NFL playoff bracket Week 14: Updated look at AFC, NFC pla...

NFL playoff bracket Week 14: Updated look at AFC, NFC playoff picturesStory by

Jacob Camenker, USA TODAYTue, December 2, 2025 at 6:42 PM UTC·3 min read

The NFL has often been considered a league of parity throughout its existence. The league's 2025 season has been a perfect example of that.

Few would have expected the New England Patriots would have the NFL's best record through 13 weeks. Even fewer would have anticipated the Patriots would be jockeying for position with the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears atop the NFL standings.

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Perhaps most surprising of all, the Kansas City Chiefs have gone just 6-6 over their first 12 games. The three-time reigning AFC champions will need to finish the season hot to sneak into the postseason. So too will the Baltimore Ravens, who also sport a 6-6 record but are clinging to a razor-thin lead in the AFC North.

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

Week 1: The New England Patriots' Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.

Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.

Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.1 / 4

Best images of the 2025 NFL season

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Because of the chaos defining divisional battles across the NFL – where no division leader sports an advantage larger than the Patriots' 2.5 games – there aren't expected to be any potential playoff clinching scenarios in Week 14. All the division and wild-card races remain too close to call in this topsy-turvy season, which should create an exciting five-week stretch run for NFL fans.

How does the NFL's playoff bracket shape up heading into Week 14? Here's a look at the NFL playoff picture and which teams would square off if the postseason began after Week 13.

NFL playoff picture Week 14

The NFL's playoff picture remains wide open entering Week 14 of the 2025 season. Just five teams have thus far been eliminated from playoff contention while the wild-card races in both conferences are shaping up to be tight battles.

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In the AFC, just two teams have been eliminated from postseason play while 10 of the remaining 14 teams have records of .500 or better. The Patriots sport an NFL-best record of 11-2 through 13 weeks and are battling the Broncos for the No. 1 seed in the conference.

Meanwhile, the NFC has a few more bottom-feeders, as three teams have been eliminated from the playoff race. That said, the NFC also has 10 teams with winning records and a couple of tight divisional races in the NFC West and NFC North that should be exciting to follow to the finish.

Here's how the playoff picture looks entering Week 14:

AFC playoff picture

New England Patriots (11-2; AFC East leaders)
Denver Broncos (10-2; AFC West leaders)
Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4, AFC South leaders)
Baltimore Ravens (6-6; AFC North leaders)
Los Angeles Chargers (8-4, wild card No. 1)
Indianapolis Colts (8-4; wild card No. 2)
Buffalo Bills (8-4, wild card No. 3)

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In the hunt: Houston Texans (7-5); Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6); Kansas City Chiefs (6-6); Miami Dolphins (5-7); Cincinnati Bengals (4-8); New York Jets (3-9); Cleveland Browns (3-9)

Eliminated: Las Vegas Raiders (2-10); Tennessee Titans (1-11)

NFC playoff picture

Chicago Bears (9-3; NFC North leaders)
Los Angeles Rams (9-3; NFC West leaders)
Philadelphia Eagles (8-4; NFC East leaders)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5; NFC South leaders)
Seattle Seahawks (9-3, wild card No. 1)
Green Bay Packers (8-3-1, wild card No. 2)
San Francisco 49ers (9-4, wild card No. 3)

In the hunt: Detroit Lions (7-5); Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1); Carolina Panthers (7-6); Atlanta Falcons (4-8); Minnesota Vikings (4-8); Washington Commanders (3-8)

Eliminated: Arizona Cardinals (3-9), New Orleans Saints (2-10), New York Giants (2-10)