NFL playoff race: Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions among teams battling for places in 2025 season
Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are all flirting with the possibility of missing the 2025 NFL playoffs; could the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers both sneak in from the AFC North? And who are the contenders for the AFC and NFC No 1 seeds?
Tuesday 9 December 2025 19:04, UK
The 2025 playoff race is heating up with just four weeks of the regular season left and plenty pushing for position or precariously placed clinging on to a spot. We take a look at the teams in the mix...
Which teams are in danger of missing out?
Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)
In seven seasons as the Chiefs' starting quarterback, Patrick Mahomes has never not led his team to the AFC Championship game, which he subsequently turned into five Super Bowl appearances and three rings.
But that stellar record is severely under threat in 2025 as the Chiefs currently sit outside of the playoff picture in the AFC, battling for a wild card spot.
An overtime win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 corrected a two-game skid and gave hope to a late run, but they have left themselves an uphill battle down the stretch after the 31-28 Thanksgiving defeat to Dallas Cowboys. That was followed up by an ugly 20-10 loss to Houston Texans in Sunday Night Football.
Chiefs remaining fixtures: vs Chargers, @ Titans, vs Broncos, @ Raiders
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Buffalo Bills (9-4)
Josh Allen and the Bills have perennially played bridesmaid to the Chiefs' bride in the AFC but, even with Kansas City faltering in 2025, Buffalo have been unconvincing in their bid to take advantage.
The Bills have disappointing losses to the New England Patriots, at home, as well as the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans on their record - Atlanta and Miami both holding losing records and Houston when fielding their backup QB.
The Bills are currently occupying a wild card spot having strengthened their position with a 39-34 comeback win over Cincinnati Bengals. They are now gearing up for a crucial divisional clash with the Patriots, who lead the AFC East at 11-2.
Bills remaining fixtures: @ Patriots, @ Browns, vs Eagles, vs Jets
Detroit Lions (8-5)
The Lions have been on the cusp of the Super Bowl for the past two seasons, with head coach Dan Campbell's explosive offense taking them to the NFC Championship game in 2023 and then the NFL's joint-best record (15-2) a year ago, only to go one-and-done in the playoffs.
They have struggled to match such heights in 2025, however, and are in danger of missing out on a wild card spot as they currently trail both the upstart Chicago Bears, boasting their former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their first-year head coach, and Green Bay Packers in their division.
Detroit threatened a late season surge last Thursday when Jahmyr Gibbs inspired them to victory over Dallas Cowboys to stay on the tails of their division rivals.
Lions remaining fixtures: @ Rams, vs Steelers, @ Vikings, @ Bears
Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
Ever the enigma, the Cowboys weren't exactly tipped by many to even make the playoffs - especially after trading away arguably the best defender in the NFL, Micah Parsons, to the Packers on the eve of the season.
That move certainly hasn't helped their cause, with their defense among the league's worst in both yards and points allowed per game. BUT, their offense, one of the league leaders, has repeatedly bailed them out of trouble.
Dallas have been maddeningly inconsistent, with a tie against the Packers and win over the Eagles giving nod to their talents, only to also contrast massively with defeats to the likes of the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals.
The Cowboys simply must find some consistency down the stretch if they are to force their way into the NFC playoff picture. They boosted their chances significantly on Thanksgiving with a 31-28 victory over the Chiefs, inspired by Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens.
But another setback arrived in the form of their defeat to the Lions, though the poor form of Philadelphia Eagles of late gives them hope.
Cowboys remaining fixtures: vs Vikings, vs Chargers, @ Commanders, @ Giants
What other playoff battles are unfolding?
Battle for the AFC North
The Baltimore Ravens (6-7) and Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) are both flirting with danger in terms of securing an AFC wild card spot, making their battle for the AFC North division title even more crucial.
The Ravens' five-game winning streak came to an inglorious end after an uncharacteristic, mistake-prone performance against the struggling Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving Day, although the Steelers are trying to cope with a banged up Aaron Rodgers at QB.
Pittsburgh nudged ahead in the race on Sunday as Aaron Rodgers led Mike Tomlin's side to a 27-22 victory over Lamar Jackson's Baltimore. The two sides will notably play again on the final day of the regular season.
Ravens remaining fixtures: @ Bengals, vs Patriots, @ Packers, @ Steelers
Steelers remaining fixtures: vs Dolphins, @ Lions, @ Browns, vs Ravens
Can 49ers or Panthers sneak in the NFC?
The San Francisco 49ers (9-4) and Carolina Panthers (7-6) are jostling for position in the NFC playoff picture, with the 49ers doing a world of good for their chances after a 26-8 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13.
The 49ers, despite battling devastating injuries to many of their star names, currently boast one of the NFC wild card spots, keeping the Lions, Panthers and Cowboys at bay - but can they hold on to that position down the stretch?
Carolina produced one of the upsets of the season in Week 13 when they beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-28 to continue their push in the NFC South.
49ers remaining fixtures: vs Titans, @ Colts, vs Bears, vs Seahawks
Panthers remaining fixtures: @ Saints, vs Buccaneers, vs Seahawks, @ Buccaneers
Is the NFC North still up for grabs?
That's right, the Panthers potentially have another route into the playoffs, with current NFC South division leaders the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) having just come off three straight defeats in their last four and faltering on offense.
Tampa Bay were dealt another setback at the weekend in a shock defeat to the New Orleans Saints, inspired by rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
The Atlanta Falcons (4-9), were just officially eliminated from playoff contention after their heavy defeat to the Seattle Seahawks.
Buccaneers remaining fixtures: vs Falcons, @ Panthers, @ Dolphins, vs Panthers
Falcons remaining fixtures: @ Buccaneers, @ Cardinals, vs Rams, vs Saints
Which teams are fighting for the top seeds?
AFC
The AFC has a distinctly mid 2000s and early 2010s feel about it, with the New England Patriots (11-2) and Denver Broncos (11-2) battling it out for supremacy in scenes reminiscent of when those sides were led by all-time QB greats and rivals Tom Brady (Patriots) and Peyton Manning (Colts, Broncos).
The Patriots have won a staggering nine straight, while the Broncos are on a 10-game winning run behind Bo Nix.
As for the Colts, they lost ground with a heartbreaking overtime loss to the Chiefs, before losing Daniel Jones to a season-ending Achille injury in Sunday's defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars to fall to 8-5 and third in the AFC South.
Patriots remaining fixtures: vs Bills, @ Ravens, @ Jets, vs Dolphins
Broncos remaining fixtures: vs Packers, vs Jaguars, @ Chiefs, vs Chargers
Colts remaining fixtures: @ Seahawks, vs 49ers, vs Jaguars, @ Texans
NFC
In the NFC, it is the Rams (10-3) who occupy top spot in the seedings ahead of the Packers (9-3-1) and the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (8-5), who were beaten 22-19 by Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football.
The Rams have the Seattle Seahawks (10-3) to contend with in the NFC West, while the Packers' biggest challengers in the North are the Chicago Bears (9-4), both of whom could yet throw their names into the hat for the No 1 seed with a late run.
Rams remaining fixtures: vs Lions, @ Seahawks, @ Falcons, vs Cardinals
Eagles remaining fixtures: vs Raiders, @ Commanders, @ Bills, vs Commanders
Bears remaining fixtures: vs Browns, vs Packers, @ 49ers, vs Lions
Packers remaining fixtures: @ Broncos, @ Bears, vs Ravens, @ Vikings
Seahawks remaining fixtures: vs Colts, vs Rams, @ Panthers, @ 49ers
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