1 Sentence Scenario For Every Team to Make 2025 NFL Playoffs

The NFL is famous for its annual turnover when it comes to playoff teams. Right now, almost everybody has a path to playoff football this winter. 

However, some routes are more circuitous than others. 

Here’s what has to happen for each team to play games in mid-January, 2026.

AFC East

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Buffalo Bills: A healthy Josh Allen pretty much ensures playoff football in Buffalo. 

Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa remains on the field for the vast majority of the season, and Tyreek Hill doesn’t blow things up with his actions or words. 

New England Patriots: Drake Maye avoids a sophomore slump thanks in part to a bolstered supporting cast, and the Dolphins implode again.

New York Jets: Justin Fields finally breaks out as a consistently effective passer for a team that has playoff-caliber talent elsewhere on both sides of the ball.

AFC North

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Baltimore Ravens: A healthy season from Lamar Jackson ensures playoff football in Baltimore. 

Cincinnati Bengals: A team that started 2-3 in 2022, 1-3 in 2023 and 1-4 in 2024 finally gets its act together in September. 

Cleveland Browns: A miracle season from one of their five quarterbacks and another elite year from Myles Garrett on defense would do the trick. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: With solid support on defense, a 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers reaches back for one more golden season and clicks with DK Metcalf for double-digit wins in a tough division.

AFC South

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Houston Texans: A simple bounce-back from a sophomore slump from C.J. Stroud should do the trick in this still-soft division. 

Indianapolis Colts: It’d take a sudden and jarring breakout from either Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones, plus likely some help via struggles from Stroud, Trevor Lawrence and Cam Ward.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Major supporting cast changes help Trevor Lawrence finally put together a completely healthy and productive season, and the Texans slip up again.

Tennessee Titans: Another collapse from the Texans, another collapse from the Jaguars and a strong rookie season from rookie No. 1 pick Cam Ward could land the Titans a surprise division crown.

AFC West

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Denver Broncos: Bo Nix picking up where he left off late in his rookie season should get the defensively stout Broncos there again, but the Chiefs finally falling off the throne would cement it. 

Kansas City Chiefs: Even though he’s struggled the last couple of years and the team is fading in general, another full season from Patrick Mahomes should be enough for the Chiefs to at least grab a wild-card spot. 

Las Vegas Raiders: This would require a stellar year from Geno Smith, a sophomore slump from Nix, the end of the Chiefs’ divisional dynasty and likely even some struggles from the Chargers in Jim Harbaugh’s second season there.

Los Angeles Chargers: Continued improvement from Harbaugh’s offense and quarterback Justin Herbert, plus a slip from either Denver or Kansas City.

NFC East

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Dallas Cowboys: Considering how strong this division has become, Dak Prescott will probably have to return to 2021/2023 levels of production while actually remaining healthy for the entire campaign this time. 

New York Giants: Prescott fails to do that, Jayden Daniels suffers a sophomore slump and the Eagles encounter a Super Bowl hangover while Russell Wilson rediscovers some of his old magic. 

Philadelphia Eagles: This team is so talented that as long as it isn’t crushed by injuries, a wild-card spot is a no-brainer in the worst-case scenario. 

Washington Commanders: Daniels avoids a sophomore slump similar to Stroud's in 2024, which seems likely considering that the Commanders have given him even more support and weapons this year.

NFC North

AP Photo/Mike Roemer

Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams makes major strides as a sophomore with a solid supporting cast, and the Vikings and/or Packers fall on their faces. 

Detroit Lions: As I noted regarding the Eagles, this team is so talented that as long as it isn’t crushed by injuries, a wild-card spot is a no-brainer in the worst-case scenario. 

Green Bay Packers: A more consistent season from franchise quarterback Jordan Love and no major rashes of injuries should get the Packers there.

Minnesota Vikings: It’ll require an immediate connection between first-year starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy and his tremendous group of pass-catchers, but even that might only be enough for wild-card action in this division and conference.

AFC South

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Atlanta Falcons: Honestly, in this wide-open division, a strong first full season from Michael Penix Jr. probably does the trick for the offensively stacked Falcons. 

Carolina Panthers: The soft division gives them hope, but third-year QB Bryce Young would need to make major strides and get way more support from the league’s worst-ranked defense from 2024. 

New Orleans Saints: Carolina and New Orleans (who would need a shocking rookie performance from Tyler Shough) would also realistically need the Bucs to collapse, as that veteran team has still managed to win four consecutive division titles.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Seeing as this division is unlikely to get any wild-card spots, and with Penix and Young possibly coming up for Atlanta and Carolina, the Bucs probably need more from Baker Mayfield now than they got in 2024.

NFC West

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Arizona Cardinals: A big stride from both Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. should be enough for a team that should continue to improve elsewhere. 

Los Angeles Rams: The Cardinals don’t take off, the 49ers don’t fix what ailed them in 2024 and Matthew Stafford avoids falling off a cliff. 

San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy gets it back on track after signing a big new deal, and the division favorite 49ers simply remain healthy this time. 

Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold gets past his late-2024 struggles and has another strong year for a competitive team, and nobody else in the division reaches their potential.