NFL playoff bracket if the season ended today: Bills maintain intense pressure on Chiefs

Another game, another unimpressive win for the Kansas City Chiefs. On Black Friday, Kansas City struggled defensively, allowing numerous explosive plays, and looked inconsistent on offense. Thanks to a poor performance by Raiders' kicker Daniel Carlson and a botched snap in the final moments, the Chiefs narrowly escaped with their 11th win of the season.

Despite the 11-1 start to the season, the Chiefs are leaking oil. Their offense has been inconsistent, the left tackle position is unstable, cornerback depth remains a concern, the pass rush has struggled to generate sacks, and the defense has had difficulty forcing turnovers. The Chiefs have clinched a playoff spot, but questions remain about their Super Bowl contender credentials.

After the thirteenth week of the 2024-25 NFL season, which teams are currently in a playoff position and still have hope?

AFC Playoff Standings, Week 14

1. Kansas City Chiefs (11-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (10-2)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3)

4. Houston Texans (8-5)

5. Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)

6. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)

7. Denver Broncos (8-5)

In the hunt: Indianapolis Colts (6-7) and Miami Dolphins (5-7).

After a botched snap by the Raiders, the Chiefs beat their old rivals on Black Friday. On Thanksgiving, the Dolphins were dismantled by the Packers. The Colts won a thrilling contest as Anthony Richardson converted a game-winning two-point conversion with seconds remaining. The Steelers overwhelmed the Bengals, scoring 44 points in their victory. The Texans defeated the Jaguars after Trevor Lawrence exited the game early after taking an ugly hit. The Chargers rebounded against the Falcons, capitalizing on Kirk Cousins' four interceptions.

The Jets fell to the Seahawks after squandering a 14-point lead. The Commanders defeated the Titans with Jayden Daniels leading the way in a blowout victory. The Ravens were grounded by the Eagles at home. The Bills won a snowy affair against the 49ers in comfortable fashion. The Broncos defeated the Browns on Monday Night Football, with Jameis Winston throwing for nearly 500 yards.

The Chiefs must address their issues if they hope to three-peat, while the Raiders remain years away from contention. The Dolphins have yet to exercise their demons in cold-weather games. Anthony Richardson has found his stride with the Colts, while the Patriots need to continue building around Drake Maye. The Bengals are officially out of playoff contention, and the Steelers' offensive performance suggests they could be a dangerous playoff team. The Texans still lack the credibility of true Super Bowl contenders, while the Jaguars appear to be positioning themselves for the #1 pick. The Chargers bounced back heading into a crucial matchup with the Chiefs this Sunday.

The Jets suffered another embarrassing loss as they hit (another new low). The Titans might play spoiler this season but need to look ahead to 2025. Lamar Jackson's MVP candidacy was weakened by the home loss to Philadelphia. The Bills look ready for a Super Bowl run after dominating San Francisco. The Broncos showed their resiliency, while Jameis Winston demonstrated both his highs and lows by throwing for nearly 500 yards alongside three interceptions and two pick-sixes.

An early look at AFC playoff odds

According to Team Rankings, the Bills have now overtaken Kansas City as the favorites to secure the AFC's #1 seed with a 52.2% chance. The Chiefs are behind them at 42.2%, while the Steelers (5.0%) still have a small glimmer of hope.

The Bills are still the favorites in the AFC to win Super Bowl LIX at a whopping 20.0%. The Chiefs are now second with a 9.2% chance to win it all. They're followed by the Ravens at 5.5%, while the Steelers (4.0%), Chargers (2.4%), and Texans (2.2%) are right behind them.

It feels like the same story for the past several weeks. The Chiefs have left their fans feeling less confident than the week before. Their defense has regressed from last season, and their offense, while productive at times, has been inconsistent.

The good news is that reinforcements are on the way. Charles Omenihu and Isiah Pacheco returned to game action against the Raiders, recently signed left tackle D.J. Humphries should make his debut any time now, and there's hope that wide receiver Hollywood Brown will return from injured reserve at the end of the month.