After we look again on the 2025 common season, we could also be pointing to Week 14 because the pivotal second that sculpted the playoff image.
Coming into the weekend, the slate had the promise of being an inflection level with a number of divisional matchups on deck between golf equipment within the thick of the playoff race. That included Steelers-Ravens duking it out for first place within the AFC North, together with Bears-Packers squaring off at Lambeau Discipline in an NFC North duel, and Colts-Jaguars jockeying for place atop the AFC South. And people video games didn’t disappoint.
Pittsburgh and Inexperienced Bay each pulled off wins to leap again into first place of their respective division. In the meantime, Jacksonville held its spot atop the AFC South after taking down Indy, however the headline from that contest was Daniel Jones leaving the sport on account of an Achilles damage. That additional shakes up the playoff image within the AFC.
Because the mud settles on Sunday’s Week 14 motion, let’s check out this newest snapshot and see who could be out and in of the playoffs. On high of the standings, we’ll additionally run by all the playoff image, together with the remaining schedules for every major contender.
NFL Week 14 grades: Chiefs get ‘C-‘ for ugly loss to Texans, Josh Allen carries Payments to ‘B-,’ Rams earn ‘A+’
John Breech
Full playoff image
That is the NFL playoff image because it stands, with the next groups tabbed for postseason spots:
AFC standings
- Denver Broncos (11-2)
- New England Patriots (11-2)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
- Buffalo Payments (9-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
- Houston Texans (8-5)
1. Denver Broncos (11-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers
After successful their tenth straight sport, the Broncos are again atop the AFC because the No. 1 seed. They presently get the sting over New England due to a superior convention file (7-2 vs. 6-2). Whereas the dialog is presently about whether or not or not the Broncos can safe the No. 1 seed, it should not be missed that they’ve a stable cushion within the AFC West and are primed to win it for the primary time since 2015.
2. New England Patriots (11-2)
Remaining schedule: vs. Payments, at Ravens, at Jets, vs. Dolphins
The Patriots had been on the bye in Week 14 and have a large contest towards the Buffalo Payments at Gillette Stadium subsequent Sunday. Whereas that sport will not flip the standings within the AFC East within the occasion that New England loses, a win might successfully lock it up for Mike Vrabel’s membership. Past heading off Buffalo, a win subsequent week would additionally preserve tempo with Denver for the No. 1 seed.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Jets, at Broncos, at Colts, vs. Titans
The Jaguars created some wiggle room for themselves within the AFC South with a win over the Colts on Sunday. That is the fourth straight win for Jacksonville, which is now set to host the Jets in Week 15. With Daniel Jones now out for the 12 months with an Achilles damage, the division is a two-team race between them and the Houston Texans.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
Remaining schedule: vs. Dolphins, at Lions, at Browns, vs. Ravens
Pittsburgh is again in first place within the AFC North after defeating the Ravens; nonetheless, there’s nonetheless loads to be decided on this division. The Steelers and Ravens are nonetheless solely separated by a sport and have yet one more head-to-head matchup in Week 18. Earlier than then, Pittsburgh has some difficult video games forward of it. The Dolphins have been spunky in current weeks, after which they must go on the highway in Week 16 and Week 17 towards the Lions and Browns.
5. Buffalo Payments (9-4)
Remaining schedule: at Patriots, at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets
It can’t be overstated how essential Buffalo’s comeback win over the Bengals was. After erasing the double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit, the Payments improved to 9-4, which retains them inside vary of the Patriots within the AFC East, main as much as their showdown in Foxborough subsequent Sunday. The victory additionally has them with a stable maintain on the highest wild card spot.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Eagles, at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, at Broncos
Los Angeles nonetheless has its Week 14 matchup with Philadelphia on Monday night time, however comes out of Sunday holding the No. 6 seed within the AFC. That stated, they will must win on Monday or else fall out of the playoff image on account of a head-to-head tiebreaker working towards them with the Colts, due to a loss in Week 7.
7. Houston Texans (8-5)
Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, vs. Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Colts
After beginning the 12 months 0-3, the Texans have clawed again into the playoff image because the No. 7 seed due to a powerful win over the Chiefs. Houston is only a sport behind the Jaguars for first place within the AFC South, so there’s room for this climb to go even increased.
Within the hunt
The Colts (8-5) are mathematically nonetheless within the hunt, however after shedding Daniel Jones for the season on account of a torn Achilles, it is onerous to ascertain them ending effectively sufficient to get into the playoffs. The clock might have struck midnight for the Chiefs (6-7) after falling to the Texans on Sunday night time. They proceed to be out of the playoff image, at the moment are beneath .500 once more, and are on the mistaken aspect of a variety of key tiebreakers. The group that will have one of the best probability of this group to make the postseason is the Ravens (6-7). Even after shedding to the Steelers, they nonetheless have a lane to leapfrog them for first place within the AFC North and nonetheless have yet one more matchup towards them in Pittsburgh in Week 18. Surprisingly, the Dolphins (6-7) are nonetheless lurking on the outskirts after successful 4 straight video games, however loads must go proper. On high of doubtless needing to win out, Miami would wish some wild card contenders to break down, as they presently lose head-to-head tiebreakers to the Colts, Chargers and Ravens.
NFC standings
- Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
- Inexperienced Bay Packers (9-3-1)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
- Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- Chicago Bears (9-4)
1. Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, at Seahawks, at Falcons, vs. Cardinals
The Rams bounced again properly after their upset loss to the Panthers in Week 13 by blowing out the Cardinals, 45-17. Matthew Stafford regarded extra like his MVP self as effectively, throwing for 3 touchdowns. That win helped push them atop the NFC because the No. 1 seed, however they will want to complete sturdy to carry onto this spot. Particularly, these subsequent two weeks towards Detroit after which at Seattle will give us additional readability on the place L.A. will finally find yourself.
2. Inexperienced Bay Packers (9-3-1)
Remaining schedule: at Broncos, at Bears, vs. Ravens, at Vikings
Inexperienced Bay is again atop the NFC North after taking down the Chicago Bears at house. The Packers offense got here by within the clutch, significantly some onerous operating by Josh Jacobs late. Whereas the Packers might have recaptured the highest spot within the division, issues are nonetheless very a lot up within the air within the NFC North, particularly in the event that they fall to the Broncos in Denver subsequent week earlier than taking up the Bears once more in Week 16.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
Remaining schedule: at Chargers, vs. Raiders, at Commanders, at Payments, vs. Commanders
Philadelphia nonetheless has its Week 14 matchup to play on Monday night time towards the Chargers, however it stands on stable footing in the meanwhile. The Cowboys shedding to the Lions on Thursday and dropping to 6-6-1 took numerous wind out of their sails of their pursuit to catch the Eagles within the NFC East. If Philly pulls off the win on Monday, that creates much more respiration room.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
Remaining schedule: vs. Falcons, at Panthers, at Dolphins, vs. Panthers
The Bucs had been on the mistaken finish of arguably the most important upset of Week 14, shedding at house to the New Orleans Saints. Whereas they’re nonetheless atop the NFC South in the meanwhile, Tampa Bay is now knotted with the Carolina Panthers — who had been on the bye in Week 14 — for first place. The Bucs have the momentary edge, however they’ve but to play any of their two matchups towards Carolina, so this division may be very a lot nonetheless up for grabs.
5. Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, vs. Rams, at Panthers, at 49ers
Seattle is in a fairly snug place popping out of Week 14. The Seahaws are simply one in every of two groups in all the convention with double-digit wins. Nonetheless, the issue is that the one different group with 10 wins is the Los Angeles Rams, who beat them out in the meanwhile as a result of head-to-head tiebreaker. That stated, they nonetheless have yet one more sport towards L.A. in Seattle, and have a wholesome place as a wild card entry if they can not unseat them for the NFC West crown. In addition they catch a break in Week 15, going through an Indianapolis Colts group that simply misplaced Daniel Jones (Achilles) for the 12 months.
6. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks
The Niners had been on the bye in Week 14, in order that they’ll be well-rested for the ultimate 4 video games. Out of the gate, it is fairly favorable for San Francisco, internet hosting a 2-11 Tennessee Titans group earlier than visiting the Colts, who might be with out Jones. That creates a robust path to securing a wild card spot, however there’s room for this group to go even increased if the items fall into place. The 49ers cut up the head-to-head sequence with the Rams and presently have a greater division file, in order that they’d leapfrog them in the event that they discover themselves with the identical file. In the meantime, the membership additionally owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle due to a Week 1 win earlier than they sq. off within the regular-season finale. So, there’s a path for the 49ers to win the NFC West and presumably find yourself because the No. 1 seed.
7. Chicago Bears (9-4)
Remaining schedule: vs. Browns, vs. Packers, at 49ers, vs. Lions
What a distinction every week could make, proper? Chicago entered Week 14 because the No. 1 seed within the convention and is now clinging to the No. 7 seed after falling to the Packers at Lambeau Discipline. Whereas that’s fairly the autumn from grace, all is not misplaced. If Chicago takes care of enterprise subsequent week towards the Browns and will get some assist from the Broncos, who host the Packers, we may very well be one other large NFC North duel between the Bears and Inexperienced Bay in Week 16. If they are not cautious, nonetheless, they do run the chance of falling even additional, particularly with the Lions looming.
Within the hunt
The Lions (8-5) pulled off a key victory over the Cowboys on Thursday, which slots them in because the No. 8 seed. They’ve a high-octane offense that might assist propel them again into the playoff image, however they’ve a tall job subsequent week, visiting the Rams. Carolina (7-6) might have one of the best probability at making the playoffs, regardless of being the No. 9 seed after Week 14. They’re tied with the Bucs for first place within the division and nonetheless have each matchups on the horizon. The Cowboys (6-6-1) might have been handed a important hit with their loss to Detroit. They now doubtless must win out and get numerous assist to squeak in both through the NFC East or as a wild card group.
