Honestly, if you took a nap during the 2025 NFL season and just woke up to look at the NFL all team standings, you might think you’ve entered a parallel universe. There's no Patrick Mahomes in the postseason. No Andy Reid. The Kansas City Chiefs finished a dismal 6-11, marking the first time since 2014 they didn't make the cut. It's wild. The league hasn't looked this different since the late '90s.
We’re sitting here in mid-January 2026, and the bracket is set for the Divisional Round. The standings tell a story of a massive power shift. The old guard is out, and some very "new" names—like the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears—are actually making noise in January.
The AFC Power Vacuum: Denver and New England at the Top
It’s kinda funny how things circle back. The Denver Broncos and New England Patriots finished the regular season tied at 14-3. Denver took the #1 seed because of tiebreakers, but the real shocker is how they got there.
The AFC South was actually the most competitive division in football this year. The Jacksonville Jaguars went 13-4, but because they lost to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round (27-24), that regular-season dominance feels a bit hollow now. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans are the hottest team in the conference. They’ve won nine straight games. They just dismantled the Steelers 30-6 and look like they might actually bully their way to a Super Bowl.
Here is how the AFC finished up at the top:
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- Denver Broncos (14-3) - Secured home-field advantage.
- New England Patriots (14-3) - Proved that the post-Belichick era is officially back on track.
- Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) - Great season, but a quick playoff exit.
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) - Won the North but ran into a Houston buzzsaw.
- Houston Texans (12-5) - The most dangerous Wild Card in years.
- Buffalo Bills (12-5) - Still the "just won't go away" team of the East.
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) - Squeaked in but got shut down by the Pats.
It’s basically a toss-up between Denver and New England for the Super Bowl spot, but don't sleep on Houston. C.J. Stroud is playing like a guy who doesn't realize he's supposed to be intimidated by playoff pressure.
The NFC Chaos: Seattle’s Dominance and the Panther Miracle
If the AFC was about the return of traditional powers, the NFC standings were just plain weird. The Seattle Seahawks finished 14-3, and they were the only team in the conference that looked consistently elite. They have the best point differential in the league (+191), and their defense—the "Legion of Boom 2.0"—only gives up about 17 points a game.
Then there’s the NFC South. The Carolina Panthers won the division with an 8-9 record. Yes, you read that right. They made the playoffs with a losing record while the 9-8 Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings are sitting at home. That’s the beauty (or the frustration) of how the NFL all team standings work. You win the division, you get the invite.
The Wild Card round already weeded out some of the madness. The 49ers went into Philly and knocked off the Eagles 23-19. The Rams handled the "losing record" Panthers 34-31 in a game that was way closer than it should have been.
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Final NFC Standings Highlights:
- Seattle Seahawks (14-3): The undisputed kings of the West.
- Chicago Bears (11-6): Won the North and just beat Green Bay 31-27.
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-6): Defending NFC champs, but one-and-done this time.
- Carolina Panthers (8-9): Division winners, but clearly outclassed in the postseason.
- Los Angeles Rams (12-5): Piling up points like it's 2018.
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5): The team nobody wants to play right now.
- Green Bay Packers (9-7-1): That tie against Dallas back in Week 15 actually got them into the dance, but they couldn't finish the job against Chicago.
The Bottom of the Barrel: Who's Picking First in April?
You can’t talk about the NFL all team standings without looking at the race for the #1 overall pick. It was a race to the bottom between the New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tennessee Titans. All three finished 3-14.
The Jets, honestly, were a disaster. They finished with a -203 point differential. To put that in perspective, they were basically losing by two touchdowns every single week. The Raiders weren't much better, but they managed to win their season finale to avoid the absolute basement. As of now, the draft order is looking like a revolving door of quarterback-needy teams, with the Jets likely leading the charge.
Real-World Takeaways from the 2025 Standings
Looking at these numbers, a few things become clear about the current state of the NFL. First, the "middle class" of the league has vanished. You’re either a double-digit win team or you’re struggling to reach six wins.
Second, the home-field advantage is becoming a bigger deal again. The Seahawks and Broncos both went 8-1 at home. If you want to beat them, you have to go into Lumen Field or Mile High in January. That’s a death sentence for most offenses.
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Third, the NFC North is the new black-and-blue division. Every team in that division finished with at least 9 wins (or 9-7-1 for Green Bay). It was easily the toughest group to play in this year.
What to Watch for Next
- Divisional Round Matchups: Bills at Broncos and 49ers at Seahawks on Saturday. Texans at Patriots and Rams at Bears on Sunday.
- Draft Prep: If your team is in that 3-14 or 5-12 range (looking at you, Cleveland and New York), it's time to start scouting the top QBs.
- Injury Reports: Keep a close eye on Sam Darnold’s oblique injury for Seattle; if he can't go, that #1 seed is in serious trouble against the Niners.
The 2025 season shifted the league's DNA. The Mahomes era isn't over, but the "Mahomes-is-guaranteed-a-title-game" era definitely hit a wall. Whether it's Denver's resurgence or Seattle's defensive masterclass, the standings proved that parity is finally hitting the top of the league.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- If you're betting the Divisional Round, look at the home-away splits in the final standings; Denver and Seattle are nearly unbeatable on their own turf.
- Check the strength of victory tiebreakers if you're arguing about draft order; the 3-14 tie at the bottom will be decided by who played the easier schedule.
- Pay attention to the nine-game winning streak of the Houston Texans—momentum in the final standings often dictates who makes the Super Bowl, more than the actual seed number.