As the 2025 NFL regular season progresses, USA TODAY Sports is committed to delivering weekly updates on the dynamic playoff landscape. With Week 13 underway, the race for postseason spots is heating up, and fans are eager to understand the implications of last week’s action and what it means for their favorite teams.
In the American Football Conference (AFC), the New England Patriots have surged to the top spot with a record of 10-2 after a narrow victory over the Bengals. The Patriots are looking strong as they head into their bye week and are poised to maintain their commanding position. They have a challenging schedule ahead, featuring games against the Giants, Bills, Ravens, Jets, and Dolphins.
Close behind are the Denver Broncos at 9-2, who have enjoyed a much-needed break. Although they lost their position as conference leaders, they are gearing up for a demanding stretch with crucial matchups against the Commanders, Raiders, Packers, Jaguars, Chiefs, and Chargers.
The Indianapolis Colts have faced some challenges recently, only winning one of their last three games, yet they remain in a strong position at 8-3, leading the AFC South. Key intra-divisional games against the Texans and Jaguars will be pivotal as they seek to solidify their playoff stance.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, now at 6-5, regained the lead in the AFC North following Baltimore’s loss, but need wins against the Bills and division rivals to ensure their playoff hopes. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) also strengthened their wild-card positioning thanks to a week off and a key loss by Buffalo.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills both sit at 7-4 and are battling for wild-card spots, with the Jaguars benefiting from two recent notable victories, while the Bills suffered after a tough loss to the Texans. Houston (6-5) and Kansas City (6-6) are still in contention, with the Texans riding a four-game winning streak that demonstrates their potential to reclaim a divisional title.
Over in the National Football Conference (NFC), the Los Angeles Rams hold the top seed at 9-2, although they’ve had to fend off the Philadelphia Eagles, currently 8-3, who remain a strong contender despite last week’s setback. The Bears, also at 8-3, have made an impressive comeback from an early season slump, winning eight of their last nine games.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are leading the NFC South at 6-5 but face concerns over their quarterback’s health, which could significantly impact their performance moving forward. The Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and San Francisco 49ers are all in contention for wild card spots, with each needing to navigate a challenging end-of-season schedule.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are still hopefull of securing playoff berths, though both teams need to step up their game in the coming weeks. The Carolina Panthers are also in the hunt but must improve on their performance against teams with winning records.
As the season progresses, the landscape will continue to evolve and shift dramatically, providing fans with plenty to watch for in the ongoing race for the playoffs. Each game remains critical, and with the postseason drawing near, excitement in the NFL is at an all-time high.