1 Reason Each Potential NFL Playoff Team Can Win Super Bowl 60

As we embark on the final quarter of the 2025 NFL season, 21 teams remain either in playoff spots or within two games of said positions.

Technically, any of 'em could still win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Here's one reason for each to believe it's still possible.

AFC East

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Josh Allen

Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen -- He hasn't been quite as crisp as he was in his MVP 2024 campaign, but the franchise quarterback is certainly the key for the Bills. The 29-year-old has a combined 247 passing and rushing touchdowns since 2020, while no other quarterback has more than 205 in that span. With the Chiefs and Ravens in major trouble, is this finally his moment?

Miami Dolphins: Momentum -- They haven't lost a game since Halloween. De'Von Achane is going off, and the defense has 10 takeaways over the course of a four-game winning streak. Might they just keep rolling in a wide-open season?

New England Patriots: Drake Maye + momentum + home field -- Basically all of the above in addition to the fact the Patriots have a good shot at home field throughout the playoffs. Maye is a prime MVP candidate as the conference's highest-rated passer, they haven't lost since September, and four of their last five home victories have come by 13-plus points.

AFC North

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Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson -- The two-time MVP is still one of the most dynamic players in the sport. The pressure could actually be down because the Ravens have struggled, so it's possible Jackson and Co. react differently this postseason. And there's still a good chance they pull off the division win anyway. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Defensive playmaking -- Aaron Rodgers may have his limitations at this point in his career, but he's still a four-time MVP quarterback supported by a defense that can hijack games when it is at its best. Nobody in the AFC has more takeaways than Pittsburgh, with 13 of their 23 coming in the last six weeks.

AFC South

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Jonathan Taylor

Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud and a surging defense -- Said defense has been fantastic, surrendering just 17.1 points per game since Week 8. If that continues and Stroud can reach the ceiling we saw from him as a rookie, the Texans can pull it off. 

Indianapolis Colts: Jonathan Taylor -- Losing Daniel Jones hurts, a lot. But when Taylor is at his best, few offensive players in the game are as dominant. If he can get hot again down the stretch, the Colts could find a way against a bunch of flawed AFC contenders. 

Jacksonville Jaguars: Momentum -- In their only loss since their Week 8 bye, the Jags actually outplayed the Texans on the road before melting down in the fourth quarter. That isn't ideal, but it doesn't change the fact Jacksonville has been extremely competitive pretty much all year. If Trevor Lawrence can get rolling in support of an opportunistic defense, you never know.

AFC West

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Patrick Mahomes

Denver Broncos: Bo Nix + momentum + home field -- See the Patriots earlier, but sub in Nix for Maye. Denver is 6-0 at home this season and on track for the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Nix hasn't been as good as Maye in a battle of sophomore sensations, but the Denver defense has a slight leg-up on New England's. 

Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes -- Throw in Andy Reid for good measure. I don't care how deep the hole is, these guys have a shot until they're mathematically eliminated. 

Los Angeles Chargers: What we saw Monday night -- The offensive line is a mess, they lack consistency and they've capitalized on a soft schedule, but that was a gritty win over the defending Super Bowl champions by a well-coached and well-quarterbacked team. More of that and they've got a shot.

NFC East

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Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys: Philly ain't right -- And so long as that's the case, the NFC East could be up for grabs. They also have a new group of triplets in Dak Prescott, George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, so it can't be ruled out. 

Philadelphia Eagles: They did it last year -- And while the last few weeks have been a struggle, this is an experienced, resilient team that won't panic. The Dodgers were significantly less dominant in 2025 than they were in 2024, but they calmly went about business and easily made it back to the World Series. The Eagles could follow the same path.

NFC North

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Caleb Williams

Chicago Bears: A game-changing defense + Caleb Williams -- The Chicago D has generated a league-high 27 takeaways, 26 of which have come during a 9-2 stretch following an 0-2 start. If that unit can keep taking over games and their young franchise quarterback can find a groove, you never know.

Detroit Lions: The talent is absolutely there -- In fact, there may not be a more talented team in the NFL, top to bottom. And in an offensive-driven era, the Lions are the NFL's highest-scoring team. There have been hiccups, but this remains an elite team in contention thanks to its overall talent. 

Green Bay Packers: The ingredients are there -- Jordan Love has a star-level ceiling, decent protection and depth in his arsenal, while the Micah Parsons-led defense is elite. And in six games against teams on this list, they have one loss. 

NFC South

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Baker Mayfield

Carolina Panthers: The NFC South is in their grasp -- They aren't yet a good team, but neither are the sliding Buccaneers, whom they play twice in the next four weeks. Win those games and you're a surprise division champ with nothing to lose in the playoffs, and nobody is unbeatable this season. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The NFC South is in their grasp -- All of the above but throw in that the Bucs have the experience and talent edge over Carolina. More than a handful of their key players have been there, done that. 

NFC West

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Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford might be the MVP -- He's having a career year at 37, and we know he has the weapons and support on offense and defense. Throw in that Sean McVay is already a champion and the path is obvious for this experienced team. 

San Francisco 49ers: They know how to overcome -- They've done it all year despite a slew of seemingly crushing injuries, and their last five wins have come by double-digit margins during a 5-2 stretch to remain in the picture. You can't count out a Mike Shanahan-coached team at 9-4. 

Seattle Seahawks: They've outscored their opponents by a league-high 12.4 points per game -- The Seahawks may lack a trademark win and an elite quarterback, but they rank No. 2 in scoring offense and defense and have an inside track to the top seed in the NFC thanks to home-field advantage in a Week 16 matchup with the Rams.