Week 13 NFL playoff scenarios and standings
Thanksgiving is here, and in the NFL, that means one thing: the playoff picture is finally coming into focus. With six weeks left in the regular season, the finish line is in sight. Contenders are solidifying their cases, while pretenders are bracing for an early exit.
This weekend, three teams can officially punch their tickets to January football, while three others may find their playoff dreams extinguished.
So, who gets to dream of playoff glory, and who is stuck scouting for next season? Let’s break down the playoff-clinching and elimination scenarios for Week 13.
Here’s how the league looks heading into this crucial week:
The first of the NFL playoff scenarios. The Bills host the battered San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night, while the Dolphins (5-6) take on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving night.
Buffalo has claimed the AFC East title for the past four seasons, but their last conference championship dates back to 1993.
The 10-1 Chiefs host the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday, while the 7-5 Broncos face the struggling Cleveland Browns on Monday night. Meanwhile, the Chargers aim to rebound from a tough loss to the Ravens as they face the Atlanta Falcons.
The Chiefs have dominated the AFC with four titles in five years and are chasing a historic Super Bowl three-peat.
With Daniel Jones out and Tommy DeVito under center, the Giants are already embracing the rebuild. They can be officially eliminated this week, even without losing to the Cowboys:
Tied with the Jaguars and Raiders for the league’s worst record, the Giants are trending toward a top draft pick, though Jacksonville holds the current tiebreaker for the No. 1 spot.
The Raiders’ path to elimination is the simplest of all:
Head coach Antonio Pierce hasn’t found his stride, and the Raiders now need to focus on building for the future, starting with finding their next franchise quarterback.
Another NFL playoff scenario, where a loss to the Texans on Sunday would officially knock the Jaguars out of the AFC South race and possibly end their playoff chances entirely:
Trevor Lawrence remains the franchise cornerstone, but rebuilding the team’s infrastructure—including changes at head coach and GM—will be key for Jacksonville.
At 3-9, the Patriots are already out of the divisional race. Their Wild Card hopes end with these scenarios:
This season wasn’t about contention for New England—it was about laying the groundwork for the future. While Jerod Mayo’s coaching remains under evaluation, first-round pick Drake Maye shows promise as the quarterback to lead them back into playoff relevance.
You can catch all the Week 13 action through various platforms and broadcasts. Here’s how to tune in:
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