NFL Playoff Picture entering Week 10: Bears, Chiefs just miss cut

Field Level MediaField Level Media|published: Tue 4th November, 10:53 2025
NFL: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos The Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes would be out of the playoffs if the regular season ended today. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

If the NFL playoffs began this week, Super Bowl mainstay and AFC powerhouse Kansas City would miss the tournament with the Jacksonville Jaguars swiping the final wild-card spot.

In the NFC, the Chicago Bears (5-3) are eighth in the conference, meaning no postseason -- despite being one of three teams in the NFC North with an identical record. The No. 7 seed in the loaded NFC at present is the Detroit Lions (5-3).

Here is a complete look at the playoff bracket in each conference after nine weeks:

AFC

First Round Bye: 1. Indianapolis Colts (7-2)

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3) at 2. New England Patriots (7-2)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3) at 3. Denver Broncos (7-2)

5. Buffalo Bills (6-2) at 4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)

Wild-card contenders:

8. Kansas City Chiefs (5-4)

9. Houston Texans (3-5); Texans own a head-to-head win over the Ravens.

10. Baltimore Ravens (3-5)

NFC


First Round Bye

1. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)

7. Detroit Lions (5-3) at 2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2)*

6. San Francisco 49ers (6-3) at 3. Seattle Seahawks (6-2)

5. Los Angeles Rams (6-2) at 4. Green Bay Packers (5-2-1)

*Buccaneers own a head-to-head win over the Seahawks

Wild-card contenders:

8. Chicago Bears (5-3)

9. Carolina Panthers (5-4)

10. Minnesota Vikings (4-4)

11. Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1)

12. Arizona Cardinals (3-5)

13. Atlanta Falcons (3-5)

14. Washington Commanders (3-6)


--Field Level Media

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