With just three weeks remaining in the NFL regular season, teams are facing injuries, playoff spots are being claimed, and contenders are being cut. The first two playoff teams for 2025 have emerged, and on Sunday, the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams took significant steps toward securing top seeds in their conferences.
Four touchdowns from Bo Nix propelled the Broncos to a 34-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers, extending their winning streak to 11 games. Denver is currently the only team with 12 wins, sitting a game ahead of the New England Patriots, who squandered a 21-point first-half lead at home against the Buffalo Bills. Buffalo staged a remarkable comeback after trailing 21-0 in the first quarter and 24-7 at halftime, ultimately defeating the Patriots 35-31.
“We don’t blink,” Josh Allen stated following the win, which marked Buffalo’s fourth victory in five weeks. The Bills have allowed 30 or more points four times this season and remain undefeated in those games, with Allen being a major factor in their success.
If Drake Maye was the frontrunner for MVP before Sunday, Allen is making a strong case. Now boasting victories against elite quarterbacks, including Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, he’s solidifying his status. Meanwhile, MVP candidate Matthew Stafford led the Rams to a 41-34 win over the Detroit Lions, with a crucial matchup against the Seattle Seahawks upcoming.
On a darker note, the Kansas City Chiefs were officially eliminated from the playoffs following a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, ending their decade-long playoff streak. The situation worsened when Patrick Mahomes sustained a serious knee injury, diagnosed as a torn ACL, sidelining him for the rest of the 2025 season.
In other notable games, Micah Parsons’ injury in Green Bay casts a shadow over the Packers as they prepare for the playoffs. The Cincinnati Bengals faced a shutout against the Baltimore Ravens, marking the end of their playoff hopes. The Chicago Bears regained their footing with a decisive win against the Cleveland Browns, while the San Francisco 49ers maintained their competitive edge in the NFC West despite significant injuries.
Changing Dynamics in the AFC
The Chiefs’ playoff elimination drastically shifts their trajectory as Mahomes faces a lengthy recovery. The uncertainty surrounding key players, along with the team’s staleness this season, poses challenges ahead. Meanwhile, the Bills are seizing the moment, eyeing a potential deep playoff run with the absence of other formidable contenders in the AFC, suggesting a possible return to the Super Bowl for Buffalo.
