NFL 2025 playoff picture as it stands: Bracket, odds, and the bubble watch ahead of Week 14

With only five weeks remaining in the regular slate of the 2025 NFL season, this is where things get real for many, as margins shrink and the nerves begin to really take hold.

Week 14 will bring hope for some and spell disaster for others, and it opens with one of several huge swing games, when the Detroit Lions take on the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football.

Here’s how the playoff picture looks as we head into another week packed with high-stakes NFL action.

Stream NFL Week 14 for 99p with DAZN’s Game Pass deal

For just 99p, DAZN’s latest Cyber Monday deal gives you NFL Game Pass for the entirety of Week 14 - one of the busiest, most exciting slates of the season.

The deal brings you all the action from a blockbuster week, including the TNF clash between the Cowboys and Lions, Sunday's game between the Steelers and Ravens, and the Eagles vs Chargers on MNF.

In addition to every game, live or on demand, Game Pass also provides access to RedZone, NFL Network, and DAZN’s weekly original shows, including Downs 2 Business, Kittle Things, and the X’s & O’s coaching breakdown.

Click here for more details and to sign up.

AFC and NFC playoff bracket ahead of Week 14

AFC

Current AFC playoff teams

1. New England Patriots (11-2)

2. Denver Broncos (10-2)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4)

4. Baltimore Ravens (6-6)

5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)

6. Indianapolis Colts (8-4)

7. Buffalo Bills (8-4)

Current AFC teams on the bubble

8. Houston Texans (7-5)

9. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)

Current AFC playoff odds

Odds are per Next Gen Stats

Current AFC division standings

AFC breakdown and key Week 14 fixtures

As it stands, the Patriots (11-2) have the No.1 seed in the conference, which would grant them a first-round bye.

However, despite New England's lofty spot in our latest power rankings, the race for that top seed is very much alive, as the Broncos can match the Patriots' record with a win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14.

Both the Patriots and Denver are already virtually assured of a postseason berth, but the first-round bye is highly coveted because every team is desperate to avoid a potential slip-up in the Wild Card round.

• Read next | MVP tracker: Maye rules supreme after uneven Stafford performance

Notice the huge swings in the AFC North this week, with the Ravens hosting their division foes, the Steelers. If Baltimore wins, their odds increase dramatically. If the Steelers win, they take the edge in the playoff standings.

Another significant showdown takes place between the other two teams on the bubble, as the Texans visit the Chiefs.

A Texans' win greatly improves their odds and makes Kansas City's chances of January football extremely unlikely. A Chiefs win keeps their hopes alive and makes life much harder for Houston.

Then there's the Colts @ Jaguars. The winner of that game will be almost assured a playoff spot, whereas the loser will be left with much to do.

All of these outlooks, bar the Ravens-Steelers game, can, of course, be affected by what happens to other teams jostling for position, but we've tried to keep this as simple as possible.

NFC 

Current NFC playoff teams

1. Chicago Bears (9-3)

2. Los Angeles Rams (9-3)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)

5. Seattle Seahawks (9-3)

6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)

7. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)

Current NFC teams on the bubble

8. Detroit Lions (7-5)

9. Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)

10. Carolina Panthers (7-6)

Current NFC playoff odds

Odds are per Next Gen Stats

Current NFC division standings

NFC breakdown and key Week 14 fixtures

There are fewer Week 14 swing games in the NFC, where two of the teams in the hunt - the 49ers and Panthers - are on a Week 14 bye.

With that said, tonight's prime-time clash between the Lions and Cowboys has a considerable amount riding on it, making it definitely one to watch.

A Lions win improves their odds and sinks the Cowboys' chances. A Cowboys win keeps them in the hunt and severely hurts Detroit's outlook.

• Read next | Pro Bowl voting: Five early takeaways, shocks, and rookie standouts

Despite their recent dominance, which has helped them to a three-way tie for the best conference record and the current No.1 seed, the Bears need a win over the arch-rival Packers on Sunday before they can sleep soundly.

However, even if Chicago were to lose against Green Bay, they would still stand a good chance at either the division title or a Wild Card spot. That game, between two top 10 teams in our latest power rankings, promises fireworks.

Keep an eye on the Seahawks @ Falcons and Rams @ Cardinals games in Week 14, as Seattle and Los Angeles continue to compete with the Bears for the NFC's top seed.

As is the case in the AFC, several of these NFC odds in Week 14 can be impacted by what happens to other teams vying for a postseason berth.