NFL Playoff Picture: Broncos remain the 2 seed in the AFC

NFL Playoff Picture: Broncos remain the 2 seed in the AFCStory byScotty PayneTue, December 2, 2025 at 6:10 AM UTC·10 min read

Week 13 in the NFL officially concluded Monday Night with the New England Patriots retaking the number one seed in the AFC with a dominating victory over the New York Giants. The Broncos, coming off another thrilling victory, remain the number 2 seed, but after that, we have some big changes to the AFC playoff picture.

The biggest change was the Jacksonville Jaguars overtaking the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South and moving to the 3 seed in the AFC, while the free-falling Colts are now the 6th seed and in danger of missing the postseason entirely. Despite their Thanksgiving Night loss, the Ravens are at the top of the AFC North, while the Chargers and Bills are your other two wildcard teams.

If any of those teams slip up in the coming weeks, the Texans and their dominating defense are knocking on the door for a wildcard spot. Meanwhile, the free-falling Steelers and Chiefs are watching their postseason hopes slip away, and could Joe Burrow ignite a late-season AFC North run for the Bengals?

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With all that said, here is your AFC playoff picture coming out of week 13 of the 2025 NFL season.

Division Leaders1. New England Patriots (11-2)

The Patriots continue to roll and improve to 11-2 on the year after a dominating victory over the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye is getting MVP chants, and Head Coach Mike Vrabel has this team playing good football. Are they taking advantage of a last-place schedule? Sure, but they’re playing good football and appear to have the best odds of being the number one seed in the AFC.

They are heading into their Bye week this upcoming week and will have some time off before two big matchups vs. the Bills and Ravens. The outcome of those two games will likely decide whether or not they can clinch the one seed or not.

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After their home game vs. the Bills and road game vs. the Ravens, the Patriots finish out the year with a road game vs. the Jets and a home matchup vs the Dolphins in the season finale. If they can get past the Bills and Ravens, they have a clear path to the one seed.

Remaining Games: BYE, vs. Bills, at Ravens, at Jets, and vs. Dolphins

2. Denver Broncos (10-2)

The Denver Broncos improved to 10-2 on the year after an overtime thriller vs. the Washington Commanders. Despite being doubted, they continue to find ways to win and now have a good shot at being the number 1 seed in the AFC and winning the AFC West.

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While it may not always be pretty, the Broncos continue to grind out one-score victories led by quarterback Bo Nix, leading multiple game-winning drives and a suffocating defense. They have proven they can compete with any team in the NFL, and their only two losses on the year came on last-second field goal attempts by the opposing team. They’re a gritty team and one that appears poised to make some noise in the final month of the regular season and into the postseason.

Looking ahead, the Broncos have another road game, this time against the Raiders, before home games vs. the Packers and Jaguars, before finishing out the year with a Christmas Night game in Arrowhead vs. the Chiefs and a home finale vs. the Chargers. It won’t be an easy road ahead for the Broncos, but they have the potential to win out and challenge for the one seed in the AFC.

Remaining Games: at Raiders, vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, at Chiefs (Christmas Night), and vs. Chargers

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)

With the Colts losing to the Texans and the Jags blowing out the Titans, we have a new King of the AFC South. Liam Coen’s Jacksonville Jaguars sit at 8-4 and are now leading the AFC South and are currently the number 3 seed in the AFC.

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Coen has quarterback Trevor Lawrence playing good football, they have a strong run game, and their defense has played well this season. With all that said, the AFC South is far from settled. The Jags and Colts play twice before the end of the season, and the Texans are not far behind both teams.

This Sunday, the Jaguars host the Colts in a game that will have huge playoff implications, followed by another home game vs. the Jets. After that, the Jags have another big game against the Broncos at Mile High before finishing out the year against the Colts on the road. They’re sitting pretty right now, but two games vs. the Colts and a road game vs. the Broncos will ultimately decide their postseason fate.

Remaining Games: vs. Colts, vs. Jets, at Broncos, at Colts, and vs. Titans

4. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)

Despite a disappointing Thanksgiving Night loss to the Bengals, the Ravens remain at the top of the AFC North due to the Steelers losing to the Bills on Sunday. They sit at 6-6, which isn’t great, but good enough to be leading the AFC North this season.

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They started the year 1-5 and looked completely out of it, but then won 5 straight before falling to Joe Burrow and the Bengals on Thanksgiving. They probably are still the favorites in this division, but it doesn’t seem like anyone really wants to win it right now, and it’ll likely go down to the regular season finale before this one is decided.

They play their first of two games vs. the Steelers this Sunday in a game that will have huge postseason implications. Following that, they face the Bengals again on the road, have a tough home game vs. the Patriots, another tough road game vs. the Packers, before finishing out the year on the road vs. the Steelers.

It won’t be an easy road ahead for the Ravens.

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Remaining Games: vs. Steelers, at Bengals, vs. Patriots, at Packers, and at Steelers

Wildcard Teams5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)

The Chargers defeated the Raiders on Sunday to improve to 8-4 on the year, but quarterback Justin Herbert would suffer a fractured non-throwing hand that would require surgery. Thankfully for the Chargers, it doesn’t seem like he’ll miss any games from this, but we’ll know more by the end of the week. Still, not something you want to see happen to your starting quarterback.

Like most years, the Chargers are dealing with multiple injuries to key players on their team, including both starting tackles. This has led to Herbert taking a lot of hits in recent weeks, and now he’s dealing with a fractured hand. Despite all this, they sit at 8-4, two back of the Broncos in the west and comfortably in a wildcard spot. However, a few losses could have them out of the playoffs entirely.

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Looking ahead, the Chargers have a big Monday Night game vs. the Eagles, followed by a tough road game vs. the Chiefs in Arrowhead. They will then head to Dallas to take on the surging Cowboys before finishing out the year against the Broncos at Mile High. That’s a tough road ahead, and the Chargers cannot afford to lose many games in this ultra-competitive AFC playoff race.

Remaining Games: vs. Eagles, at Chiefs, at Cowboys, vs. Texans, and at Broncos

6. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)

The Colts have fallen from the 1 seed to the 3 seed, to now being the 6th seed and no longer leading the AFC South. Now, they face a tough upcoming schedule and face the very real possibility of missing the playoffs entirely.

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Quarterback Daniel Jones is dealing with a fractured fibula, Jonathan Taylor has cooled off these past two weeks, and they have lost 3 out of their last 4 games. The AFC is very competitive this season, and they cannot afford many more losses if they want to remain a playoff team.

This Sunday, they have a big “must-win” game on the road vs. the Jaguars in a game where they can retake the lead in the AFC South. Following that, they have a tough road game vs. the Seahawks, home games vs. the 49ers and Jaguars, before finishing out the year on the road vs. the Texans.

That’s a brutal upcoming schedule for the Colts, who have been passed by the Jags and have the Texans right on their heels.

Remaining Games: at Jags, at Seattle, vs. Niners, vs. Jags, and at Texans

7. Buffalo Bills (8-4)

The Bills defeated the Steelers on Sunday to improve to 8-4 on the year and bounced back from a disappointing Thursday Night loss the week prior.

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Currently, the Bills are the final team in the postseason and have the Texans, Steelers, and Chiefs on their heels, looking to take their spot in the postseason. They’ll need quarterback Josh Allen to carry this team on his back if they want to make the playoffs and cannot afford many more losses.

Unfortunately for the Bills, they do have some tough games left on their schedule. They will host Joe Burrow and the Bengals this Sunday, followed by a key road matchup vs. Drake Maye and the Patriots, a road game vs. the Browns, a home game vs. the Eagles, and ending the year at home vs. the Jets.

The games vs. the Bengals, Patriots, and Eagles will be very important for the Bills, and may ultimately decide if they make the playoffs or not.

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Remaining Games: vs. Bengals, at Patriots, at Browns, vs. Eagles, and vs. Jets

In The Hunt

8. Houston Texans (7-5): They got back quarterback C.J. Stroud and have one of the best defenses in the entire NFL. They are firmly in the AFC South race and have a huge game on the road vs. the Chiefs this Sunday. This very well might be a must-win for them if they want to win the AFC South and/or make it in as a wildcard team.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6): The Steelers have lost 3 out of their last 4 games and are a bit of a mess right now. Despite this, they’re still in the AFC North race and have a big game vs. the Ravens this Sunday. Like the Texans, they may need to win this game if they want to stay in the division/wild card conversation.

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10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6): They have lost 3 out of their last 4 games and are currently the 10th seed in the AFC. They have little to no room for error moving forward and have a big must-win game at home vs. the Texans this Sunday. A loss may very well end their postseason hopes this season, while a win would keep them knocking on the door for a wildcard spot.

11. Miami Dolphins (5-7): The odds of the Dolphins making a late-season run are slim, but with the AFC up in the air right now, it’s not impossible. They will need to win out and get some help to make it happen, but there’s a chance, even if it is a slim one. They’re only getting mentioned here because I believe the 12th seed could very well win the AFC North still.

12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8): Joe Burrow is back, and the Bengals upset the Ravens on Thanksgiving night. They’re only two back of the Ravens and Steelers, and despite their 4-8 record, not out of the AFC North race. If they can string together a strong final month, they could make things very interesting in that division. One major hurdle will come this Sunday when they’ll head to Buffalo in December to take on the Bills.

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