NFL Playoffs Elimination Watch 2025: 6-7 Teams On Playoff Bubble in AFC, NFC

We're headed into Week 15, and the playoff picture is starting to shape up - which teams will be on the outside looking in once the Wild Card Weekend rolls around? Let's dive into the NFL playoff elimination watch for the 2025 season and see where teams on the cusp of the playoffs stack up.

NFL playoffs elimination watch: AFC 

All odds are via FanDuel

Kansas City Chiefs (6-7): +490 to make playoffs

The Chiefs are currently sitting at 6-7 and are on the cusp of missing the playoffs for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era, just one year removed from making the Super Bowl for the third straight season. Andy Reid's men are officially out of contention for the AFC West title for the first time in 10 seasons and at +490, they're given a 16.95% chance to make the playoffs, likely having to win out to do so. Kansas City closes the season out against the Chargers, Titans, Broncos, and Raiders. Can they get it done?

Baltimore Ravens (6-7): +156 to make playoffs

The Ravens blew their chances at winning the AFC North after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14, and now own just a 39% chance to make the playoffs, according to implied probability projections. They'll have to find a way to leapfrog the 8-5 Indianapolis Colts, who not only lost their starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, but also their backup, Riley Leonard. The Colts are reportedly bringing in Philip Rivers for a workout. Can he be their savior? Or will the Ravens be able to win out against the Bengals, Patriots, Packers, and Steelers and find their way into the playoffs?

AFC playoff picture: Fringe teams

Let's take a look at the fringe teams in our NFL playoff elimination watch in the AFC - who's your best bet to make it?

Projecting the No. 1 AFC seed

It's the best time of the year, and the race for the No. 1 seed will come down to the Patriots (11-2) and Broncos (11-2) (who had that at the beginning of the season?). However, the Broncos' win over the Raiders does give them the tiebreaker (better record in conference games). 

NFL playoffs elimination watch: NFC 

Detroit Lions (8-5): -114 to make playoffs

Yes, that's right, the Dan Campbell's Lions are on the outside looking in heading into Week 15. While they did hold on to a huge win against the Dallas Cowboys to move their record to 8-5, they're still behind the Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) and Chicago Bears (9-4) in the NFC North. They're one game behind both the Bears and San Francisco 49ers for the final Wild Card spot and have games against the Rams, Steelers, Vikings, and Bears to finish out the season. It could all come down to the final week for Detroit.

Carolina Panthers (7-6): +250 to make playoffs

Where did these 7-6 Panthers come from? They've slowly chipped away after starting the season 1-3, and now are a fringe playoff team with games against the Saints, Buccaneers (x2), and Seahawks to end the season. Can Bryce Young and Co. do the unthinkable and flip a 5-12 team from a year ago into a playoff team? I'd put my money elsewhere, but the Panthers may very well be worth a sprinkle here.

NFC playoff picture: Fringe teams

Let's take a look at the fringe teams in our NFL playoff elimination watch in the NFC - who's your best bet to make it?

Projecting the No. 1 NFC seed

It’s shaping up to be a showdown between the Packers and the NFC West (Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers) for that coveted first-round bye - and Seattle still has two huge rematches left on the menu against Los Angeles and San Francisco before the regular season wraps up. Who's your No. 1 seed?