loss dropped the Bears from first place within the convention to seventh. However they received again on observe Sunday towards the Browns and climbed again to sixth … for now. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, at 49ers, vs. Lions

7. San Francisco 49ers (9-4), wild card No. 3: They’re in a precarious spot given their pursuers, but are simply behind the Rams and Seahawks for the NFC West lead as effectively. A two-week spin by means of the AFC South should not damage. Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks

8. Detroit Lions (8-5), within the hunt: They’re inside a sport of the NFC’s closing wild-card spot and in placing vary of first place within the NFC North … at the same time as they sit exterior the NFC bracket at current. Remaining schedule: at Rams, vs. Steelers, at Vikings, at Bears

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7), within the hunt: A fifth loss of their previous six video games drops them to .500 and into ninth place within the convention. However beat Carolina twice, and the Bucs will nonetheless win the NFC South. A 5-5 mark in NFC video games retains Tampa Bay forward of Dallas on the tiebreaker entrance for now. Remaining schedule: at Panthers, at Dolphins, vs. Panthers

10. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1), within the hunt: Dallas’ finest guess now might be hoping that the Eagles proceed to battle and depart the NFC East in play. Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, vs. Chargers, at Commanders, at Giants

AFC playoff image

1. Denver Broncos (11-2), AFC West leaders: New England’s loss helps amid powerful ending stretch. However beat Inexperienced Bay on Sunday, and the Broncos punch their playoff ticket. Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers

2. New England Patriots (11-3), AFC East leaders: Their 10-game heater snapped, they did not clinch the division Sunday and lose beneficial floor of their bid for the No.1 seed. However the Pats are nonetheless in driver’s seat to win AFC East. Remaining schedule: at Ravens, at Jets, vs. Dolphins

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4), AFC South leaders: Win retains them forward of surging Houston. Remaining schedule: at Broncos, vs. Colts, at Titans

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6), AFC North leaders: They jumped up 5 spots, from out of the sector again into the division lead by profitable at Baltimore final weekend. Sweep the Ravens and notch one different win, and Pittsburgh secures the division. Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Browns, vs. Ravens

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-4), wild card No. 1: They accomplished a season sweep of the Chiefs on Sunday, formally eliminating the three-time-defending AFC champions from playoff consideration. The Bolts have now received six of seven. A one-win benefit in AFC video games (8-2) retains them forward of . Buffalo. Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, at Broncos

6. Buffalo Payments (10-4), wild card No. 1: Nonetheless alive to win their sixth straight AFC East crown. Remaining schedule: at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets

7. Houston Texans (9-5), wild card No. 3: They’ve received seven of eight, together with six in a row. Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Colts

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-5), within the hunt: Now out of the projected playoff area and now within the fingers of 44-year-old QB Philip Rivers, they face a steep climb again to relevance − their 7-1 begin already beginning to look like historic historical past. And the Colts’ schedule does not let up the remainder of the best way. Remaining schedule: at Seahawks, vs. 49ers, vs. Jaguars, at Texans

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-7), within the hunt: Sunday’s shutout at Cincinnati may very well be key in race for AFC North. Remaining schedule: vs. Patriots, at Packers, at Steelers

10. Miami Dolphins (6-7), within the hunt: They most likely have to win the rest of their video games to also have a shot at postseason qualification. Remaining schedule: at Steelers, vs. Bengals, vs. Buccaneers, at Patriots

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Playoff Eventualities: Broncos and Rams Purpose to Safe Spots as Chiefs Fall Quick

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