The NFL Playoff Picture is coming into view, as we got a very interesting Thursday Night Football result. The Los Angeles Rams are now the no. 5 seed in the NFC, and the Seattle Seahawks now rise to that top seed.
In total, the Rams, Seahawks, and Denver Broncos are the only three teams that have clinched a playoff spot thus far, and, entering the bulk of Week 16, no divisions have been won. What we've done here is taken every current playoff team and given one reason why that team could win Super Bowl LX in February.
Let's dive into it here with the current NFL Playoff Picture. We'll start with the AFC.
1 reason why every NFL playoff team could win the Super Bowl in the 2025 season
AFC Playoff teams
(1) Denver Broncos - Bo Nix heating up at the right time
The defense is Super Bowl-caliber, and that's been established for weeks now, but if Bo Nix plays the rest of the season like he has this past month, the Denver Broncos aren't going to lose another game.
(2) New England Patriots - Mike Vrabel not being a stranger to the postseason
Mike Vrabel not only gets the most out of his rosters, but he's no stranger to the postseason in his previous stint with the Tennessee Titans.
(3) Jacksonville Jaguars - They simply do not know any better (see - 2021 Bengals)
The 2021 Cincinnati Bengals made a shocking run to the Super Bowl, and the 2025 Jacksonville Jaguars have that type of vibe to them. The Jaguars aren't total strangers to the playoffs, either.
(4) Pittsburgh Steelers - Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers is one of the 10-best quarterbacks in the history of the game, period, and has played a ton of postseason action in his NFL career. He could will this team to a Super Bowl berth.
(5) Los Angeles Chargers - Jim Harbaugh has been to a Super Bowl before
Back in 2012, Jim Harbaugh led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl. He wins wherever he goes, so it could only be a matter of time before the Los Angeles Chargers get to one.
(6) Buffalo Bills - No Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson (maybe), or Joe Burrow
Many people have already talked about the possibility that Josh Allen would not have to go through the above named QBs to reach a Super Bowl. Allen and the Buffalo Bills have fallen short, and it's been mostly due to Patrick Mahomes, but it's likely that none of Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, or Joe Burrow are in the postseason this year.
(7) Houston Texans - Elite defense and QB beginning to play well
This is kind of a similar reason we have for the Denver Broncos - an elite defense can sustain in the playoffs, and CJ Stroud is beginning to heat up. Watch out...
NFC Playoff teams
(1) Seattle Seahawks - An elite defense and potential for the no. 1 overall seed
The Seattle Seahawks have an elite, explosive defense, and they are now in the driver's seat for the no. 1 overall seed in the playoffs. They could ride that home momentum and only have to win two games to get to the Super Bowl in 2025.
(2) Chicago Bears - Efficient run game and elite at taking the ball away
These are the Chicago Bears' best qualities, and both translate well into the postseason, so Ben Johnson's club could go on quite a run here in the coming weeks.
(3) Philadelphia Eagles - They just did it last year...
The Philadelphia Eagles absolutely do not have the same bite that they did last year, but this is one of the most playoff-experienced team's we've seen in the league in quite some time. The Eagles know how to win playoff games, so let's not pretend like they can't.
(4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Defense somehow shapes up
I guess? The Tampa Bay Buccaneers probably have the lowest chance of any current playoff team to actually win it all this year, but if Todd Bowles can somehow find a way to get this defense to play better, the Buccaneers might have an outside shot at making a run.
(5) Los Angeles Rams - Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay
This duo led the LA Rams to the Super Bowl back in 2021. They are an elite team this year, and Matthew Stafford is playing at an MVP level. The Rams are as easy a team as any to see winning the championship in February.
(6) San Francisco 49ers - Kyle Shanahan is no stranger to the Super Bowl
Kyle Shanahan has been to two Super Bowls and has an 8-4 playoff record. The San Francisco 49ers were in the big game just two years ago, and there aren't many coaches in the NFL, head coach, coordinator, or otherwise, who are as good in the playoffs as Shanahan.
(7) Green Bay Packers - Jordan Love is playing his best ball, and the defense is still great
I do believe the Green Bay Packers will still field a very good defense - the unit was 6th in points allowed per game last year without Micah Parsons. Jeff Hafley's unit can still be efficient, and Jordan Love is playing the best football of his career.