Trying to parse through all of these challengers is an immense chore, one that seemingly gets more convoluted each week. As such, we're breaking down the 20 teams in the playoff race into tiers of trustworthiness as the season hits the stretch run.

The NFL playoffs will begin the second week of January 2026, and the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears appear to have locked up playoff spots.

Many of the NFL's brand-name teams took huge upset losses in Week 13, leaving us to figure out who might be a decent Super Bowl pick with just five weeks left. The uncertainty is reflected throughout the futures odds at BetMGM as well.

Week 13 brought drama as the Rams, Eagles and Chiefs all lost. So as we crown a new No. 1, we examine the best-case scenario for each team.

The Los Angeles Rams soared to the number one seed in the NFC after they were victorious in Week 12, and the Philadelphia Eagles lost to their divisional rival,

The Lions potentially missing the postseason snuck up on everyone, but they're sitting on the outside of a crowded NFC playoff field.

Through Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season, a total of five teams have been officially eliminated for playoff contention, much to the chagrin of their respective fanbases. Those teams are:

The Carolina Panthers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-28 at home, snapping the Rams' six game win streak. It marked Carolina's seventh upset victory of the season, the most by any team through November in the Super Bowl era,