2025 NFL playoff picture, standings: How Week 15 could reshape postseason race

New England Patriots v Buffalo Bills - NFL 2025

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When we look back at the 2025 regular season, Week 15 may stand out as the pivotal moment that shapes the playoff picture.

Heading into the weekend, CBS is set to air one of the most impactful late-season slates in recent NFL history. It marks the first CBS lineup in the past 10 years to feature teams with a combined winning percentage of .600 or better in December or later. Sunday also represents the first time in four years -- since Week 14 of the 2021 season -- that Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow will all start games on CBS.

Week 15 CBS Slate (all times ET)

1 p.m. -- Ravens (6-7) at Bengals (4-9)
1 p.m. -- Chargers (9-4) at Chiefs (6-7)
1 p.m. -- Bills (9-4) at Patriots (11-2)
1 p.m. -- Jets (3-10) at Jaguars (9-4)
4:25 p.m. -- Packers (9-3-1) at Broncos (11-2)
4:25 p.m. -- Colts (8-5) at Seahawks (10-3)

Beyond those heavyweight matchups, the Lions (8-5) travel west to face the NFC's top seed, the Rams (10-3), in another Jared Goff–Matthew Stafford revenge game. Meanwhile, 44-year-old Philip Rivers is set to make his first start in 1,800 days for the Colts, marking the longest layoff by a quarterback over 40 before starting an NFL game, as Indianapolis takes on the Seahawks (10-3).

With an epic Week 15 slate on deck, now is the perfect time to reset the playoff picture. Below, we'll break down who's currently in and out of the postseason, along with the full standings and remaining schedules for each primary contender -- providing context for what's truly at stake this weekend.

AFC standings

1. Denver Broncos (11-2)

Remaining schedule: vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs, vs. Chargers

After winning their 10th straight game, the Broncos are back atop the AFC as the No. 1 seed. They currently have the edge over New England thanks to a superior conference record (7-2 vs. 6-2).

While the conversation is currently about whether or not the Broncos can secure the No. 1 seed, it shouldn't be overlooked that they have a solid cushion in the AFC West and are primed to win it for the first time since 2015.

2. New England Patriots (11-2)

Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, at Ravens, at Jets, vs. Dolphins

The Patriots were on the bye in Week 14 and have a massive contest against the Buffalo at Gillette Stadium on Sunday. While that game won't flip the standings in the AFC East in the event that New England loses, a win would lock it up for Mike Vrabel's club.

Beyond fending off Buffalo, a victory would also keep pace 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 in the AFC South with a win over the Colts last week. That's the fourth straight win for Jacksonville, which is now set to host the Jets in Week 15.

With Daniel Jones now out for the year with an Achilles injury, 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 back in first place in the AFC North after defeating the Ravens; however, there's still a lot to be determined in this division. The Steelers and Ravens are still only separated by a game and have one more head-to-head matchup in Week 18.

Before then, Pittsburgh has some tricky games ahead of it. The Dolphins have been spunky in recent weeks, and then they will have to go on the road in Week 16 and Week 17 against the Lions and Browns.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)

Remaining schedule: at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, at Broncos

The Chargers won a sloppy overtime game against the Eagles on Monday night. This was a huge game for Los Angeles, as a loss would have dropped them out of the playoff picture altogether due to a head-to-head tiebreaker working against them with the Colts, due to a loss in Week 7.

Instead, they're the No. 5 seed in the AFC with four games to play. They take on the Chiefs on Sunday.

6. Buffalo Bills (8-4)

Remaining schedule: at Patriots, at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets

It cannot be overstated how important Buffalo's comeback win over the Bengals was. After erasing the double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit, the Bills improved to 9-4, which keeps them within range of the Patriots in the AFC East, leading up to their showdown in Foxborough on Sunday. The victory also has them with a solid hold on the top wild card spot.

7. Houston Texans (8-5)

Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, vs. Raiders, at Chargers, vs. Colts

After starting the year 0-3, the Texans have clawed back into the playoff picture as the No. 7 seed thanks to an impressive win over the Chiefs.

Houston is just a game behind the Jaguars for first place in the AFC South, so there is room for this climb to go even higher.

In the hunt

The Colts (8-5) are mathematically still in the hunt, but after losing Jones for the season due to a torn Achilles, it's hard to envision them finishing well enough to get into the playoffs.

The clock may have struck midnight for the Chiefs (6-7) after falling to the Texans last Sunday night. They continue to be out of the playoff picture, are now under .500 again, and are on the wrong side of a number of key tiebreakers.

The team that may have the best chance of this group to make the postseason is the Ravens (6-7). Even after losing to the Steelers, they still have a lane to leapfrog them for first place in the AFC North and still have one more matchup against them in Pittsburgh in Week 18.

Surprisingly, the Dolphins (6-7) are still lurking on the outskirts after winning four straight games, but a lot needs to go right. On top of likely needing to win out, Miami would need some wild card contenders to collapse, as it currently loses head-to-head tiebreakers to the Colts, Chargers and Ravens.

Predicting the entire 2025 NFL playoff bracket and Super Bowl winner as we enter Week 15

John Breech

NFC standings

Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)
Carolina Panthers (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 back nicely after their upset loss to the Panthers in Week 13 by blowing out the Cardinals, 45-17. Matthew Stafford looked more like his MVP self as well, throwing for three touchdowns.

That win helped push them atop the NFC as the No. 1 seed, but they'll need to finish strong to hold onto this spot. Specifically, these next two weeks against Detroit and then at Seattle will give us further clarity on where L.A. will ultimately end up.

2. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)

Remaining schedule: at Broncos, at Bears, vs. Ravens, at Vikings

Green Bay is back atop the NFC North after taking down the Bears at home. The Packers offense came through in the clutch, particularly some hard running by Josh Jacobs late.

While the Packers may have recaptured the top spot in the division, things are still very much up in the air in the NFC North, especially if they fall to the Broncos in Denver on Sunday before taking on the Bears again in Week 16.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)

Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, at Commanders, at Bills, vs. Commanders

Philadelphia still stands on solid footing at the moment despite its third straight defeat Monday night. The Cowboys losing to the Lions on and dropping to 6-6-1 took a lot of wind out of their sails in their pursuit to catch the Eagles in the NFC East. Philly also has a very manageable schedule down the stretch.

4. Carolina Panthers (7-6)

Remaining schedule: at Saints, vs. Buccaneers, vs. Seahawks, at Buccaneers

The Panthers moved into sole possession of first place in the NFC South for the first time all season after the Buccaneers' 29-28 upset loss to the Falcons on "Thursday Night Football" kicked off Week 15.

Carolina has won six of its past nine games and comes out of its Week 14 bye recharged for the stretch run. The Panthers currently hold a slim, half-game edge, but the division remains very much up for grabs with two head-to-head matchups against Tampa Bay still to come.

5. Seattle Seahawks (10-3)

Remaining schedule: vs. Colts, vs. Rams, at Panthers, at 49ers

Seattle is in a pretty comfortable position coming out of Week 14. The Seahawks are just one of two teams in the entire conference with double-digit wins. However, the problem is that the only other team with 10 wins is the Rams, who beat them out at the moment due to the head-to-head tiebreaker.

That said, they still have one more game against L.A. in Seattle, and have a healthy position as a wild card entry if they cannot unseat them for the NFC West crown. They also catch a break in Week 15, facing an Indianapolis Colts team that just lost Daniel Jones (Achilles) for the year.

6. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)

Remaining schedule: vs. Titans, at Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks

The Niners were on the bye in Week 14, so they'll be well-rested for the final four games. Out of the gate, it's pretty favorable for San Francisco, hosting a 2-11 Titans team before visiting the Colts, who will be without Jones. That creates a strong path to securing a wild card spot, but there is room for this team to go even higher if the pieces fall into place.

The 49ers split the head-to-head series with the Rams and currently have a better division record, so they'd leapfrog them if they find themselves with the same record. Meanwhile, the club also owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Seattle thanks to a Week 1 win before they square off in the regular-season finale. So, there is a path for the 49ers to win the NFC West and possibly end up as the No. 1 seed.

7. Chicago Bears (9-4)

Remaining schedule: vs. Browns, vs. Packers, at 49ers, vs. Lions

What a difference a week can make, right? Chicago entered Week 14 as the No. 1 seed in the conference and is now clinging to the No. 7 seed after falling to the Packers at Lambeau Field.

While that is quite the fall from grace, all isn't lost. If Chicago takes care of business against the Browns and gets some help from the Broncos, who host the Packers, we could be looking at another massive NFC North duel between the Bears and Green Bay in Week 16. If they aren't careful, however, they run the risk of falling out of the postseason entirely, especially with the Lions looming.

In the hunt

The Lions (8-5) picked up a key win over the Cowboys last Thursday, vaulting them into the No. 8 seed. Detroit's high-octane offense gives it a real chance to push back into the playoff picture, though the challenge ramps up this week with a road trip to face the Rams.

Tampa Bay (7-7), meanwhile, is doing its best to hand the NFC South to Carolina. The Buccaneers have lost five of six games since their Week 9 bye, including a stunning 29-28 loss to the already eliminated Falcons on in Week 15, when they blew a 28-14 fourth-quarter lead. The silver lining: Tampa Bay still controls much of its fate, with two games against the Panthers among its final three, giving it a direct path to reclaim the division lead.

The Cowboys (6-6-1) took what could be a critical blow with their loss to Detroit. Dallas now likely needs to win out -- and get considerable help -- to sneak into the postseason, either through the NFC East or as a wild card.