Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season was everything we love about football wrapped into one weekend. Jameis Winston and the New York Giants, despite the loss, were arguably the most fun watch of the slate. The Los Angeles Rams planted their flag as the best team in the league with a statement win. And the Atlanta Falcons… did they actually keep their microscopic playoff hopes (a whopping 3%) alive by smashing the New Orleans Saints?
Up to 20 teams still have a real shot at the postseason. Heading into Thanksgiving, what more could you ask for?
Now Week 13 is here, and for the first time in a while, nobody’s on bye. All 32 teams are fighting for position, whether that’s draft capital or a playoff berth. So let’s get after these rankings:
1) Los Angeles Rams (9-2) (even)
It’s always nice when the best team in the NFL shows itself early; it’s even better when you can see the process go from good to great as a season progresses. The Rams have undeniably become the team to beat in the NFL with Matthew Stafford, Davonte Adams, and this incredible defensive front putting the hurt on anybody in their path.
2) Seattle Seahawks (8-3) (even)
It’s the Titans, sure, but I think it’s time we discuss the season that Jaxon Smith-Njigba is having. Through 11 games, Smith-Njigba has 1,313 yards, 5th-most in the first 11 games of a season. He’s currently on pace to be the first wide receiver to break the 2K mark and set the single-season receiving record held by Hall-of-Fame receiver Calvin Johnson (2012).
Pretty good.
3) Green Bay Packers (7-3-1) (+4)
I don’t know what to make of this Packers team fully, but I know they have the talent to win a Super Bowl this season. They do. Especially with the way that Micah Parsons is playing. Parsons becomes only the 2nd player to have 10+ sacks in each of his first five seasons, joining Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White.
4) Indianapolis Colts (8-3) (even)
Indianapolis gave Kansas City everything they could handle, but they couldn’t beat the bully off the block just yet. That still doesn’t take away from the incredible season this Colts team is having.
5) Detroit Lions (7-4) (even)
It almost happened. Detroit let its guard down, and the Winston-led Giants almost stole one. But, they had a superhuman effort from Jahmyr Gibbs, including an 80% rushing success rate on 15 carries for 219 yards. Gibbs’ 14.6 yards/carry is tied for the most of any back with 15 or more carries with the New York Jets’ Isaiah Crowell in 2018.
6) Denver Broncos (9-2) (even)
With a firm two-game lead in the AFC West, the Broncos and their suffocating defense will have a chance to knock the rust off against a struggling Commanders squad.
7) New England Patriots (10-2) (+1)
Drake Maye is starting to show a few cracks in his MVP case, but he’s nonetheless led this Patriots team to be the first with 10 wins on the season and the number-one seed in the AFC. The showdown between Maye and Winston on Monday Night will be must-see TV.
8) Buffalo Bills (7-4) (-5)
Buffalo fought back, but there’s no denying that the Houston Texans really beat them up on Thursday night. Those eight sacks were the most Josh Allen has ever had in one game. Now, they have an important bout against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who may also be looking for an AFC wild-card berth, on Sunday.
9) Kansas City Chiefs (6-5) (+1)
They survived another week. I don’t know how they continue to pump oxygen into this season, but the Chiefs aren’t dead yet. But this Thanksgiving, against a red-hot Dallas Cowboys offense, all eyes are going to be glued to see if KC can make another run at the right time.
10) Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) (-1)
I’m not a fan of this Eagles team, and they dug deep to find a way to lose to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. But there’s no denying the talent on this roster. Despite the ups and downs, this is still a top ten team that can be dangerous when they get in the dance.
11) Baltimore Ravens (6-5) (+1)
Narrowly escaping the New York Jets doesn’t necessarily give me the biggest vote of confidence, but the Ravens have worked their way back to the top of the AFC North. Will they be able to make a statement against the struggling Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving night? Honestly, who knows?
12) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) (-1)
Despite Baker being hurt, the Bucs have a run of the Cardinals, Saints, and Falcons all at home before going to Carolina and Miami and finishing with one last game against Carolina at home. On paper, this is one of the easier finishes to the season and the Bucs have the fast track to their fifth-straight division title.
13) San Francisco 49ers (8-4) (+3)
It doesn’t always have to be pretty (or should I say Purdy), but if you’re a 49ers fan, you pray that it looks better than that. As it stands, the 49ers are the final wild-card team in the dance in the NFC, and they belong there.
14) Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) (even)
Just take care of business against the Raiders. Please. This is a team that has done an incredible job of beating up the AFC, going 6-1 in the conference with two potential AFC wild-card contenders (Chiefs, Texans) looming.
15) Chicago Bears (8-3) (+1)
Caleb Williams is slowly becoming the quarterback that the Bears need him to be, and it’s really nice to see. With his performance on Sunday, Williams became the first Bears quarterback to throw 3+ touchdowns and no interceptions in three games in a season since Dave Krieg in 1996.
16) Houston Texans (6-5) (+2)
Davis Mills has held it down long enough, and now, with a trip to Indianapolis on the way, it’s looking like CJ Stroud will finally be able to return. Just in time for a run at the playoffs.
17) Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4) (even)
The Jaguars continue to find a way to win, despite the up-and-down play of the entire team. A fun stat: Since 2008, teams are 195-3 when committing 4 turnovers, but not forcing any.
18) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5) (-3)
Well, the Mason Rudolph cameo was not enough to get the win on Sunday, and now they have a heavy-hitter in the Buffalo Bills coming into town. With the AFC North still in the balance, the Steelers have a rough go of it to finish this season, including two Steelers-Ravens games that are shaping up to be legendary.
19) Dallas Cowboys (5-5-1) (+2)
From down 21 to into the hunt for the final wild-card spot, the Cowboys are back! Dak Prescott and company have an opportunity to really announce it to the world with the reigning AFC Champion, the Kansas City Chiefs, on the docket for Thanksgiving.
20) Carolina Panthers (6-5) (-1)
Well, Bryce Young still isn’t the answer, but if you’re Carolina, you can’t feel too bad about your current state. You’re still right in the thick of things in the race for the NFC South, and you for sure got a monster of a WR1 in rookie Tetairoa McMillan. Oh, and an insane game from Jaycee Horn, who becomes the first Carolina Panther with multiple games with 2+ interceptions in their short history.
21) Minnesota Vikings (4-7) (-1)
It’s over. The J.J. McCarthy experience is a dud. Minnesota gave up both Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold, who are both top ten in Adjusted net yards per attempt, for access to this experiment surrounding QB development, and it has unfortunately failed miserably for the Vikings and their talented roster.
22) Miami Dolphins (4-7) (even)
Do the Dolphins have actual aspirations to make the playoffs? Probably not anymore, but they are playing hard for Mike McDaniel to keep his job, and given this late-season resurgence, he just might. Now, about that quarterback…
23) Atlanta Falcons (4-7) (+3)
Speaking of quarterbacks, welcome back Kirko Chainz! Kirk Cousins has given this Falcons team, littered with young talent, something to play for in the back half of the season. With Penix and London out against the hapless Saints, there was talk of reining it in and trying again next season. While the Falcons should still ultimately blow it up, being able to put a good product on the field for the final two months of the season is something Falcons fans should be happy about.
24) Washington Commanders (3-8) (-1)
Such a disappointing season for the Commanders, who had hopes of repeating last season’s success. The bye week couldn’t have come fast enough. Now, they still may not have Jayden Daniels as one of the more dominant defenses in the league come into town on Sunday night in the Denver Broncos.
25) Arizona Cardinals (3-8) (-1)
The Kyler Murray of it all aside, this Cardinals defense has been something to see. Mix that with Jacoby Brissett playing as well as you can expect a backup to play, and the Cardinals have…something…to work off of for the short-term.
26) Cincinnati Bengals (3-8) (-1)
I mean, at least Joe Burrow is coming back, right? Yes, you may be completely out of the playoff race, but at least there’s that…
27) New York Giants (2-10) (even)
Thank you, Jameis Winston. Without you, these Giants games would not be nearly as entertaining. Unfortunately, the Giants were the first team mathematically eliminated from the postseason, but that’s beside the point.
28) Cleveland Browns (3-8) (+2)
Shedeur Sanders becomes the first rookie quarterback for the Browns to win his first start since Eric Zeier in 1995. What does that mean for Cleveland? Maybe nothing, or maybe that they’ve found their franchise guy. Either way, I’m sure we’re going to have a nice, civilized discussion about it.
29) Las Vegas Raiders (2-9) (-1)
This has been a disaster for the Raiders. The offensive line is atrocious, Geno Smith has regressed, and the team hasn’t won since mid-October. Now, Chip Kelly is gone, and the entire operation on the offensive side of the ball is in limbo.
30) New York Jets (2-9) (-1)
Well, they put up a solid fight against the Baltimore Ravens. It was all for naught, but hey, they are probably going to have their pick of quarterbacks in next year’s draft.
31) New Orleans Saints (2-9) (even)
The whole operation looks disjointed. Is Kellen Moore in over his skis? Possibly, but the talent on this roster certainly isn’t helping. Especially when you factor in their age.
32) Tennessee Titans (1-10) (even)
Cam Ward is incredible. Keep him healthy, that’s all I ask.
️ in the making!!
