The 2025 playoff race is heating up with six regular-season weeks to play. Several teams are pushing for position while others cling to wild-card hopes. Here’s a look at who’s in danger and which battles matter most.
Which teams are in danger of missing out?
Kansas City Chiefs (6-5)
Patrick Mahomes has led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship every year of his seven-season starting run, producing five Super Bowl appearances and three rings. In 2025 that streak is under threat: Kansas City currently sits outside the playoff picture and must fight for a wild-card spot. An overtime Week 12 win over the Colts halted a two-game slide, but the stretch run is uphill.
Chiefs remaining fixtures: @ Cowboys, vs Texans, vs Chargers, @ Titans, vs Broncos, @ Raiders
Buffalo Bills (7-4)
Josh Allen’s Bills have often been the bridesmaid to Kansas City. With the Chiefs faltering, Buffalo have failed to capitalise, compiling surprising losses at home to the Patriots and defeats to the Falcons, Dolphins and Texans (the latter with a backup QB). The Bills are clinging to a wild-card spot and risk wasting a prime opportunity for a deep run or a first Super Bowl trip in decades.
Bills remaining fixtures: @ Steelers, vs Bengals, @ Patriots, @ Browns, vs Eagles, vs Jets
Detroit Lions (7-4)
After coming close in recent seasons — an NFC Championship in 2023 and a 15-2 regular season in 2024 — Detroit are far off those heights in 2025. They trail division rivals the Chicago Bears (Ben Johnson’s first year as head coach) and the Green Bay Packers, putting their wild-card hopes at risk.
Lions remaining fixtures: vs Packers, vs Cowboys, @ Rams, vs Steelers, @ Vikings, @ Bears
Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1)
The Cowboys entered the season as an enigma, made more unpredictable by the pre-season trade of Micah Parsons to Green Bay. Their defense ranks among the NFL’s worst by yards and points allowed, but an elite offense has bailed them out at times. Inconsistency — ties, big wins and surprising losses — has defined Dallas; they must stabilise to force a playoff spot.
Cowboys remaining fixtures: vs Chiefs, @ Lions, vs Vikings, vs Chargers, @ Commanders, @ Giants
Other playoff battles unfolding
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens (6-5) and Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) are both flirting with danger for wild-card contention, making the division race crucial. The Ravens appear to have the edge after five straight wins and Lamar Jackson’s return from injury, while the Steelers cope with an injured Aaron Rodgers. The teams meet twice, including the season finale, so expect a wire-to-wire battle.
Ravens remaining fixtures: vs Bengals, vs Steelers, @ Bengals, vs Patriots, @ Packers, @ Steelers
Steelers remaining fixtures: vs Bills, @ Ravens, vs Dolphins, @ Lions, @ Browns, vs Ravens
Can the 49ers or Panthers sneak in the NFC?
San Francisco (7-4) and Carolina (6-5) are jostling for NFC wild-card positioning; their Monday Night Football meeting will clarify things. The injury-hit 49ers currently hold a wild-card spot, but a loss would open the door to Carolina, which may then pivot to trying to win 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 up for grabs?
Tampa Bay (6-5) have slipped with three straight losses and four of five, compounded by Baker Mayfield’s shoulder injury in Week 12. Carolina and others have a sniff at the division, and Atlanta (4-7) could, in theory, mount 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 the top seeds?
AFC
The AFC looks reminiscent of earlier decades with New England (10-2), Denver (9-2) and Indianapolis (8-3) vying for supremacy. The Patriots have won nine straight; the Broncos are on an eight-game run. The Colts, despite an overtime loss to the Chiefs, boast the NFL’s highest-scoring offense and remain dangerous.
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
In the NFC the Los Angeles Rams (9-2) hold a slim lead over defending champions Philadelphia (8-3) and surprise package Chicago (8-3). The Eagles, despite offensive concerns and a Week 12 collapse after leading 21-0, remain on track for a division title. The Rams contend with Seattle in the West, while the Bears’ chief North rival is Green Bay (7-3-1); all could push for top seeding with late runs.
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, late twists and several division and wild-card races likely to go down to the wire.