Week 13 NFL Playoff Picture 2025-26, Standings, Bracket Scenarios After Thanksgiving

All three Thanksgiving Day results across the NFL made a significant impact in the AFC and NFC playoff races.

The Baltimore Ravens' Thursday night loss to the Cincinnati Bengals temporarily dropped them out of first place in the AFC North and out of the playoff spots.

The Kansas City Chiefs reside in a similar position at 6-6, but with less opportunities for upward mobility in the AFC following their loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas still has plenty of work to do to be considered in the NFC wild-card race, but it did inch closer to the No. 7 spot thanks to its win and the Detroit Lions' defeat to the Green Bay Packers.

AFC Standings

AP Photo

Division Leaders

New England (10-2)

Denver (9-2)

Indianapolis (8-3)

Pittsburgh (6-5)

Wild-Card Race

Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)

Jacksonville (7-4)

Buffalo (7-4)

Houston (6-5)

Kansas City (6-6)

Baltimore (6-6)

Miami (4-7)

Cincinnati (4-8)

Cleveland (3-8)

Las Vegas (2-9)

New York Jets (2-9)

Tennessee (1-10)

The Chiefs and Ravens both sit outside the playoff places after their respective losses on Thursday.

Baltimore at least has a clear path to the playoffs still through winning the AFC North. The Ravens play the Pittsburgh Steelers in Weeks 14 and 18 in games that will decide the division title.

Kansas City is three games back of the Denver Broncos in the AFC West and likely needs to win most, if not all, of its remaining games.

The Chiefs must beat the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers in the next two weeks to pick up the pace in the wild-card race.

Kansas City still needs to overcome its losses to the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Chiefs lost once to the Chargers, but can split the season series in Week 15.

The Chiefs are in big trouble and one loss in the next two weeks could completely kill their playoff hopes because of how many tiebreakers would be out of their favor.

NFC Standings

AP Photo

Division Leaders

Los Angeles Rams (9-2)

Philadelphia (8-3)

Chicago (8-3)

Tampa Bay (6-5)

Wild-Card Race

Seattle (8-3)

Green Bay (8-3-1)

San Francisco (8-4)

Detroit (7-5)

Dallas (6-5-1)

Carolina (6-6)

Atlanta (4-7)

Minnesota (4-7)

Arizona (3-8)

Washington (3-8)

New Orleans (2-9)

Dallas and Green Bay's victories shifted the complexion of the NFC wild-card race.

Green Bay is now 1.5 games in front of the Lions, while Dallas is just one game back of Detroit in the win column.

The Packers could end the weekend atop the NFC North if the Chicago Bears lose to the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday.

Detroit and Dallas play next Thursday in a massive game in the context of the wild-card race.

The winner of that contest picks up a head-to-head tiebreaker that might be useful after Week 18 depending on what happens with the San Francisco 49ers.

Detroit can still catch the Bears for the NFC North crown, as could the Cowboys in the NFC East against the Eagles.

But if the Eagles win on Friday, it's far more likely that Dallas' path to the playoffs is through a wild-card spot, which means Thursday is a must-win for the Cowboys against Detroit.

Before Dallas and Detroit face off, the 49ers can open their advantage with a win over the Cleveland Browns. The 49ers have a Week 14 bye, but if they beat Browns, they will at least have a one-game advantage in the wild-card race when they return to action in Week 15.