As we have said for a while now, there is a ton of parity in the NFL this year, and some of the current division leaders were just not expected to be in this position before the season began. The AFC Playoff Picture, especially, is muddy and totally unpredictable at this point.
And you could truly argue that about 12 different teams have a realistic shot at the Super Bowl this year. The playoffs beginning in about a month and a half are truly going to be special. Well, now that Week 12 is about over, we ranked every division leader approaching Monday Night Football.
Let's get into it here.
NFL Power Rankings, Week 13: Ranking all eight division leaders after wild Week 12
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hanging by a thread at 6-5 and could see the NFC South lead disappear if the Carolina Panthers beat the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. The Buccaneers have dealt with a ton of injuries this year and a pretty iffy defense as well.
This team didn't really have a large margin for error, and we are beginning to see that. Tampa has regressed a bit and might be the 'worst' division leader in the NFL. The Panthers, those Panthers, have a shot to get to 7-5 and take ownership of first place.
7. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are 6-5 after a 1-5 start and are now in first in the AFC North thanks to another Pittsburgh Steelers' loss. The Ravens have not looked great this year, even in some of their wins, and I do not get the sense that this team is a legitimate contender right now.
The AFC North as a whole is pretty weak, and there is no guarantee that Baltimore remains in first. They are no. 7 in our division power rankings and have a lot of roster flaws at the moment. Can they hold onto this lead and be guaranteed a home playoff game this year?
6. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears were able to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12 despite missing multiple starters on defense. They move to 8-3 on the season and are still in first in the NFC North. Chicago has gotten quite good at these one-score games, and that does show how well-coached they are.
Caleb Williams has been very good this year, and the entire operation on offense is simply more smooth and efficient. Furthermore, the Detroit Lions have clearly regressed this year without Ben Johnson, so that's another indication that the Bears got someone special, but the roster itself doesn't have a ton of star power, and I do not believe this team is yet a legitimate contender.
5. Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are slowly beginning to show some cracks in the foundation, and with a brutal schedule coming up, it could be hard to see how this team even gets to 10 wins this year. The defense is fine and nothing special, but the passing attack hasn't really been there recently.
Daniel Jones has been just OK these past few weeks, and it's just not been easy going for Indy like it was earlier in the 2025 NFL Season. For now, they are no. 5 in our division leader power rankings, as the Jaguars and Texans are breathing down their necks at 7-4 and 6-5, so the work has only just begun in the AFC South.
4. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles blew a three-touchdown lead against the Dallas Cowboys and dropped to 8-3 on the season. They lost a grip on that first overall seed in the NFC for the time being, and some of the same issues are still plaguing them this late into the season.
The offense just is not consistently there for the entire game, and the defense can soften up at times. Philly isn't close to being a legitimate Super Bowl contender, as you can see a clear regression across the board. They are still among the better teams in the NFL, though, and are no. 4 in our power rankings.
3. New England Patriots
We're now getting into the best of the best, and perhaps the teams that are most likely to win the Super Bowl this year. The New England Patriots won in Week 12 and moved to 10-2 on the season, becoming the first team in the league this year to 10 wins.
For the time being, they are in first in the AFC and have again extended their lead in the AFC East. It is increasingly looking like the Pats will win the division and force the Buffalo Bills to go on the road in the playoffs. The Patriots do just about everything well and are one of the most well-coached teams in the league.
I am not sure the top-end roster talent is there quite yet, but you can't argue with a 10-2 record at all. It's been a great year for the team.
2. Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos were on the bye in Week 12 and are 9-2 on the season. They are first in the AFC West and still have a three-game lead over the Chiefs and a two-game lead over the Chargers. Denver has a better roster than both of those teams and a big enough lead to close out this division race in the coming weeks.
Denver sports the best pass rush in the NFL and a QB in Bo Nix who simply plays a different game when his team needs him to come through in the clutch moments. Denver is one of the best teams in the league, period.
1. Los Angeles Rams
The LA Rams have the best head coach in the NFL right now, and the MVP of the league in Matthew Stafford. They moved to 9-2 with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football, and Stafford is now up to 30 touchdown passes on the year against just two interceptions.
One of the most balanced teams in the league, the only thing that could prevent the LA Rams from winning the Super Bowl this year is the bottom-tier special teams, but it has not burned them just yet.