The Chicago Bears have emerged as the No. 1 seed in the NFC following a 24-15 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and the Carolina Panthers' 31-28 upset win against the Los Angeles Rams. This shift highlights the fluid playoff picture entering the final five weeks of the 2025 NFL regular season. Several teams remain in contention across both conferences.
Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season delivered key results that reshaped the playoff landscape. The Bears improved to 9-3 with their Black Friday win over the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, powered by a strong rushing attack. Kyle Monangai carried 22 times for 130 yards and a touchdown, while D'Andre Swift added 18 carries for 125 yards and a score—the first teammates to achieve 125 rushing yards and a touchdown in a game since 2014. Chicago's defense, led by Dennis Allen, tops the NFL with 26 takeaways and a +17 turnover differential, featuring Kevin Byard with six interceptions, Nahshon Wright with five, and Tremaine Edmunds with four.
The Rams, previously 9-3 and NFC frontrunners, fell to the 7-6 Panthers in a stunning 31-28 defeat. Bryce Young threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns, with Carolina's defense forcing three turnovers. This loss dropped Los Angeles from the top spot, though they remain at 9-3.
In the AFC, the New England Patriots lead at 10-2, followed by the Denver Broncos at 9-2 on an eight-game winning streak. The Jacksonville Jaguars sit at 8-4 atop the South, while the Baltimore Ravens hold a slim North lead at 6-6 after the Pittsburgh Steelers' 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills. In that game, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers reached 65,000 career passing yards, completing 10 of 21 for 117 yards to become the fifth player to hit the milestone.
Other NFC playoff teams include the Philadelphia Eagles (8-4), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5), Seattle Seahawks (9-3), Green Bay Packers (8-3-1), and San Francisco 49ers (9-4). Contenders like the Detroit Lions (7-5), Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1), and Panthers linger. In the AFC, the Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, and Bills are at 8-4, with the Houston Texans (7-5), Chiefs (6-6), and Steelers (6-6) still hunting spots.
Four teams were eliminated: Tennessee Titans (1-11), Arizona Cardinals (3-9), New Orleans Saints (2-10), and Las Vegas Raiders (2-10). The Bears face a tough remaining schedule: at Packers, vs. Browns, vs. Packers, at 49ers, vs. Lions.