If someone told me at the beginning of the season that Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts would be among the Super Bowl contenders, I would’ve thought they were out of their mind. That doesn’t even mention the fact that Denver (Broncos) and New England (Patriots) are also in the mix. It’s safe to say that the 2025 NFL season has been a wild one, and the playoff picture is just as crazy.
Last year, the AFC was dominated by the heavyweights, those being the Bills, Chiefs, and Ravens. This year, none of those teams have lived up to their standards, whether that’s due to injuries or just poor play. As of week 11 in the NFL season, both the Chiefs and the Ravens will not make the playoffs, which would mark the first time both teams missed the playoffs since 2007. It may be too early to say this, but the reign of the Kansas City Chiefs might be over.
Five years after Tom Brady left the New England Patriots, they have returned. New England won a whopping 6 Super Bowls under Brady’s leadership, and it was anticipated that it would take a substantial amount of time before they could find another suitable QB. However, they struck gold in the 2024 NFL Draft. Drake Maye, out of the University of North Carolina, has been the savior for the Patriots in 2025. With 2,800 passing yards and 20 TD’s, he’s led them to a 9-2 record thus far. The question is, how will he hold up during the playoffs?
The other two AFC surprises have been the Colts and the Broncos. Daniel Jones was probably one of the worst and most inaccurate quarterbacks in the NFL last year. However, he is not Daniel Jones any longer. We are witnessing Indiana Jones, the savior of the Indianapolis Colts. Ok, maybe not the savior, but he’s stepped up in a big way. The real record-breaker is Jonathan Taylor, who is arguably having a bigger season than Saquon Barkley did last year. He is on pace for 1,936 yards, which is slightly less than Barkley had last year (2,005). However, Taylor has already scored a staggering 17 total touchdowns, which is two more than Barkley’s entire total last year, and Taylor is only halfway there.
The Broncos are currently the #1 seed in the AFC at 9-2. Don’t get me wrong, they’ve played really well, especially their defense. They held the Chiefs and the Eagles under 20 points, and rank 3rd in yards allowed per game. But they’d probably be undefeated if Bo Nix was playing at the level he did last year. His passer rating has dropped from 93 to 86, his completion percentage is down 5%, and he’s already thrown 8 interceptions. He hasn’t performed badly, just extremely average.
As for the NFC, the situation is slightly more normal. The Eagles and Rams hold the first two spots, currently at 8-2. The Eagles are in a similar situation to the Broncos. Their defense is elite, and their offense is stagnant for most of the game. They have also had their fair share of good fortune, narrowly surviving a Tampa Bay comeback and blocking the Rams’ game winning field goal. However, the record is what it is and the defense has done its part.
The Rams really should be undefeated right now. Or at the very least 9-1. The Eagles magically blocked two field goals, including a game-winner. A block requires skill, but it’s still incredibly rare and the Rams were simply better than the Eagles on that day. However, they’re 8-2 and still in great shape to make a run in the playoffs. Matthew Stafford is a touchdown throwing machine and I swear there is glue on Puka Nacua’s hands because he can catch literally anything.
When it comes to the surprise teams in the NFC, they both have the same record. However, one is a real contender and the other will get exposed sooner or later. The Seahawks franchise was not in a great place this offseason, changing quarterbacks and failing to make last years’ playoffs. Many analysts projected them to only win between 7 and 9 games, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year. However, Sam Darnold has reawakened his stellar form from last year, throwing for 2,500 yards and 17 TD’s. Along with that, this defense has been shutting down teams left and right (they’ve sacked the QB 32 times).
Last year, the Chicago Bears’ season was looking solid. They were 4-2 after six games, and in the hunt for a playoff spot. However, Jayden Daniels, the quarterback for Washington, had other ideas. On a magical last-second hail mary throw, the Washington Commanders defeated Caleb Williams and the Bears. From there, their season took a drastic turn. They finished 5-12, losing nine of their last ten games. This year however, the Bears seem to have conjured some magic of their own. They’ve already won eight games, and six of those were by five or less points. Currently sitting atop the NFC North at 8-3, one question remains. When will the magic run out?
**NOTE: THIS WAS WRITTEN BEFORE WEEKS 12, 13, and 14, SO NONE OF THOSE GAMES HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT**