The famous saying “no one remembers what you do in September (through November)” holds for the majority of the NFL’s playoff picture as the regular season heads into the final month of the year. Outside of a select few teams in the AFC, playoff races are tight across the league, and those who end up in the dance will need to do so through a strong December. With just four games remaining in the regular season, the stretch run is finally upon us. We’ll address each team’s biggest question for the remainder of the year, and take deeper dives on offseason plans for others in Week 15’s WCG NFL Power Rankings.
1. New England Patriots (11-2) Previous Week: 1
Biggest Question: Has head coach Mike Vrabel learned from his past postseason mistakes in Tennessee?
There’s no question that the Patriots are rolling, and at this point, there’s no doubt that they’ll be in the playoffs. Even so, this is a young team with a second-year quarterback who has minimal postseason experience. Vrabel has done an excellent job in Year 1 to flip the franchise’s fortunes completely, but in a month, the big test will come. Despite making the playoffs in three seasons, his inability to find playoff success after 2019 has been questioned. No two teams are ever the same, but with plenty of experienced AFC teams expected in the dance, he’ll need to rely on lessons learned to get his team to the Super Bowl.
2. Los Angeles Rams (10-3) Previous Week: 2
Biggest Question: Are the Rams truly the league’s best team?
2025 has been a weird year. On paper, there are a few “elite” teams, but on further review, it’s hard to make a case for most of them. Despite Los Angeles’ Week 13 loss to the Carolina Panthers, this group still boasts the most well-rounded roster, on top of having one of the best coaching staffs in the league. They aren’t too far removed from their last Super Bowl victory, either. The NFC West has been the best division in football this year, yet somehow the Rams continue to stand out above the rest. My money is still on them representing the NFC in the Super Bowl in February.
3. Denver Broncos (11-2) Previous Week: 3
Biggest Question: Are the Broncos really that good, or are they a product of some close-game luck?
Heading into Week 14, Denver’s nine-game winning streak was propped up by four wins by a differential of just 10 points. On the one hand, it’s easy to argue that this is not sustainable. On the other hand, their quality of wins and previous playoff experience provide hope that this isn’t just a fluke. It helps that they have one of the league’s best defenses, headlined by the most dangerous pass rush by a wide margin. Offensive inconsistencies have played their part, but when it comes down to it, they deliver when it matters the most. Having a Super Bowl-winning head coach helps, even if there’s never been one who has won the big game with two NFL teams before.
4. Seattle Seahawks (10-3) Previous Week: 4
Biggest Question: Can Sam Darnold avoid turning into a pumpkin when it matters the most?
By the metrics, the Seahawks have been at the top of the league for most of the year. The only reason they don’t receive more attention is that they are sandwiched in the middle of the most stacked division in football. Even so, their defense is about as dominant as it gets, and when the offense is on, they are nearly impossible to beat. The issue is that their passing offense has tailed off in recent weeks, and a big part of that is due to Darnold’s inconsistent play. Sound familiar, Vikings fans? Since Week 7, the veteran quarterback has an 8:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His hot-and-cold performances have put him out of the MVP race (for now), but Seattle needs to hope he can deliver down the stretch and into the playoffs.
5. Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) Previous Week: 5
Biggest Question: Are the Packers rounding into form, or are we stuck waiting for them to meet unrealistic expectations?
Before the trade of Micah Parsons, most had them as a fringe playoff team with the ability to win the division if everything went right. Post-Parsons, most expected the trade to put them over the top into the Super Bowl Contender conversation. They started the season hot with two impressive wins, but have been less consistent since. That’s not to say they’ve been “bad” by any means, but many are still waiting for their offensive production to match the defensive side of the ball. The talent is there to be a threat, even in a deep NFC, but much of that depends on better production from a highly talented, yet unproven, offense. Right now, they appear to be on the up-and-up. We’ll see if they can finish the season that way.
6. San Francisco 49ers (9-4) Previous Week: 7
Biggest Question: Are these injuries ever going to catch up with the 49ers, or are they just that well-coached?
What the 49ers have done so far in 2025 is nothing short of miraculous. Usually, when a team loses its two best defensive players, along with multiple offensive starters for long periods of time, the season goes south. Instead, the 49ers have parlayed their misfortunes into a prime position for a playoff spot with four games remaining in the regular season. Barring a stumble, this is a playoff team. The question becomes, how well do they stack up against any of their potential playoff opponents? We’ll get a preview of that in December with matchups against the Colts, Bears, and Seahawks over the final three games of the season.
7. Buffalo Bills (9-4) Previous Week: 9
Biggest Question: Are the Bills getting hot at the right time or destined to go into the playoffs with too many questions?
The AFC playoff picture has been unpredictable and surprising. Even with the Colts falling off a bit, the Broncos’ and Patriots’ are more than just “hot starts”. If the season ended today, three of the seven playoff teams from a year ago would not return, including the Chiefs. While many, including myself, projected the Bills to win the AFC, it’s looking like it’s Wild Card or bust for them. The road to the Super Bowl will come primarily on the road, and it’s worth wondering what team we’ll get once that happens.
8. Chicago Bears (9-4) Previous Week: 6
Biggest Question: How high of expectations are “too high” for Ben Johnson’s squad in Year 1?
Following a disastrous (5-12) season that saw the Bears fire a head coach in-season for the first time in franchise history, it was fair to wonder how big an improvement this team could make in one season. Vegas set their win total at (8.5), and they surpassed that with a Black Friday win on the road against the defending Super Bowl champs. The playoffs went from a dream to a possibility in the span of three weeks, but even if they play meaningful football in January, what should expectations be? That’s something that Bears fans continue to grapple with in an already highly successful 2025 campaign.
9. Houston Texans (8-5) Previous Week: 10
Biggest Question: Can the Texans parlay their hot streak into a playoff run?
Starting (0-3) is typically a death sentence in the NFL. That’s, unless you’re one of the four teams that play in the AFC South, then it’s just commonplace for a bad start to manifest itself into a playoff spot. The Colts’ hot start has gone by the wayside, and the Texans are getting healthy at the right time; the race down the stretch will be one to watch. Houston has little room for error, but with some luck, they can still either win the division or make it in as a Wild Card.
10. Los Angeles Chargers (9-4) Previous Week: 12
Biggest Question: Are the Chargers healthy enough to finish strong down the stretch?
Any time a team loses both of its starting tackles for the season, it’s going to be a hard road. Yet, somehow, the Chargers have maintained their winning ways, even if it hasn’t looked pretty. Quarterback Justin Herbert has a broken left hand, but is expected to play through it. The bigger issue is that his protection has not held up well. This is a well-coached team, but with the Chiefs, Cowboys, Texans, and Broncos remaining on their schedule, they’re going to have to earn their way into the playoffs. Monday night’s overtime win helps immensely, as does the Chiefs’ and Colts’ collapses.
11. Detroit Lions (8-5) Previous Week: 13
Biggest Question: If 11 wins are a requirement for the playoffs, how likely are the Lions to get in?
The short answer is: Not likely, but considerably better with a big win on Thursday night. The Lions kicked off the season against Green Bay with a stinker. It looked like they were going to get back on track, but it’s been up and down since that point. Any time a team loses 10-plus coaches, including both coordinators, history isn’t on their side for the following season. This is a vastly talented team that is capable of going on a run, but they are running out of race track. Could Week 18 in Chicago be for a playoff spot, or will it be too little too late by that point? We’ll see soon.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) Previous Week: 15
Biggest Question: Does Trevor Lawrence have another step to take, or is this just who he is?
When first-year head coach Liam Coen was hired in January, the prevailing thought was that he would be able to “salvage” Lawrence and get the most out of the fifth-year quarterback. So far, that has not been the case. His completion percentage has hovered at or below 60%, and he’s averaging an interception almost every game. There’s still plenty of time for this thing to take off, and their record shouldn’t be overlooked, but if you asked even the most optimistic of Jaguars fans, I can’t imagine too many of them are “happy” with how Year 1 under Coen has gone for their franchise quarterback. On the plus side, Week 14 was a step in the right direction.
13. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5) Previous Week: 8
Biggest Question: Can the Eagles overcome season-long internal adversity and repeat as NFC winners?
It’s always something with the Eagles, isn’t it? Despite a strong start to the season, rumors of behind-the-scenes turmoil have not relented. Repeating as NFC East champions felt like a foregone conclusion, but with their recent troubles and the Cowboys’ recent winning ways, it’s fair to wonder what we can expect down the stretch. They have a favorable schedule to close out the season, but many issues remain untold. How they handle the final four weeks of the season will be fascinating to monitor. Despite a crushing overtime loss, they didn’t lose any ground on Dallas heading into Week 15, so there’s that.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6) Previous Week: 14
Biggest Question: Can the Bucs round back into their early-season form with better health, or is another year of the same old thing?
Had you asked me in September who the Top 3-5 teams in the league were, the Buccaneers would have been high on my list. The issue is that since the end of September, they haven’t been playing good, consistent football week to week. Quarterback Baker Mayfield was once considered the MVP favorite, but injuries to receivers (and himself) have quietly pushed him out of the race. The good news is that they possess a favorable schedule down the stretch. The bad news is that they’ve got a lot to figure out if they plan to have postseason success (assuming they make the playoffs). The two games against the Panthers will define both teams’ season, because neither has enough juice to compete for one of the final Wild Card spots.
15. Indianapolis Colts (8-5) Previous Week: 11
Biggest Question: Can the Colts survive without Daniel Jones?
You’d have to imagine that a lot of folks around the league are asking the same question, right? For two months, Indianapolis had the best record in football. Since that point, they’ve lost three of four, and quarterback Daniel Jones has come back down to earth. They swung big at the deadline for Sauce Gardner, which is much more than a one-year outlook, but so far, it’s not looking like a worthy gamble for 2025. The AFC South is tight, and Indianapolis has lost a lot of ground in a hurry. With Anthony Richardson also not expected back, it’s hard to imagine the Colts can do enough to make it into the playoffs at this point.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) Previous Week: 20
Biggest Question: Does another late-season collapse in the AFC North finally spark real change?
I’m not saying the Steelers are going to miss the playoffs outright, but their recent trio of games isn’t inspiring much confidence, are they? Even with Sunday’s win, there are many unanswered questions. Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ production has dropped off a cliff, and the defense continues to play well below expectations. In the hypothetical scenario where they miss the playoffs (after holding such a big lead for over half the season), is this finally the year they say goodbye to Mike Tomlin and kick off an on-the-fly retooling? I wouldn’t rule it out.
17. Carolina Panthers (7-6) Previous Week: 17
Biggest Question: Who are the Carolina Panthers, really?
With four games remaining in the regular season, I’m not sure anyone can answer that. One week, they are finding a way to upset some of the best teams in football. The following week, they look like a team on the verge of a Top 5 pick. The inconsistencies they’ve shown week to week have been baffling. Yet, somehow, they are right in the mix for the NFC South. Two of their final four remaining games are against the Bucs, with the Saints and Seahawks sprinkled in between. A (3-1) finish could get the job done, but can they pull it off? Considering how Tampa Bay is playing, it’s not out of the question.
18. Baltimore Ravens (6-7) Previous Week 18
Biggest Question: Can Lamar Jackson regain enough of his form to push them over the top and into the playoffs?
Since returning from the hamstring injury that cost him three games, the offense just hasn’t looked the same. I won’t go so far as to blame it all on Jackson, but since his return, he has been uncharacteristically “off”. Despite their (1-5) start, the Ravens have a prime opportunity to take the division away from the Steelers and not look back. At this point, a nine-win finish might be enough, but (10-7) would all but guarantee their return to the playoffs. Losing to Pittsburgh on Sunday wasn’t a great step in the right direction, but they’ll be able to run it back one more time before the end of the regular season.
19. Kansas City Chiefs (6-7) Previous Week: 19
Biggest Question: Is this the end of the Chiefs’ run or simply a slow start with yet another trip to the AFC Championship game on the horizon?
I counted myself out of the preseason narrative that the Chiefs were on the downslope of their dynasty run. I’m still not a big believer that their reign of terror in the AFC is over for the long haul, but I’m starting to question their viability for the remainder of this season. It feels like we’ve been waiting all year for this thing to “click,” and it hasn’t. Couple that with a crowded AFC playoff picture, and it’s becoming easy to see a scenario where the Chiefs don’t do enough down the stretch to reach the playoffs. The division is out of reach, so their only hope is sneaking into one of the final Wild Card spots, and following Sunday night’s loss, they’re going to need a storybook ending with plenty of “help” from the multiple teams in front of them.
20. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1) Previous Week: 16
Biggest Question: How real is the Cowboys’ current run?
Not real enough, apparently. Dallas went in with a chance to make a serious statement on Thursday Night Football in Detroit, and came out looking like they did early in the season. As a team, there were far too many big mistakes, but the defense giving up 44 points in a “must-win” game is a tough one to swallow. Although they aren’t mathematically eliminated, 11 wins feels like the benchmark for a playoff spot, and the Cowboys cannot accomplish that. Their only real hope would be for the Eagles to crumble down the stretch.
21. Miami Dolphins (6-7) Previous Week: 22
Biggest Question: Has head coach Mike McDaniel done enough to save his job and survive a new general manager taking over?
Former general manager Chris Grier’s 10-year run with the team came to an end, and all of a sudden, they’ve started playing much better football. Even so, it’s hard to ignore the many complaints about leadership that have come out of Miami over the last few years. Could McDaniel get another year under a new general manager, or will that impact their search come January? These situations can be delicate, especially if ownership dictates the terms of any new hire by forcing them to keep a head coach they don’t want.
22. Cincinnati Bengals (4-9) Previous Week: 21
Biggest Question: Playoffs or no playoffs: What does this future look like in Cincinnati following 2025?
Joe Burrow is back and (3-1) when starting for the Bengals this season. The issue: Their other two backups were a combined (1-8). If they were playing in any other division, their season would be over. Instead, they hold a slim hope that they can do enough over the final four games of the season to sneak into the playoffs as the winner of the AFC North. Even so, the defense is a complete disaster, and the team isn’t well-coached. When does ownership decide that changes are needed, and could a last-minute playoff bid provide a placebo effect that keeps things status quo for yet another season? With Sunday’s loss, their hopes shrink even more.
23. Minnesota Vikings (5-8) Previous Week: 23
Biggest Question: Does J.J. McCarthy receive the Week 1 starting nod for 2026, or is serious competition incoming?
2025 was always going to be somewhat of a transitional period for the Vikings, but to combat that, they went out and tried to rebuild the interior of the offensive line. They spent big money on a pair of former Colts, Will Fries and Ryan Kelly, which, so far, has not paid off. The defense is still good, but when Carson Wentz is your most productive quarterback, there are much bigger issues. At the bare minimum, Minnesota needs to bring in a proven veteran (as the Colts did with Daniel Jones). There’s nothing McCarthy can do over the final four games of the season that should change that.
24. Atlanta Falcons (4-9) Previous Week: 22
Biggest Question: How does ownership react to yet another disappointing season?
Closing out 2025, the Falcons have far more questions than answers. All things considered, that’s a scary place to be in Year 2 of a new regime. Second-year quarterback Michael Penix showed flashes, but his third torn ACL has to bring some doubt to his long-term future. Head coach Raheem Morris was brought in to get this team over the top, and he’s failed to do that. So, what’s next? Give this group another year, or pull the plug and make another change?
25. Cleveland Browns (3-10) Previous Week: 27
Biggest Question: Do the Browns feel comfortable enough with their quarterback situation to kick the can down the road another year?
Despite spending two picks on quarterbacks in April’s draft, it’s fair to wonder if either one of them is the long-term answer as the starter. I’d lean toward a no right now, but they need to give Shadeur Sanders the final four games of the year to get an even evaluation of both young signal callers, and on Monday, it was announced that’s exactly what they’ll do. Cleveland will hold a pair of first-round selections, but only one of those is projected to be in the Top 20 as of now. Even if quarterback is a need during the draft, I’m not convinced they’ll force a pick just to do it. All eyes will continue to be on Sanders over the final four games.
26. Arizona Cardinals (3-10) Previous Week: 26
Biggest Question: Change is all but guaranteed in Arizona, but how deep will those changes run?
Year 3 of Jonathan Gannon has not gone well… At all. Despite their strong start in September, nothing has gone right since. Which begs the question, who is safe heading into 2026? It seems like it’s all but guaranteed that quarterback Kyler Murray will be playing somewhere else, but what does that mean for this regime? Relying on a rookie quarterback in a “must-win” season never ends well, and the chances that they can find a veteran that gives them more than Murray or Jacoby Brissett are a gamble, too. This roster is far too good to be this bad, which might be part of the answer in itself.
27. New York Giants (2-11) Previous Week: 29
Biggest Question: Will Jaxson Dart’s promising rookie campaign be enough to pull the top head coaching candidates?
In short, I think the answer is a resounding “yes”. Dart has been far and away the most impressive rookie quarterback, even if his play style is far too reckless to last long-term. The bigger concern I have as a Giants fan is whether this organization can finally make the right hire. Brian Daboll was the hot name in 2022, but after one season of success, things went to hell in a handbasket far too quickly. The bones of this roster are good, and it’s easy to feel like, with the right coaching staff, they can get this thing turned around in a hurry: your move, John Mara.
28. New Orleans Saints (3-10) Previous Week: 30
Biggest Question: Will general manager Mickey Loomis finally take his medicine and embrace a full-on rebuild?
I would ask if Loomis will even be around for 2026, but considering there’s no discussion of that being a thing, I’m just going to assume he’s there until he’s not. That said, can we finally see some direction outside of hiring a coaching staff? The roster is getting older, and they’ve regressed damn-near every year since Drew Brees retired. Even so, they’ve shown some promise, especially against divisional opponents, but it’s time to tear this thing down to the studs and rebuild it with proper structural support. I’m still not convinced they’ll do so, but if Loomis bites the bullet, they can find their way out of “cap hell” relatively fast. It would really help things if rookie quarterback Tyler Shough continues to show those promising signs of a potential NFL starting quarterback. After all, getting a quarterback is more than half the battle of any successful rebuild.
29. Washington Commanders (3-10) Previous Week: 25
Biggest Question: Will Jayden Daniels change his playing style to last in the NFL?
For as big a good surprise as the Commanders were in 2024, the exact opposite could be said for them this season. It always felt like they played well over their talent level last year, but with great quarterback play, it was also easy to see them as consistent playoff contenders. Instead, the ship has gone down in flames, and the roster is far and away the oldest in the league. The good news is that they’ll have plenty of resources to get things fixed during the offseason, but how reliable can Daniels be if he continues to sustain multiple injuries per season? After returning from yet another multi-game absence, he left early with another elbow injury. Precautionary or not, it’s easy to question why Washington felt the need to rush him back this quickly. Needless to say, there are many questions for the Commanders heading into 2026.
30. New York Jets (3-10) Previous Week: 28
Biggest Question: With a clear direction signaled at the trade deadline, how will the Jets use their bounty of high-round draft picks to improve their roster?
Let’s be honest, how these next four games pan out will have little to do with anything in 2026 and beyond, outside of draft positioning. The good news for the Jets is that they have plenty of early-round draft capital in the following few classes, which, if used right, should allow them to land a quarterback and plenty more key cost-controlled pieces for the future. At first, it felt like this new regime believed they could build on the current roster, but after a brutal start to the season, it became clear they had to rip off the band-aid. First-year general manager or not, that takes guts. Now we’ll see if it pays off, and how long it’ll take to get back to relevance.
31. Tennessee Titans (2-11) Previous Week: 32
Biggest Question: How confident are the Titans in Cam Ward?
I would guess that they’ll want to see him in a second year with a new head coach, but it’s a question worth asking purely based on how likely they are to land the No. 1 overall pick. If it were me, I’d give Ward a second year, trade the pick, and work on fielding a more complete roster. Then again, the Titans have been one of the more dysfunctional organizations over the last few years, so nothing would surprise me. Either way, stability and a clear direction are needed if they plan to salvage their quarterback situation.
32. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) Previous Week 31
Biggest Question: Does Pete Carroll (and what remains of his staff) get a Year 2 in Las Vegas, or is the franchise set for yet another rebuild?
If I were a betting man (as of now), I’d guess the Raiders will have their eighth new coaching staff since Mark Davis took over as the owner. Admittedly, I’m shocked that this team has somehow gotten worse under Carroll’s tenure as head coach. History is never kind to third-time NFL head coaches, but Carroll felt like a stabilizer at the very least. Instead, it’s been an utter disaster. With no quarterback and plenty of holes, this feels like the right time to trade off valuable assets like Max Crosby and start over. We’ll see if Davis, Tom Brady, and company have the stomach for that.
with a little Caleb Williams magic too
