NFL Playoffs Week 12: Rams and Patriots Lead NFC and AFC

Every week during the 2025 regular season, USA TODAY Sports will provide updates on the evolving NFL playoff picture. These updates typically begin after Sunday afternoon's late games and continue throughout the week, covering Monday's and Thursday's games or Saturday's if applicable. During holidays, coverage remains consistent.

What just happened? What does it mean? What are the key factors and tiebreakers shaping each conference's seven-team bracket as it begins to take form? All of these questions will be addressed until the postseason field is finalized on Sunday, January 4.

Here’s where things stand with Week 12 nearly complete:

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AFC Playoff Picture

1. New England Patriots (10-2), AFC East leaders
   A narrow victory over the Bengals gave the Pats the league's best record, moving them past Denver and into the top spot in the conference. They have a good chance of maintaining this position during their upcoming bye week.
   Remaining schedule: vs. Giants, BYE, vs. Bills, at Ravens, at Jets, vs. Dolphins

2. Denver Broncos (9-2), AFC West leaders
   An idle week cost them the conference lead, but the break was beneficial for a team that needs to be fully prepared for a challenging four-game stretch at the end of the regular season.
   Remaining schedule: at Commanders, at Raiders, vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers

3. Indianapolis Colts (8-3), AFC South leaders
   The Colts have dropped two of three games, falling out of the conference pace. They are now only one game ahead of Jacksonville and two better than Houston in the division. The next two weeks could be crucial.
   Remaining schedule: vs. Texans, at Jaguars, at Seahawks, vs. 49ers, vs. Jaguars, at Texans

4. Baltimore Ravens (6-5), AFC North leaders
   The Ravens managed to beat the Jets but moved into first place due to a better record in divisional games. They have three more divisional games in the next three weeks.
   Remaining schedule: vs. Bengals, vs. Steelers, at Bengals, vs. Patriots, at Packers, at Steelers

5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4), wild card No. 1
   The Bolts needed the week off, and Buffalo's loss allowed them to gain ground.
   Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, vs. Eagles, at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, at Broncos

6. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4), wild card No. 2
   Wins over the Chiefs and Chargers could help them in tiebreaker scenarios. However, they are still behind the Chargers due to LA's 6-2 record in AFC games.
   Remaining schedule: at Titans, vs. Colts, vs. Jets, at Broncos, vs. Colts, at Titans

7. Buffalo Bills (7-4), wild card No. 3
   QB Josh Allen took a hit, which hurt the Bills' chances of catching the Patriots in the AFC East race. They are now 4-3 in conference games and behind the Chargers and Jags in the wild-card seeding.
   Remaining schedule: at Steelers, vs. Bengals, at Patriots, at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5), in the hunt
   A loss to Chicago dropped them from first in the AFC North and out of the playoff field.
   Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, at Ravens, vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Browns, vs. Ravens

9. Houston Texans (6-5), in the hunt
   The Texans have won four of five games, including three in a row without injured QB C.J. Stroud. To win the AFC South for a third straight year, they need to sweep the Colts while continuing their surge.
   Remaining schedule: at Colts, at Chiefs, vs. Cardinals, vs. Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Colts

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-5), in the hunt
    Their dominance in the AFC West is likely over, but there's still time to recover. A win against Indianapolis could mark the start of a resurgence.
    Remaining schedule: at Cowboys, vs. Texans, vs. Chargers, at Titans, vs. Broncos, at Raiders

NFC Playoff Picture

1. Los Angeles Rams (9-2), NFC West leaders
   The Rams have the best record in the aftermath of the Eagles' loss. However, they have little breathing room between themselves and the Seahawks and 49ers in the division.
   Remaining schedule: at Panthers, at Cardinals, vs. Lions, at Seahawks, at Falcons, vs. Cardinals

2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-3), NFC East leaders
   The Eagles' collapse on Sunday likely won't cost them the division, but it did drop them behind the Rams. This serves as a concerning sign for the defending champions.
   Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, at Chargers, vs. Raiders, at Commanders, at Bills, vs. Commanders

3. Chicago Bears (8-3), NFC North leaders
   After an 0-2 start, the Bears have won eight of nine games to take over first place in the division. However, their inferior record (5-2) in NFC games keeps them behind the Eagles.
   Remaining schedule: at Eagles, at Packers, vs. Browns, vs. Packers, at 49ers, vs. Lions

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5), NFC South leaders
   The Bucs have lost their lead over the Panthers, but their 2-1 record in NFC South games gives them a half-game advantage.
   Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, vs. Saints, vs. Falcons, at Panthers, at Dolphins, vs. Panthers

5. Seattle Seahawks (8-3), wild card No. 1
   The Seahawks have three losses against NFC opponents, including two in the division, which could hurt them in tiebreaker scenarios.
   Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, at Falcons, vs. Colts, vs. Rams, at Panthers, at 49ers

1. Green Bay Packers (7-3-1), wild card No. 2
   A win over Minnesota was their most convincing in weeks, but they have a Thanksgiving game against Detroit next.
   Remaining schedule: at Lions, vs. Bears, at Broncos, at Bears, vs. Ravens, at Vikings

2. San Francisco 49ers (7-4), wild card No. 3
   With QB1 Brock Purdy back, the Niners could build momentum. A high-stakes game against Carolina on Monday night is coming up.
   Remaining schedule: vs. Panthers, at Browns, BYE, vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks

3. Detroit Lions (7-4), in the hunt
   The Lions are even with the Niners in record, but their inferior record in NFC games (4-3) keeps them on the outside looking in.
   Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, vs. Cowboys, at Rams, vs. Steelers, at Vikings, at Bears

4. Carolina Panthers (6-5), in the hunt
   The Panthers are only a game back of the Niners for the final NFC wild-card spot. They have one win against a team currently above .500. A win against the 49ers could move them to the top of the NFC South.
   Remaining schedule: at 49ers, vs. Rams, BYE, at Saints, vs. Buccaneers, vs. Seahawks, at Buccaneers

5. Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1), in the hunt
   Two consecutive wins have kept hope alive in Dallas.
   Remaining schedule: vs. Chiefs, at Lions, vs. Vikings, vs. Chargers, at Commanders, at Giants

NFL Teams Eliminated from Playoff Contention in 2025

▶ New York Giants

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