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The 2025 NFL season is entering the home stretch. As we march further into Week 13 after Thanksgiving's tripleheader, only five full weeks of regular-season action remain until the start of the playoffs. That means, while the postseason picture is far from finalized, the race for playoff berths -- and top seeding -- is well underway.

Some preseason favorites like the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles are well on their way to the dance. Others, like the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs and defending AFC South champion Houston Texans, are on the outside looking in. Meanwhile a slew of surprise contenders, from the New England Patriots to the Denver Broncos to the Chicago Bears, are currently challenging for the right to an early-playoff bye.

Where, exactly, do all the playoff contenders sit? Which teams would be in the postseason if the schedule were halted today? And which clubs still have a shot to sneak into the mix down the stretch? Below is an updated rundown of the entire playoff picture, complete with remaining schedules for primary contenders:

Complete playoff picture

This is the NFL playoff picture as it stands, with the following teams tabbed for postseason spots:

AFC standings

  1. New England Patriots (10-2)
  2. Denver Broncos (9-2)
  3. Indianapolis Colts (8-3)
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)
  5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)
  6. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4)
  7. Buffalo Bills (7-4)

1. New England Patriots (10-2)

Remaining schedule: vs. Giants, vs. Bills, @ Ravens, @ Jets, vs. Dolphins

Drake Maye is still on an MVP-caliber run as the face of Mike Vrabel's lineup, and the remaining slate sets them up well for the Patriots' first AFC East title since Tom Brady's final season with the club in 2019. Three of the Pats' final five opponents have losing records, and three of those five fall within the division.

2. Denver Broncos (9-2)

Remaining schedule: @ Commanders, @ Raiders, vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars, @ Chiefs, vs. Chargers

Denver is buoyed by Bo Nix's late-game composure and a stellar defense led by Vance Joseph. Dates with the rival Chiefs and Chargers in the final two weeks of the season will likely determine whether the Broncos can rob Kansas City of its 10th straight division crown. But this group is all but a lock to play January ball.

3. Indianapolis Colts (8-3)

Remaining schedule: vs. Texans, @ Jaguars, @ Seahawks, vs. 49ers, vs. Jaguars, @ Texans

Can Daniel Jones rediscover the early-year efficiency that made him a stunning breakout? He'll have to do so against some stingy defenses down the stretch, with almost every one of Indianapolis' remaining opponents boasting a top 10 scoring "D." Accordingly, the Colts might be the safest bet to slip in these standings.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)

Remaining schedule: vs. Bills, @ Ravens, vs. Dolphins, @ Lions, @ Browns, vs. Ravens

The Steelers hold the North due not so much to their own prowess but rather the shakiness of their rival Baltimore Ravens, who clearly aren't enjoying a fully healthy and/or confident Lamar Jackson. Aaron Rodgers has flashed vintage touch at age 41, but he's coming off an injury of his own, and perhaps more concerning, Mike Tomlin's defense has proven incredibly streaky.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)

Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, vs. Eagles, @ Chiefs, @ Cowboys, vs. Texans, @ Broncos

Among the current wild card contenders, the Chargers might be in the most danger of losing their spot entirely. The Raiders in Week 13 should be very beatable. Otherwise, however, the Bolts will be up against some of the NFL's best defenses while struggling to keep Justin Herbert comfortable behind a depleted offensive line.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4)

Remaining schedule: @ Titans, vs. Colts, vs. Jets, @ Broncos, @ Colts, vs. Titans

The mercurial Jaguars roared back to life in Week 11 by smashing the Chargers and escaped with an OT win against the Cardinals in Week 12. They've got a very favorable schedule moving forward. Two dates with the rival Titans bodes well for Liam Coen's squad, as does a matchup with the Jets.

7. Buffalo Bills (7-4)

Remaining schedule: at Steelers, vs. Bengals, at Patriots, at Browns, vs. Eagles, vs. Jets

Josh Allen is still capable of playing Superman, as evidenced in Buffalo's Week 11 win over Tampa Bay. But Sean McDermott's defense has been more volatile. New England may be out of reach atop the AFC East, but the Bills have a relatively clear path to a wild card berth if they can claim three or four of their final six matchups.

In the hunt

The Texans (6-5) aren't to be written off in the South despite C.J. Stroud's recent absence, with DeMeco Ryans' defense ranking No. 1 in the NFL. The Chiefs (6-6) finally rediscovered their late-game flair against the Colts in Week 12, but Patrick Mahomes' last-gasp heroics weren't enough to mask greater offensive issues on Thanksgiving. And the Ravens (6-6), though talented, are just so sloppy, with Lamar Jackson in a funk and John Harbaugh's group losing the ball like crazy on Thanksgiving.

NFC standings

  1. Los Angeles Rams (9-2)
  2. Chicago Bears (9-3)
  3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5)
  5. Seattle Seahawks (8-3)
  6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)
  7. San Francisco 49ers (8-4)

1. Los Angeles Rams (9-2)

Remaining schedule: @ Panthers, @ Cardinals, vs. Lions, @ Seahawks, @ Falcons, vs. Cardinals

Matthew Stafford is slinging it with as much, if not more, confidence than he did in his title-winning Rams debut. That means L.A. is poised to feast on lesser clubs like Carolina, Arizona and Atlanta moving forward. 

2. Chicago Bears (9-3)

Remaining schedule: @ Packers, vs. Browns, vs. Packers, @ 49ers, vs. Lions

The Bears are proving to the naysayers that they are true contenders after knocking off the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles in convincing fashion. Up next is holding off the Packers, who they face in Week 14, in the NFC North race.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)

Remaining schedule: @ Chargers, vs. Raiders, @ Commanders, @ Bills, vs. Commanders

The reigning Super Bowl champions are struggling down the stretch, losing their past two games to the Cowboys and Bears and dropping down to the No. 3 seed in the NFC.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5)

Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, vs. Saints, vs. Falcons, @ Panthers, @ Dolphins, vs. Panthers

Every year, the Bucs scrape their way through the NFC South race, regardless of who's healthy around Baker Mayfield. The remaining schedule suggests a fifth straight division crown is well within reach, although Week 12's blowout loss to the Rams showed the Bucs may not be ready to hang with the heavyweights in the NFC.

5. Seattle Seahawks (8-3)

Remaining schedule: vs. Vikings, @ Falcons, vs. Colts, vs. Rams, @ Panthers, @ 49ers

Even after falling to the rival Rams in Week 11, Seattle should hang around in the race for the NFC West title due to Mike Macdonald's physical defense. It helps the Seahawks have a couple upcoming matchups with young and/or replacement quarterbacks; Week 13's date with Sam Darnold's old friends in Minnesota should be spicy.

6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)

Remaining schedule: vs. Bears, @ Broncos, @ Bears, vs. Ravens, @ Vikings

Matt LaFleur's offense has been more scattershot than usual over the course of the year, but the NFC North is still up for grabs with three divisional matchups still on tap. And the Pack took care of business on Thanksgiving with a showcase by Jordan Love and Micah Parsons, who could make Green Bay a sneakily scary contender.

7. San Francisco 49ers (8-4)

Remaining schedule: @ Browns, vs. Titans, @ Colts, vs. Bears, vs. Seahawks

Brock Purdy has been up and down since his return from a long injury. Regardless, all year, the 49ers have hung around, and now their defense should get some confidence-boosting matchups. The first one came against the Panthers; despite Purdy's three first-half interceptions, the 49ers held on to defeat Carolina.

In the hunt

The Lions (7-5) aren't the juggernaut they were a year ago at this time, with Dan Campbell's signature fourth-down gambles coming up short, but their young playmakers should keep them in the fight until the end. The Cowboys (6-5-1) are still finding their defensive footing, but Dak Prescott is playing lights out at quarterback, wheeling and dealing with George Pickens at his disposal.