With Thanksgiving upon us, the NFL season reaches a crucial point. Some fanbases are already looking forward to the Draft, hoping that 2026 goes better than 2025. A few are getting excited for meaningful games in January, with their teams almost securing playoff berths. The majority, though, are still unknown. With six weeks left, nothing is stopping the 4 or 5-win teams from running the table and fighting for a playoff spot.
No team has officially won its division yet. Although some may be almost locked, there is still a lot of football left. Few expected the Ravens to lead their division in Week 13 after a 1-5 start, and the NFL has seen crazier things. So, which 8 teams will be celebrating a division championship? And who will be the first to pop the champagne?
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens
Nov 23, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) celebrates after forcing a fumble during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
The Ravens started the season as the odds-favorite to win the division for the third straight year. Injuries plagued the Ravens this season, as they missed key players for multiple games. After already losing to the Bills, Lions, and Chiefs, Lamar Jackson missed three games. With a 1-5 start to the season, it looked like they were already out of the playoffs. However, the defense rallied, and they beat the Bears in the last game without Jackson.
Now the winners of five consecutive games, the Ravens sit atop the AFC North at 6-5. They have a crucial stretch now, facing the Bengals twice and the Steelers in the next three weeks. If they go 3-0, the division would be pretty much theirs. Winning the next three games would give them a 5-0 division record and give them the tiebreaker against the Steelers. With a loss to the Ravens, even if the Steelers tie the series in Week 18, the best they could reach is 4-2 in the AFC North. Depending on what happens to the Steelers over the next four weeks, the Ravens can potentially clinch the division with a Week 16 win against the Patriots.
AFC South: Jacksonville Jaguars
Nov 23, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange (85) and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) look on during the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
This looked like the “easiest” division to predict. After Week 8, the Colts were the best team in the league, with a surprising 7-1 record. Meanwhile, the Texans were 3-4 and the Jaguars 4-3. While both the Texans and Jaguars went 3-1 in the last month, the Colts dropped to 8-3 after losses to Pittsburgh and Kansas City. They still have a better record, but December will be a crazy month for AFC South fans.
What made the Jaguars division champions here is the schedule. The Jaguars have both games against the Colts and a tough matchup against the Broncos left to play. But they also face the Titans twice and play the Jets at home. Sweep the Titans, tie the series with the Colts, and beat the Jets, and they have an easier path for the division. The Texans also have a manageable schedule, facing the Colts twice and the Chiefs. They round up with games against the Raiders, Cardinals, and an injury-riddled Chargers. The difference is that the Jaguars have a better record, so the Texans would need help.
If you looked closely at their schedules, you noticed that both have yet to face the Colts. And not only does Indianapolis have four games against its closest rivals, but it also faces the Seahawks and 49ers. They have a better record now, but the schedule gods left them with a mountain to climb when they seem out of gas. It’s hard to know who will win, but the AFC South will go down to the wire.
AFC East: New England Patriots
Nov 23, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) reacts after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
The team that dominated the NFL for almost 20 years took fewer than 5 years to find its next franchise QB. I still don’t think the Patriots are one of the best teams in the NFL, but they should win the AFC East. They had a very easy schedule, but at the end of the day, you play who you play. With a two-game lead against the Bills, they need only three wins to secure the division. If they beat the Bills in Week 15, just one more victory would clinch the AFC East. Considering they play the Giants and face the Bills at home after a Week 14 bye, it’s not far-fetched to think it happens.
Besides the Bills, the Patriots play the Ravens, Jets, and Dolphins. They may not be fully back, but the Patriots are a dangerous team.
AFC West: Denver Broncos
Nov 16, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian (29) sacks Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) in the fourth quarter at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
It has been ten years since the Broncos won the AFC West. With a 9-2 record, they are closer than ever. After a 1-2 start, they have won 8 consecutive games thanks to one of the best defenses in the NFL. They aren’t out of reach, and while the Chargers have lost key players to injuries and have a tough schedule, we’ve seen the Chiefs pull crazier shananingans. It will take a lot to take the division from the Broncos, though.
If the Chiefs beat the Chargers in Week 15, the Broncos need two specific wins to clinch the division: against both Chiefs (Week 17) and Chargers (Week 18). If they don’t want to count on that, they can either beat both and get another victory or win any five games, as the Chargers can steal the division if they run the table.
NFC North: Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs for a first down against Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney (29) during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024.
Another one that will go down to the last week, the NFC North has been very fun to watch since 2024. With three teams over 7 wins, it will be a three-headed race between the Bears, Packers, and Lions. As of now, the Bears lead the division with an 8-3 record, but there’s a real argument that they are the worst of the three. They got dismantled in two of their losses and needed last-minute plays to beat the Raiders, Commanders, Bengals, Giants, Vikings, and Steelers. With two games against the Packers, one against the Lions, besides games against the Eagles and 49ers, their schedule is brutal. December will be the ultimate test to see if the Bears are truly contenders or just pretenders.
The Packers are arguably the weirdest team in the league. After easily beating the Lions and Commanders to start the season, they lost to the Browns and tied with the Cowboys. They won three straight after the bye, but then lost at home to the Panthers and Eagles. The Packers showed the ability to compete against the best teams, but also to lose to the worst. They now have four divisional games, a trip to Denver, and a game against the white-hot Ravens.
The Lions are behind both, but I think they have the most manageable schedule. They have two tough NFC North games coming up, plus a game against the Rams in Los Angeles. However, home games against the Cowboys and Steelers, and a Week 17 game against the Vikings, put them in a good position. Having Frank Ragnow back also helps a lot.
NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nov 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) looks to pass the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
To be honest, I didn’t expect the Bucs to be fighting with the Panthers for the division. Not at the beginning of the season and certainly not after the Bucs started 5-1. However, a 1-4 stretch, with their only win coming against the Saints, made this a fair competition. The Panthers probably lack the firepower to keep this alive until January, but with Baker Mayfield dealing with a shoulder injury, and with the teams yet to play each other, the Panthers have a shot.
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles
Nov 23, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship (32) celebrates after an interception in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The Eagles have a lot of problems in 2025. Their offense is bad, and vibes are lower after every week. Allowing 24 unanswered points to the Cowboys is just the latest example of what has been happening all year – the offense can’t put up a complete game when it matters. Maybe this will come to bite them in the behind in the playoffs, but it will take a catastrophe for them to lose the division.
Sitting at 8-3, their closest challenger is the Cowboys with a 5-5-1 record. They split the series, and the Cowboys have a better record in the NFC East. But for the Cowboys to pull it off, they would have to win three more games than the Eagles. Essentially, it’d mean run the table and hope that the Eagles lose three games with the Bears, Chargers, Raiders, Buffalo, and Commanders twice. Unless a catastrophe happens, the Eagles won’t lose more than two games in this stretch.
NFC West: Los Angeles Rams
Nov 23, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (8) and linebacker Byron Young (0) celebrate after a sack of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (10) in the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
This is another strong division, with three teams over 8 wins. You can make an argument for either the Seahawks or the 49ers to win the division, but in my opinion, the Rams are a tier above. The Seahawks have a very good defense, led by head coach Mike McDonald and a strong defensive line. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is playing at an All-Pro level, with eight 100+-yard games. The problem is that, in all three of their losses, Sam Darnold committed crucial mistakes, turning it over in the final drive against the 49ers and Bucs, and having a 4-interception game against the Rams.
The 49ers managed to stay competitive amid (another) injury-riddled season. Even playing 7 games with Mac Jones under center, losing George Kittle for a chunk of the year, and still without Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers have a strong offense. They have an easier schedule, with the Browns, Titans, Colts, Bears, and Seahawks as their final opponents.
There’s no team better than the Los Angeles Rams right now. Stafford is playing at an MVP-level. Davante Adams remains a touchdown machine. Chris Shula commands a brilliant, aggressive, and fast defense. Their schedule also isn’t particularly challenging. They face the Cardinals twice, the Panthers, and Falcons. Against the Lions and a game in Seattle will be their toughest games, but from what we’ve seen, they’re up for the task.
