NFL Playoff Picture Week 14 Bracket Scenarios for AFC, NFC 2025 Postseason Matchups

The 2025 NFL season is heading into the back stretch, with teams jockeying for playoff positioning and others simply playing out the schedule, their dreams and aspirations of winning a Super Bowl more closely resembling a nightmare.

Following a dominant performance by the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football, find out who stands where ahead of Week 14 and which teams would be in the playoffs if the postseason began today, with this look at the current standings.

AFC Playoff Picture

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The current AFC playoff picture is:

1. New England Patriots (11-2, East)

2. Denver Broncos (10-2, West)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4, South; Wins tie break over Indianapolis based on best win percentage in common games.)

4. Baltimore Ravens (6-6, North; Wins tie break over Pittsburgh based on best win percentage in common games.)

5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4, Wildcard; Wins tie break over Buffalo and Indianapolis based on best win percentage in conference games.)

6. Indianapolis Colts (8-4, Wildcard; Wins tie break over Buffalo based on best win percentage in conference games.)

7. Buffalo Bills (8-4, Wildcard)

8. Houston Texans (7-5)

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6; Wins tie break over Kansas City based on best win percentage in conference games.)

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)

11. Miami Dolphins (5-7)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)

13. New York Jets (2-9; Wins tie break over Cleveland based on head-to-head win percentage.)

14. Cleveland Browns (3-9)

15. e-Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)

16. e-Tennessee Titans (1-11)

e - eliminated from playoffs

NFC Playoff Picture

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The NFC playoff picture is:

1. Chicago Bears (9-3, North; Wins tie break over LA Rams based on best win percentage in conference games.)

2. Los Angeles Rams (9-3, West; Wins tie break over Seattle based on head-to-head win percentage.)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4, East)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5, South)

5. Seattle Seahawks (8-3, Wild card)

6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1, Wild card)

7. San Francisco 49ers (9-4, Wildcard)

8. Detroit Lions (7-5)

9. Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)

10. Carolina Panthers (7-6)

11. Atlanta Falcons (4-7; Wins tie break over Minnesota based on head-to-head win percentage.)

12. Minnesota Vikings (4-7)

13. e-Arizona Cardinals (3-9; Wins tie break over Washington based on best win percentage in conference games.)

14. Washington Commanders (3-9)

15. e-New Orleans Saints (2-10; Wins tie break over NY Giants based on head-to-head win percentage.)

16. e-New York Giants (2-11)

e - eliminated from playoffs

Tiebreaker scenarios via ESPN.

Is New England the NFL's Best Team?

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The New England Patriots won their 10th straight game Monday night with a dominant, one-sided victory over the New York Giants in which quarterback Drake Maye completed 24 of 31 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns, TreyVeyon Henderson carried 11 times for 67 yards, and Marcus Jones scored on a punt return.

It was a dominant win for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, who is beginning to look like the best team in the NFL.

The Pats possess the seventh-ranked defense in the league, allowing just 265.7 yards per game. They are fifth best in points allowed at 18.5.

Offensively, the team is also seventh in the league, averaging 362.6 yards per game and have scored the third-most points in the league with 351.

They have scored on two punt returns and one kickoff return, too.

Head coach Mike Vrabel has one of the most complete teams in the game, a squad that can beat an opponent in every facet of the game. A young team building confidence with every passing win, the Patriots have momentum on their side and a winnable schedule the rest of the way.

The toughest game remaining comes after their bye, a Week 15 showdown with division rivals the Buffalo Bills. There is a Week 16 game against the Baltimore Ravens, who will likely be a battling for the AFC North lead but on paper, does not match-up favorably against New England.

The Pats finish things out with the Jets and Dolphins, both of whom will likely be finishing out the stretch rather than playing meaningful football.

There is a very real possibility that New England, in the first year of the Vrabel regime, will end the season with two losses, three at the most. Based on how they are playing, and their ability to score in a variety of ways, they are a team who can roll into the playoffs, run the table, and return the organization to the Super Bowl.

The play of their special teams elevates them and makes them the clear best team in the league. At least until another team proves they can knock them off in definitive fashion.

As it stands now, the Pats are the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC. While there is plenty of reason to believe they will remain that way, the Denver Broncos have won nine straight and compete for that top seed every week.

A tougher schedule, including games against Green Bay, Kansas City, and the Los Angeles Chargers, makes the possibility of them eclipsing the Pats unlikely.