NFL playoff picture: Updated AFC, NFC standings after Week 12 of 2025 season

NFL playoff picture: Updated AFC, NFC standings after Week 12 of 2025 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

What 14 teams are positioned to make the NFL playoffs in the 2025 regular season, from the eight division winners to six total wild cards? What would the seeding look like in the race for Super Bowl 60?

Here are the answers in Sporting News' latest look at how the postseason field is coming together in both conferences after Week 12:

POWER RANKINGS:Rams take over at top as Eagles, Bills, Steelers drop; Bears, Cowboys rise for Week 13

NFL playoff picture after Week 12

AFC

1. New England Patriots 10-2 (first place, AFC East)

The Patriots beat the Bengals to extend their division lead to 2.5 games plus a head-to-head tiebreaker lead over the Week12-losing 7-4 Bills in the division title race. They also jump the idle Broncos with the win in Cincinnati..

2. Denver Broncos 9-2 (first place, AFC West)

The Broncos, on a Week 12 bye, lead the division by two full games over the Chargers and three games over the Chiefs, whom they beat in Denver in Week 11. They fell behind the Patriots, who have played and won one more games and now matched their conference record at 6-2.

3. Indianapolis Colts 8-3 (first place, AFC South)

The Colts fell here, 1.5 games behind the Patriots and a full game behind the Broncos, with their tough Week 12 overtime loss at Kansas City. They also saw their division lead over the Jaguars drop to only one game.

4. Baltimore Ravens 6-5 (first place, AFC North)

The Ravens have finished their rally after a 1-5 start with their fifth consecutive win to overtake the Steelers by a division record tiebreaker (2-0 vs. 2-1) with the teams still needing to play each other twice, in Weeks 14 and 18.

5. Los Angeles Chargers 7-4 (second place, AFC West)

The Chargers are down two full games to the Broncos, whom they beat in Week 3 at home and don't play again until Week 18 in Denver. They are still in top wild-card position after their Week 12 bye, with the conference-record tiebreaker (6-2) over both the Jaguars and Charges.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars 7-4 (second place, AFC South)

The Jaguars can catch the Colts in the division race down only one game because the teams still play each other twice, Week 14 in Jacksonville and Week 17 at Indianapolis. But they also need to worry about the four teams right behind them to at least fall back on a wild-card berth.

7. Buffalo Bills 7-4 (second place, AFC East)

The Bills' loss to the Texans caused them to lose a full game to the Patriots in the division and also put them behind the Chargers. They also fell behind the Jaguars, making it a rough week all-around.

Who's in the hunt?

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5)9. Houston Texans (6-5)10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-5)11. Miami Dolphins (4-7)

The Steelers lost to drop here behind the Ravens, while the Texans and Chiefs also won to get closer to a wild-card spot. The Steelers and Texans are ahead of the Chiefs with better conference records for now.

Who's left?

12. Cincinnati Bengals (3-8)13. Cleveland Browns (3-8)14. Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)15. New York Jets (2-9)16. Tennessee Titans (1-10)

The Browns, who routed the Raiders, were the only team to win here in Week 12. The Bengals, Jets and Titans lost to further bury their disappointing seasons.

NFL DRAFT ORDER: Titans, Giants remain on pace to claim top '26 selections

NFC

1. Los Angeles Rams 9-2 (first place, NFC West)

The Rams lead the Seahawks, whom they beat in Week 11, by a game and head-to-head tiebreaker. They also are two games up on the third-place 49ers, but with their season split, the 49ers hold the division-record tiebreaker (4-1 vs. 2-1) for now.

2. Philadelphia Eagles 8-3 (first place, NFC East)

The Eagles fell a half-game behind the Rams with their shocking loss to the Cowboys after blowing a 21-0 lead on Sunday. They still lead the division by 2.5 games over the Cowboys and stay here ahead of the Bears thanks to the conference-record tiebreaker (7-2 vs. 5-2) before playing that team in Week 13.

3. Chicago Bears 8-3 (first place, NFC North)

The Bears still lead the second-place Packers by a half-game and the third-place Lions by a full game after beating the Steelers at home in Week 12 to stay ahead of both teams. They will try to pass a big test against the Eagles on Black Friday of Week 13.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-5 (first place, NFC South)

The Buccaneers lead the second-place Panthers by only a division-record tiebreaker (2-0 vs. 2-1) after their three-game losing streak. Baker Mayfield getting hurts vs. the Rams makes it tougher to keep that lead.

5. Seattle Seahawks 8-3 (second place, NFC West) 

The Seahawks are in the top wild-card spot but it's a precarious position with both the Packer sitting a half-game behind and both the 49ers and Lions one game behind. They beat the Titans in Week 12 to maintain this spot.

6. Green Bay Packers 7-3-1 (second place, NFC North)

The Packers beat the Vikings at home to keep pace with the first-place Bears and third-place Lions. They also stayed at No. 6 ahead of the 49ers, who play on Monday night.

7. San Francisco 49ers 8-4 (third place, NFC West)

The 49ers are back in the mix to try to catch and pass the Rams again in the NFC West and also are only a half game behind the Seahawks after beating the Panthers on Monday night.

Who's in the hunt?

8. Detroit Lions 7-49. Carolina Panthers 6-610. Dallas Cowboys 5-5-111. Atlanta Falcons 4-712. Minnesota Vikings 4-713. Arizona Cardinals 3-814. Washington Commanders 3-8

The Lions needed to avoid that Giants upset to stick with the Bears and Packers. The Panthers missed a chance at first place by losing at the 49ers. The Cowboys pushed back to .500 to stay alive with their massive comeback against the Eagles.

Who's left?

15. New Orleans Saints 2-916. New York Giants 2-10

The Saints and Giants are staying right there in the running for the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2026 with the Jets, Titans and Raiders. The Giants won the race to be eliminated first.