by The race to the postseason is heating up as the 2025 NFL season barrels toward the finish line! With Week 10 wrapping up, the playoff landscape is taking shape, but plenty of crucial games remain to finalize the NFL playoff picture. Every snap now carries massive weight for teams hoping to secure a spot or, even better, a first-round bye in the NFL playoff picture.
🌟 Current AFC Playoff Picture Standings
The AFC currently boasts a fierce battle at the top, making the overall playoff picture quite intriguing. The AFC’s top three seeds are held by teams with an 8-2 record: the Indianapolis Colts (AFC South leader and current No. 1 seed due to Conference Record), the Denver Broncos (AFC West leader), and the New England Patriots (AFC East leader).
This tiebreaker scenario is volatile and could easily change the top seed in the playoff picture. Further down, the Los Angeles Chargers (7-3) hold a strong Wild Card position, while the Buffalo Bills (6-3) and Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4) are clinging to the final spots, showing how tight the NFL playoff picture remains.
🎢 NFC Playoff Picture and Divisional Battles
The NFC NFL playoff picture is perhaps even more competitive, with multiple divisions still wide open. The Seattle Seahawks (7-2) currently hold the top spot and the lone first-round bye, but the Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) are right on their heels in the overall NFL playoff picture. The NFC North is particularly chaotic, with the Green Bay Packers (5-2-1), Detroit Lions (6-3), and Chicago Bears (6-3) all separated by a mere half-game or tiebreaker. The Los Angeles Rams (7-2) are the top Wild Card team, with the Lions and Bears occupying the final two berths in the current NFL playoff picture standings.
🔍 Key Scenarios Shaping the Final Standings
Several matchups in the coming weeks will be instrumental in defining the final NFL playoff picture. The AFC West faces a massive swing game when the Broncos host the Chiefs (5-4), who are currently on the outside of the NFL playoff picture looking in but have a high playoff probability due to their strength of schedule.
In the NFC, the NFC North trio’s head-to-head games will be the ultimate tiebreaker—any loss for the Packers, Lions, or Bears will have huge implications on the final NFL playoff picture. The AFC North is also one to watch, as the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4) need to keep winning to hold off the resurgent Baltimore Ravens (4-5) in the NFL playoff picture.
đź’Ą Teams on the Bubble: The Playoff Pressure Cooker
The most anxious teams are those right on the edge of the NFL playoff picture. In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) and Baltimore Ravens (4-5) must both quickly gain ground, especially with the Chargers and Bills ahead of them in the NFL playoff picture. Both teams have challenging schedules ahead. For the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers (6-4) have slipped to the edge but are considered a significant threat with a high probability of making the playoffs despite their current record in the NFL playoff picture. They are looking to jump the Bears or Lions, adding incredible drama to the final stretch of the regular season.
