Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season is packed full of head-to-head battles that could determine who wins several divisions this week. This week, there are three games that are essentially division championship games. In the NFC North, the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers fight for dominance. Out west, the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks will determine which team will stand tall atop the NFC West. In addition, in the NFC South, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers will battle for the division lead late in the season, and it is important to remember that only one of these teams will make the playoffs. Consequently, the Denver Broncos can clinch the AFC West with a win, and the Buffalo Bills need to win out if they intend to take the AFC East back from New England.
#32 New York Giants
Coming into Week 16, the New York Giants are the leaders when it comes to securing the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Ultimately. the Giants need to ensure they keep quarterback Jaxson Dart healthy and get accurate evaluations of their team’s needs going into the off-season. Despite having a real need for the potential draft capital that comes with trading down a first overall pick, the Giants will likely continue working to pick up more wins. This week, the Giants host the Minnesota Vikings, and if the Giants win, the Vikings will officially be out of the NFC playoffs.
#31 Las Vegas Raiders
If the Giants slip up and beat the Vikings, the Raiders will likely step into the role of the worst team in the NFL. Similar to the Giants, the Raiders have more needs than they can fill with one really good draft pick, so it would make sense for the Raiders to trade down if they happen to fall to be the holder of the first overall draft pick. Fortunately, this week, the Houston Texans will help the Raiders work towards achieving their goal of earning the first pick in the draft when Las Vegas travels to Houston. Last week, the Raiders gained 75 yards against the Eagles, but this week could be an even bigger challenge against the dangerous Texans defense.
#30 New York Jets
Last week, the New York Jets gave Brady Cook the opportunity to lead their offense on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Subsequently, the result was a blowout loss to the Jaguars, and head coach Aaron Glenn decided to fire his defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks. Consequently, the Jets are in an awkward position, using their remaining time this season to evaluate younger players and assess their biggest needs heading into the off-season. This week, the Jets go on the road to face the Saints, who are on a 2-game winning streak. Unless the Jets come ready to put on their best show of the season on offense, they will add another game result to the loss column.
#29 Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have lost three games in a row since they were able to pick up a win against the Las Vegas Raiders during quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ first start of his NFL career. Since then, the Browns have been on a three-game losing streak, and Sanders has thrown interceptions in all three losses. This week, the Browns host a motivated Buffalo Bills team that needs to win to keep its chance alive to overtake the Patriots in the AFC East. While it can be assumed the Browns will lose this game, Cleveland’s strong defense tends to be a problem for teams like the Bills that may be looking past the Browns.
#28 Tennessee Titans
Recently, the Tennessee Titans have shown significant improvement on offense over the last several weeks of the season. That improvement has allowed them to keep games close against teams that will likely be playoff teams. This week, the Titans host a Kansas City Chiefs team that will be missing quarterback Patrick Mahomes and could still be reeling from being eliminated from the playoffs. If the Titans come ready to play a clean game, it is realistic that Tennessee could pick up another win this week against the Chiefs.
#27 Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have experienced a dual existence this season, with an offense capable of putting up impressive numbers but also losing most weeks. Arizona is currently on a six-game losing streak, but the Cardinals could break through this week while facing an inconsistent Falcons team. For the Cardinals to win this home game against the Falcons, they need to protect the football and limit the Falcons’ running game. It will be important for the Cardinals’ offense to be ready to pick up the heavy blitz schemes the Falcons use to terrorize quarterbacks.
#26 Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders are out of the race to earn a spot in the playoffs in the NFC. However, the Commanders still have a strong desire to defeat their division rivals. This week, the Commanders host the Philadelphia Eagles, who need just one more win to clinch the division and punch their playoff ticket. Similar to last week, the Commanders will be starting Marcus Mariota at quarterback. However, they will need help from their special teams and defense if they intend to upset the Eagles.
#25 Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals were officially eliminated from the playoffs this season when they took a brutal 24-0 loss to the Ravens. During that game, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow struggled to make the plays that would have kept the game competitive. After the game, Burrow took all the credit for the loss, mentioning that he wants to play in the remaining Bengals game this season to make up for the time he lost with his toe injury. This week, the Bengals travel to Miami to face a Dolphins team that has also been eliminated from the playoffs. On the other hand, the Bengals’ defense could find success if they can take advantage of the Dolphins’ rookie quarterback, Quinn Ewers, in his first career start in the NFL.
#24 New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints have excelled over the last two weeks, playing the role of spoiler, upsetting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers in back-to-back weeks. While the Saints have grown comfortable playing well as underdogs this week, they will need to continue playing well as favorites. This week, the Saints face a struggling New York Jets team that has been unable to put points on the scoreboard and just fired its defensive coordinator. If the Saints and rookie quarterback Tyler Shough can stay focused, they will likely be able to win their third game in a row.
#23 Atlanta Falcons
While the Atlanta Falcons have already been eliminated from the playoffs, they remain dangerous thanks to their strong running game. Last week, the Falcons upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after putting together a big second-half comeback. Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts had a breakout game last week, and Atlanta will need another big performance from their offense to pick up a win on the road against the Arizona Cardinals. Defensively, the Falcons need to have a balance between putting maximum pressure on Jacoby Brissett while also not giving up big plays.
#22 Miami Dolphins
Last week, the Miami Dolphins came up short in Pittsburgh, which officially eliminated them from the playoffs. A big reason the Dolphins missed the playoffs is quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s 15 interceptions this season. However, this week, the Dolphins are benching Tagovailoa, giving their 2025 7th-round draft pick Quinn Ewers a chance to show that he can be a quarterback in the NFL. Fortunately, Ewers gets his first start against a Bengals defense that has been one of the worst defensive units in the NFL this season.
#21 Kansas City Chiefs
Last week was a disaster for the Kansas City Chiefs, as they were eliminated from the playoffs after losing to the Los Angeles Chargers. In addition to missing the playoffs, the Chiefs suffered another loss when quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL, ending his season. Therefore, the Chiefs will finish the season with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew leading their offense. Minshew will need to come out ready to play an efficient game against a Tennessee Titans team that has shown improvement for the last several weeks.
#20 Dallas Cowboys
For the Dallas Cowboys to make the playoffs this season, Dallas needs to win the rest of their games, and the Philadelphia Eagles must lose the rest of their games. That combination of events is unlikely, as the Cowboys are coming into week 16 with a two-game losing streak. In addition, the Cowboys are facing a Los Angeles Chargers team that needs a few more wins to clinch a playoff spot. In any event, the Cowboys will need to excel at ball security and keep the Chargers’ pass rushers off of quarterback Dak Prescott.
#19 Minnesota Vikings
Last week, the Minnesota Vikings hung onto their last scrap of hope to make the playoffs on the road against the Giants. Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has shown significant improvement during the second half of the season. In addition to improved play by McCarthy, the Vikings’ running game was outstanding against a stout Cowboys defense. If Minnesota can put together another balanced performance against the Giants, it has a chance to extend its playoff chances for another week.
#18 Carolina Panthers
Despite struggling to find consistency on the offensive side of the ball, the Carolina Panthers have been able to close the gap between themselves and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the top of the NFC South. Last week, the Panthers missed a big opportunity to take over the division with a win over the Saints. However, the Panthers became the Saints’ next victim, as New Orleans has thrived as a division spoiler. This week, the Panthers have another chance to move ahead of the Buccaneers as they face Tampa Bay on their home turf. To win this game, the Panthers need to get their running game going with Rico Dowdle and force the Tampa Bay offense to turn the ball over.
#17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ performances the last few weeks have been very similar to those of the Carolina Panthers. Last week, the Buccaneers could have retaken control of the NFC South if they had hung onto a lead against the Atlanta Falcons. However, the Buccaneers failed to put the Falcons away, and Atlanta made them pay with a last-second kick to pull off the upset. That loss kept the Buccaneers locked in battle at the top of the division against the Carolina Panthers. This week, the Buccaneers have a chance to show Carolina why they have won the last four division championships. On the other hand, if Tampa Bay turns the ball over, they could see the Panthers move ahead of them in the standings.
#16 Indianapolis Colts
Last week, the Indianapolis Colts just missed on their opportunity to upset the Seattle Seahawks with Philip Rivers as their quarterback. Rivers last played an NFL football game during the 2020 season, and had spent the last several years coaching high school football. Due to multiple quarterback injuries, the Colts needed a quarterback who understood head coach Shane Steichen’s offense. This week, Rivers gets another chance to lead the Colts offense to a win against the San Francisco 49ers. However, this week, the 49ers defense has had a full week to prepare for the Colts offense with Rivers leading the way. If Indianapolis intends to win this game and hang onto their playoff hopes, they will need to expand on last week’s game plan and take some play-action shot pass plays downfield.
#15 Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are simultaneously on the edge of missing the playoffs, but they are also on the edge of winning their way to the top of the AFC North and still going to the playoffs this season. To have a chance to stay in the race for an AFC North division championship, the Ravens need to give the New England Patriots their 4th loss of the season. Baltimore will have to establish their running game, and Lamar Jackson will have to play efficiently in the passing game to have a chance to defeat the Patriots. If the Ravens lose this week and the Pittsburgh Steelers win, the Ravens will likely end their playoff pursuit for the 2025 season.
#14 Detroit Lions
For yet another week, the Detroit Lions find themselves in need of a win if they want to avoid being left out of the NFC playoffs this season. Last week, the Lions traveled to Los Angeles hoping to pick up a big win against the Rams, but Detroit came up short. This week, the Lions must find a way to beat a Pittsburgh Steelers team that is close to clinching a playoff spot this season. With this in mind, the Lions will need to continue putting points on the scoreboard on offense, and, defensively, Aidan Hutchinson and the Lions’ pass rush need to disrupt Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
#13 Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ mission is easy: keep winning, and they will be AFC North champions and host a playoff game this season. On the other hand, the Steelers face a Lions team that also needs to pick up a win to keep its playoff hopes alive. The result of this matchup will be a hard-fought game with a playoff-like atmosphere. It will be important for the Steelers to protect Rodgers against a Lions defense that will likely throw everything they have at the Steelers’ pass protection to attempt to disrupt Rodgers.
#12 Philadelphia Eagles
Last week, the Philadelphia Eagles completely shut down the Kenny Pickett and the Las Vegas Raiders offense to snap their losing streak. That win put the Eagles in position to clinch the NFC East and a playoff spot by winning one more game. This week, the Eagles have a great opportunity to pick up that win against a Washington Commanders team that has been decimated by injuries. To get this win, the Eagles will need to force Washington to turn the ball over and have an efficient performance on offense from Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley.
#11 Los Angeles Chargers
For most of the 2025 NFL season, the Los Angeles Chargers have quietly put together a solid season and are in a great position to earn a playoff spot. Over the Chargers’ last two games, they have started to make more noise as they continue to prove they can thrive in the postseason. Two weeks ago, the Chargers’ defense forced the Philadelphia Eagles to turn the ball over five times, helping the Chargers pick up a big win. Last week, they traveled to Kansas City and ground out a tough win over the Chiefs, eliminating the Chiefs from the playoffs. This week, the Chargers face a Cowboys team hanging on to its last thread of hope for a playoff run. If the Chargers can force the Cowboys to turn the ball over and score points off those turnovers, they will take another step toward clinching their playoff spot this season.
#10 Seattle Seahawks
Last week, the Seattle Seahawks had to depend on the leg of kicker Jason Myers with six field goals to avoid getting beaten at home by the Indianapolis Colts. Fortunately for the Seahawks, winning by two points or winning by thirty points is the same in the NFL. This week, the Seahawks have a huge opportunity to avenge their earlier-season loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Last time the Seahawks and Rams played, Sam Darnold threw four interceptions, yet the Seahawks only lost by 2 points. If the Seahawks can avoid turning the ball over and can still produce points, Seattle could take control of the NFC West division late in the season..
#9 Jacksonville Jaguars
Coming into Week 16, the Jacksonville Jaguars are riding high at the top of the standings in the AFC South. However, this week, the Jaguars will face a big test as they travel to Denver to play against the Broncos. During the last few weeks, Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence has played some of the best games of his NFL career. This week, Lawrence will need to demonstrate that he can still thrive under pressure. The Broncos have a historically good group of pass rushers. The Jaguars are on a five-game winning streak, and if they can extend it to six by beating Denver, Jacksonville would be a legitimate threat to make it to the Super Bowl.
#8 Green Bay Packers
Last week, the Green Bay Packers suffered two losses that may redefine their season. The first loss was against the Denver Broncos in a battle of division leaders. Second, the Packers lost edge rusher Micah Parsons for the rest of the season due to Parsons having a torn ACL. There is no time for the Packers to dwell on last week’s losses, because they have to go on the road to face the Chicago Bears for control of the NFC North. Two weeks ago, the Packers edged out a win at home against the Bears with an interception in the end zone to seal the victory. This week, the Packers’ offense needs to jump out ahead of the Bears early to minimize the impact the absence of Micah Parsons could have on the Packers’ defense.
#7 San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have done an excellent job of managing injuries to many of their top playmakers throughout the 2025 season. No matter who has been missing in the 49ers’ lineup, San Francisco keeps finding ways to win. San Francisco’s ability to adjust to changing personnel has been elite this season. This week, the 49ers face a Colts team that has recently been hit hard by injuries, especially at the quarterback position. Defensively, the 49ers have had all week to prepare for the Colts’ offense with Philip Rivers at quarterback, and that should give them the inside track to pick up another win this season.
#6 New England Patriots
Last week, the New England Patriots snapped their 10-game winning streak when they allowed the Buffalo Bills to come back after being down by 21 points. Defensively, the Patriots allowed the Bills to score five touchdowns on five consecutive drives. While losing to the Bills was disappointing, they still hold a one-game lead over Buffalo atop the AFC East standings. New England’s best shot at clinching the AFC East division championship is to get back on another winning streak. That streak needs to start this week for the Patriots against a Baltimore Ravens team desperate to win to maintain its playoff hopes this season.
#5 Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills avenged their early-season loss to the New England Patriots last week. With that comeback win, the Bills are now one game behind the Patriots for 1st place in the AFC East standings. For the Bills, the easiest path to the playoffs and potentially the division title is to keep winning games. This week, the Bills face a Cleveland Browns team that has struggled to find consistency on offense. On the other hand, the Browns do have one of the best defensive units in the NFL. For Buffalo to win this game, quarterback Josh Allen will need to be aware of where he attacks this Browns defense. This could be a trap game for the Bills after an emotional win last week in Foxboro.
#4 Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have risen quickly up the power rankings during the last six weeks by putting together an impressive six-game winning streak. During that streak, the Texans’ defense has demonstrated that it is an elite unit. Houston’s defense has shown it can control the tempo of games, even against some of the best teams in the NFL. That defense has allowed the Texans to overcome inconsistent play on offense. Now, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is healthy, and he has made a big impact on Houston’s offensive efficiency each week.
#3 Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears quickly put themselves back on top of the NFC North standings after losing to the Green Bay Packers two weeks ago. This week, the Bears faced a struggling Cleveland Browns team, dominating on defense. That win allowed the Bears to overtake the Packers in the standings after Green Bay lost to Denver. If Chicago can put together a solid game against the Packers, it could solidify their position above the Packers in the division standings.
#2 Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos just keep winning games this season. Last week, the Broncos picked up a hard-fought home win against the Green Bay Packers. Defensively, the Broncos have one of the best units in the NFL, but their offense has been inconsistent at times. Although that was not the case last week, Broncos quarterback Bo Nix executed the Denver offense at a high level. This week, the Broncos put their league-leading 11-game win streak on the line against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are the first-place team in the NFC South. If Denver wins against the Jaguars, they will officially clinch the AFC West division championship and be one win away from clinching the #1 Seed in the AFC standings.
#1 Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams have been one of the most consistent teams in the NFL this season. Last week, the Rams picked up a tough home win over the Detroit Lions. By winning last week, the Rams became the first NFC team this season to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been having one of the best seasons of his career. However, when teams pressure Stafford, he tends to make mistakes and turn the ball over. This week, the Rams are facing a Seahawks team with they are tied with at the top of the NFC West standings. The last time these teams met, the Rams beat the Seahawks by two points.
