Seven weeks remain in the 2025 NFL season and the playoff picture is starting to take shape. While a lot can happen in the final seven weeks, NFL fans have a great idea of who is in the hunt, and who is already focused on the 2026 NFL Draft. The typical NFL standings provide that information, but they don't provide the entire context.
The season doesn't end today. Just because a team is outside the playoff bracket doesn't mean their season will end after Week 18. Teams in playoff position can't afford to get comfortable, or they risk the ultimate heartbreak.
Just as important as the current NFL standings is the remaining strength of schedule for all 32 NFL teams. While anything can happen on any given Sunday, who you play sometimes matters just as much as how you're playing. The remaining strength of schedule will undoubtedly impact the final NFL standings, and some teams benefit more than others.
NFL Standings by remaining SOS:
AFC:
- New England Patriots: .371 (9-2 record)
- Jacksonville Jaguars: .451 (6-4 record)
- Miami Dolphins: .459 (4-7 record)
- Cleveland Browns: .471 (2-8 record)
- Denver Broncos: .484 (9-2 record)
- Cincinnati Bengals: .486 (3-7 record)
- Buffalo Bills: .493 (7-3 record)
- Tennessee Titans: .493 (1-9 record)
- Baltimore Ravens: .500 (5-5 record)
- New York Jets: .500 (2-8 record)
- Las Vegas Raiders: .506 (2-7 record)
- Pittsburgh Steelers: .507 (6-4 record)
- Kansas City Chiefs: .507 (5-5 record)
- LA Chargers: .551 (7-4 record)
- Houston Texans: .571 (5-5 record)
- Indianapolis Colts: .577 record (8-2 record)
The New England Patriots are tied atop the AFC with the Denver Broncos (albeit Denver has the tiebreaker) and have the easiest schedule remaining not just in the AFC, but the NFL. New England's easy schedule has been part of the reason for the team's massive turnaround, and it isn't stopping anytime soon.
Buffalo and Baltimore are the two tough teams remaining on the Patriots' schedule. Even if they lose those two games, if they win the rest, which they should, the Pats would finish with a 13-4 record.
The real story here, though, are the teams with the hardest remaining SOS. The Chiefs, Chargers and Texans check in near the bottom of the list with each team fighting for a wild-card spot. Los Angeles has the head-to-head tiebreaker over Kansas City right now, and has a far better conference record, so it's truly an uphill battle for the Chiefs.
Those three teams ironically all play each other in the final seven weeks of the season. Those collective matchups, as well as what happens in the other tough games, will decide how the AFC Wild Card picture shakes out.
NFC:
- New Orleans Saints: .347 (2-8 record)
- Atlanta Falcons: .429 (3-7 record)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: .438 (6-4 record)
- Dallas Cowboys: .451 (3-5-1 record)
- Philadelphia Eagles: .458 (8-2 record)
- New York Giants: .458 (2-9 record)
- LA Rams: .479 (8-2 record)
- Minnesota Vikings: .486 (4-6 record)
- San Francisco 49ers: .508 (7-4 record)
- Seattle Seahawks: .514 (7-3 record)
- Detroit Lions: .529 (6-4 record)
- Arizona Cardinals: .557 (3-7 record)
- Washington Commanders: .566 (3-8 record)
- Carolina Panthers: .590 (6-5 record)
- Chicago Bears: .592 (7-3 record)
- Green Bay Packers: .592 (6-3-1 record)
The remaining SOS for the NFC playoff teams is compelling, particularly in the NFC North. There is a three team battle for what will likely be two playoff spots and those three teams all have among the hardest schedules remaining in the NFL.
Granted, part of that reason is because they play each other and they all have winning records. But that being said, the team with the best record might be the one in the most trouble. Chicago is 7-3 on the season but has mostly pulled out wins against losing teams. The Bears are 0-2 against teams .500 or better this season and have been outscored by 45 points.
The Packers and Lions have more equity built up so it's easier to assume they will get through this tough stretch in one piece. Ben Johnson's team hasn't proven they can do that yet, so the Bears become a very interesting team to watch down the stretch.
Philadelphia's spot atop the NFC throne might also be locked in after getting through its toughest stretch of the season. The Eagles have fifth easiest schedule in the NFC remaining, getting to play Washington twice, and have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the only other eight-win team, the Rams.