The NFL season is in full swing. There are only a few weeks left until the postseason, so it’s worth taking a look at the possible pairings. ran gives you the current playoff picture.
Week 14 of the NFL season is underway. The teams have long known where they stand compared to the competition.
In the AFC, the Chiefs continue to lose ground due to their defeat against the Texans and are essentially on the verge of missing the playoffs. The Texans, in turn, made it into the playoff picture after their fifth win in a row.
This is what the NFL playoffs would currently look like
In the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams bounce back after a loss the previous week – and grab the number 1 seed again.
Now let’s look at the big picture. Who would currently face whom in the postseason? The NFL playoff picture in Week 14.
NFC Wild Card Round: #7 Chicago Bears (9-4) at #2 Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
It’s an incredibly close race. One defeat and you fall down the bracket. Last week the Bears had a bye week as the number 1 seed, but now they are only in seventh place. The reason is a 21:28 defeat at the Green Bay Packers.
Fun fact: The duel with the arch-rival would then also wait in the Wild Card Round. The Packers are currently in second place in the NFC. The win against previously strong Bears was once again a statement about their own ambitions.
NFC Wild Card Round: #6 San Francisco 49ers (9-4) at #3 Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
The injury-plagued 49ers had their bye week. And despite the week without games, they jumped up one place. They are currently ranked sixth in the NFC and would have to play against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles, on the other hand, can still improve their record. They have to play against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Monday Night Game of Week 14 (from 2:15 a.m. in the live ticker). An unpleasant task against an equally ambitious opponent.
NFC Wild Card Round: #5 Seattle Seahawks (10-3) at #4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
These are the peculiarities of the playoff system: The Seahawks showed no weaknesses in Week 14 against the Atalanta Falcons and dismantled the opponent in front of their own audience 37:9. In the NFC West, that’s only enough for second place behind the Los Angeles Rams and fifth in the NFC.
Means: The Seahawks have to play in the Wild Card Round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Even if they are “only” 7-6 and also suffered an embarrassing 20:24 defeat against the New Orleans Saints in Week 14. But they are still first in the NFC South.
NFC Wild Card Round: Bye Week #1 Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
Welcome back to the place in the sun. The Rams occasionally add a wobbler, but also real exclamation points. The 45:17 win over the Arizona Cardinals may have been a must-win if you were aiming for a deep playoff run. Nevertheless, the success was impressive. And the reason for returning to the number 1 seed.
NFL 2025 season: These teams are out of the playoff race
Eliminated from the playoff race
In January only spectators – while the top seven in each conference fight for a place in the Super Bowl, 18 other teams watch. The first team was hit on the 12th of 18 match days. Four more follow on the 13th. ran gives an overview of the teams that have already been eliminated.
Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
For Maxx Crosby’s team there is nothing left to gain after their 10th defeat of the season. The 14:31 loss against the Los Angeles Chargers means the end of the fight for the playoffs – all wild card teams already have at least eight wins to their name – the AFC West leader even has nine.
Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
On matchday 13, the Arizona Cardinals suffered a 17:20 defeat at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
New Orleans Saints (2-10)
For head coach Kellen Moore, the dream of the postseason is also over early. After the 17:21 defeat against the Miami Dolphins, it is no longer mathematically possible.
Tennessee Titans (1-11)
For No. 1 pick Cam Ward, his first year is learning, learning, learning. And watch the playoffs. For Tennessee, 1st place in the division or 7th place in the AFC is no longer within reach after the 3:25 defeat against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
New York Giants (2-10)
For the team from the Big Apple, the train for the playoffs already left on matchday 12. The 27:34 overtime defeat at the Detroit Lions is one too many.
AFC Wild Card Round: #7 Houston Texans (8-5) at #2 New England Patriots (11-2)
Yes, this is no joke: The Houston Texans and Jakob Johnson are – as of now – in the playoffs. And how: With the 20:10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Texans almost completely destroyed the playoff hopes of the dominant team of the past few years. It was the fifth win in a row for the Texans.
The Patriots fell from a bye week in the first round of the playoffs to the #2 seed. Which is due to the Patriots’ bye week.
AFC Wild Card Round: #6 Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) at #3 Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4)
The Chargers remain in the playoff race, but can still further improve their position. The Philadelphia Eagles are waiting in the Monday Night Game.
The opponent in the Wild Card Round would be the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team has moved to the top spot in the AFC South. However, they are closely followed by the Texans and the Indianapolis Colts, who have not had a place in the playoff picture for a long time.
AFC Wild Card Round: #5 Buffalo Bills (9-4) at #4 Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
The Buffalo Bills picked up an even more important win in an important matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. With this, the team around quarterback Josh Allen improved to fifth place. Opponents in the Wild Card Round would be the Pittsburgh Steelers.
They continued their seasonal rollercoaster ride this time with a win against the Baltimore Ravens. That puts them in first place in the AFC North at 7-6 and fourth in the playoff picture.
AFC Wild Card Round: Bye Week #1 Denver Broncos (11-2)
Denver improved its record to 11-2 thanks to its tenth straight win with a 24:17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The reward would currently be a bye week in the postseason.
“Ten wins in a row is a long streak,” said Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, who once again impressed against the Raiders with 212 yards thrown and a touchdown run: “You have to appreciate this opportunity and be grateful for the victories, no matter how they come about. But at the same time, we’re always trying to improve.”
