The calendar has turned to December, with just one month left in the 2025 season, and the NFL playoff picture is coming into focus.
Take a look at the top 10 teams in the league. Would it really surprise you if any one of them ended up as Super Bowl champs?
That’s how wide open the NFL seems this season — maybe more than at any time in the past decade. Someone will emerge by February, if not in the final four weeks of the regular season.
1. Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
Chance of making playoffs: 97%
Chance of winning Super Bowl: 14%
For those wondering how the Rams would bounce back from the Week 13 upset loss to the Panthers, here’s your answer. The Rams were utterly dominant from start to finish against the Cardinals in Week 14, running away with a 45-17 win.
Three major offensive performances stood out, with Matt Stafford (93.6 grade; 1st), Puka Nacua (94.6 grade; 1st), and Blake Corum (77.4 grade; 14th) stepping up to the plate. Stafford threw three touchdowns and earned a 93.9 overall PFF grade, while Corum and Nacua combined for four total scores. Nacua was dominant again and averaged a mind-bending 7.59 yards per route run. The Rams get back to business and reclaim the top seed in the NFC.
2. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1)
Chance of making playoffs: 94%
Chance of winning Super Bowl: 12%
The top-of-the-NFC-North clash came down to the wire, and as it often has in 2025, the Packers’ defense — which ranks 13th in EPA per play — stepped up to intercept Bears quarterbacks Caleb Williams in the end zone, with Keisean Nixon (69.4 grade; 26th) making the big play. Aside from an errant interception, Packers gunslinger Jordan Love (89.9 grade; 2nd) played a great game, completing 17-of-25 pass attempts for 234 yards and three touchdowns on a 90.4 overall PFF grade.
Love and the Packers move into the top spot in the NFC North after the clutch win, and they’ve now won four matchups in a row.
3. Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
Chance of making playoffs: 97%
Chance of winning Super Bowl: 9%
A slow start from the Seahawks’ offense against the Falcons in Week 14 was comfortably navigated by the defense — which ranks second in EPA per play — and one of the better special teams units in the NFL. Seattle’s ability to hold down the fort, turn the ball over and kickstart things with a Rashid Shaheed (66.6 grade; 60th) kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half lifted the offense into life.
From there, it was business as usual. Sam Darnold (83.4 grade; 6th) connected with Jaxon Smith-Njigba (93.3 grade; 2nd) seven times for 92 yards and a touchdown, and the Seahawks ran away 37-9 winners. Mike Macdonald’s bunch moved to 10-3 on the season and kept pace at the top of the NFC West.
4. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
Chance of making playoffs: 98%
Chance of winning Super Bowl: 9%
The Bills rallied from a 28-18 deficit midway through the fourth quarter to score 21 points and defeat the Cincinnati Bengals, thanks to a superhuman Josh Allen (85.8 grade; 5th) performance in Week 14. Allen completed 22-of-28 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, adding nine carries for 78 yards and a touchdown — which resulted in a 90.4 overall PFF grade.
Buffalo needed its offense to spring to life in the fourth quarter — the defense struggled to contain the Bengals in the western New York snow, allowing six yards per play. However, corner Christian Benford (66.2 grade; 40th) scored a pick-six as the Bills picked off Joe Burrow on back-to-back plays. The Bills weren’t at their best, but they made the big plays at the right times.
5. Detroit Lions (8-5)
Chance of making playoffs: 53%
Chance of winning Super Bowl: 4%
The Lions’ offense kicked into gear against the Cowboys in Week 14, rattling off five touchdowns in a 44-30 win while averaging 0.211 EPA per play. It was the Jahmyr Gibbs (90.6 grade; 1st) show again, as the electric running back scored three touchdowns on the ground and caught seven passes for 77 yards.
The Lions, who moved to 8-5 on the season, couldn’t afford any slip-ups in a tight playoff race in the NFC — but the win didn’t come without concerns. Safety Brian Branch (77.5 grade; 9th) suffered a torn Achilles and is out for the rest of the 2025 season. Injury luck just hasn’t been on the Lions’ side in 2025.
6. Houston Texans (8-5)
Chance of making playoffs: 93%
Chance of winning Super Bowl: 9%
The Texans have been on a hot streak recently, winning five games in a row and delivering three straight statement wins against the Bills, Colts and Chiefs. The Houston defense held one of the best offenses around to just 10 points in a 20-10 win, and C.J. Stroud (67.9 grade; 27th) made some excellent plays to lead the offense on two touchdown drives.
The Texans were 3-5 five weeks ago. Now, they’re 8-5 and have a 93% chance of making the playoffs. Things can change fast in the NFL, especially when you have the best defense in EPA per play.
7. Denver Broncos (11-2)
Chance of making playoffs: >99.9%
Chance of winning Super Bowl: 13%
It’s now 10 wins in a row for the Broncos after their close 24-17 triumph over the Raiders in Week 14. A punt return touchdown from Marvin Mims Jr. (64.3 grade; 70th) set the Broncos on their way, and rookie RJ Harvey (72.4 grade; 23rd) continues to impress, generating an 86.5 overall PFF grade while scoring a touchdown and racking up 100 yards from scrimmage.
The Broncos’ offense still has its bugs, but the defense — which ranks fifth in EPA per play — continues to play at an elite level. The Broncos face the Packers in Week 15, and that could be a huge barometer for their legitimacy as contenders.
8. New England Patriots (11-2)
Chance of making playoffs: >99.9%
Chance of winning Super Bowl: 6%
The Patriots were in the last group of teams to go on their bye in Week 14, and there will be hope within the fanbase that it doesn’t slow their momentum. With the playoffs all but confirmed, the goal now for the Patriots is to lock up the AFC East while continuing to gun for the top seed in the conference.
That ambition starts with a tough game against the Bills in Week 15, and a win would seriously help strengthen Drake Maye’s (87.1 grade; 4th) MVP case late in the season. Maye leads the NFL in completion percentage (71.5%) and has the fourth-most completions (25) of 20 yards or more. He’s been sensational in his second year in the NFL.
9. Baltimore Ravens (6-7)
Chance of making playoffs: 31%
Chance of winning Super Bowl: 2%
The Ravens had the perfect opportunity to open up a lead in the AFC North with a win over the Steelers in Week 14. The Steelers had been off the ball, losing five of their last seven games heading into the clash. Although the Ravens hadn’t been playing at their best, they were overwhelming favorites.
Instead, they dropped the ball. Lamar Jackson (65.8 grade; 29th) arguably played his best game since returning from injury, posting a 76.3 overall PFF grade and scoring two touchdowns. But the Ravens came unstuck, allowing Aaron Rodgers to dice them up through the air in a 27-19 loss. Their playoff odds drop to 31%.
10. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
Chance of making playoffs: 92%
Chance of winning Super Bowl: 4%
A late bye week didn’t change the picture too much for the 49ers in Week 14. They will still comfortably make the playoffs, with current odds of 92%, and sit in the No. 6 seed with a 9-4 record. Since Brock Purdy (68.7 grade; 25th) returned to the lineup, San Francisco’s offense is 17th in success rate, and Purdy still hasn’t been playing his best ball as he inches closer to full health.
There are also concerns about the strength of the defense, which ranks 24th in EPA per play. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan has delivered a masterclass in coaching in 2025. The 49ers always have a chance when he’s calling the plays.