NFL Playoff Picture: Chiefs, Bills, Lions Battle

Six regular-season weeks remain and the 2025 playoff picture is tightening. Several marquee franchises are suddenly vulnerable while multiple division and wild-card races look likely to go down to the wire. Below is a look at the teams in most danger, the key division battles and who’s jockeying for top seeds.

Teams on the brink

Kansas City Chiefs (6-5)

Patrick Mahomes’ streak of annual AFC Championship appearances is in jeopardy. Kansas City sits outside the postseason now and must fight for a wild-card berth after an up-and-down season. An overtime Week 12 win halted a two-game skid, but the remaining slate is challenging and leaves little margin for error.

Remaining fixtures: @ Cowboys, vs Texans, vs Chargers, @ Titans, vs Broncos, @ Raiders

Buffalo Bills (7-4)

The Bills have missed opportunities to capitalise on Kansas City’s struggles, dropping surprising home games (including to New England) and losses to Atlanta, Miami and Houston (with a backup QB). Buffalo cling to a wild-card spot and risk squandering a window to mount a genuine Super Bowl push.

Remaining fixtures: @ Steelers, vs Bengals, @ Patriots, @ Browns, vs Eagles, vs Jets

Detroit Lions (7-4)

After near-misses the past two seasons, Detroit has regressed this year and now trails division rivals Chicago and Green Bay. The Lions’ wild-card hopes are under pressure as they try to recapture form down the stretch.

Remaining fixtures: vs Packers, vs Cowboys, @ Rams, vs Steelers, @ Vikings, @ Bears

Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1)

Dallas began the season with questions and a blockbuster Micah Parsons trade to Green Bay only added to the uncertainty. The offense has bailed the team out at times, but an inconsistent defense and volatile results (ties, dominant wins and surprising losses) make their path to the playoffs fragile.

Remaining fixtures: vs Chiefs, @ Lions, vs Vikings, vs Chargers, @ Commanders, @ Giants

AFC North

Baltimore (6-5) and Pittsburgh (6-5) are both hovering near danger for wild-card contention. The Ravens have momentum—five straight wins and Lamar Jackson back in action—while the Steelers are managing with an injured Aaron Rodgers. With two head-to-head meetings, including the season finale, this division could be decided in the final week.

• Ravens remaining fixtures: vs Bengals, vs Steelers, @ Bengals, vs Patriots, @ Packers, @ Steelers
• Steelers remaining fixtures: vs Bills, @ Ravens, vs Dolphins, @ Lions, @ Browns, vs Ravens

NFC wild-card — 49ers vs Panthers

San Francisco (7-4) and Carolina (6-5) are both contending for an NFC wild-card slot, with a Monday night matchup between them poised to shift momentum. The injury-hit 49ers currently occupy a spot; a loss would open the door for Carolina, which could then pivot to challenging for the NFC South.

49ers remaining fixtures: vs Panthers, @ Browns, BYE, vs Titans, @ Colts, vs Bears, vs Seahawks

Panthers remaining fixtures: @ 49ers, vs Rams, BYE, @ Saints, vs Buccaneers, vs Seahawks, @ Buccaneers

Is the NFC South still open?

Tampa Bay (6-5) has slipped after losing three straight and four of five, and Baker Mayfield’s shoulder issue compounds their problems. Carolina and other division rivals have a chance to overtake the Buccaneers, and Atlanta (4-7) still has a theoretic path for a late run.

• Buccaneers remaining fixtures: vs Cardinals, vs Saints, vs Falcons, @ Panthers, @ Dolphins, vs Panthers
• Falcons remaining fixtures: @ Jets, vs Seahawks, @ Buccaneers, @ Cardinals, vs Rams, vs Saints

Who’s fighting for top seeds?

AFC

New England (10-2), Denver (9-2) and Indianapolis (8-3) are jockeying for the AFC’s best positioning. The Patriots have ripped off nine straight wins, the Broncos are on an eight-game run, and the Colts remain dangerous with a high-powered offense despite an overtime loss to Kansas City.

• Patriots remaining fixtures: vs Giants, BYE, vs Bills, @ Ravens, @ Jets, vs Dolphins
• Broncos remaining fixtures: @ Commanders, @ Raiders, vs Packers, vs Jaguars, @ Chiefs, vs Chargers
• Colts remaining fixtures: vs Texans, @ Jaguars, @ Seahawks, vs 49ers, vs Jaguars, @ Texans

NFC

The Rams (9-2) sit atop the conference narrowly ahead of defending champion Philadelphia (8-3) and surprise contender Chicago (8-3). The Eagles still look capable of a division title despite recent offensive concerns and a Week 12 collapse, while the Bears and Packers remain in the hunt for top NFC seeds.

• Rams remaining fixtures: @ Panthers, @ Cardinals, vs Lions, @ Seahawks, @ Falcons, vs Cardinals
• Eagles remaining fixtures: vs Bears, @ Chargers, vs Raiders, @ Commanders, @ Bills, vs Commanders
• Bears remaining fixtures: @ Eagles, @ Packers, vs Browns, vs Packers, @ 49ers, vs Lions
• Packers remaining fixtures: @ Lions, vs Bears, @ Broncos, @ Bears, vs Ravens, @ Vikings
• Seahawks remaining fixtures: vs Vikings, @ Falcons, vs Colts, vs Rams, @ Panthers, @ 49ers

The final six weeks promise high stakes, swing games and late twists. With several division races still open and wild-card spots up for grabs, expect intensifying matchups and several playoff berths decided down to the final weekend.