Chicago might be The Second City, but its Bears are second to no one — not in the NFC, at least. After running through the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, the Bears watched as the Los Angeles Rams dropped a stunner to the Carolina Panthers, catapulting Chicago to the top of the NFC standings. How long will the Bears stay there? It’s possible their reign lasts only a week, as they visit the Green Bay Packers next week in a battle for the NFC North lead.

Over in the AFC, the Indianapolis Colts have quickly gone from competing for the top seed in the conference to now fighting for their playoff lives. After falling to the Houston Texans on Sunday, the Colts have dropped three of their past four games and slipped from the AFC’s No. 1 seed (Week 10) to the No. 6 seed with the streaking Jacksonville Jaguars usurping them in the AFC South. A momentous division showdown between the two teams looms next weekend.

Let’s take a look at what else happened around the NFL in Week 13.

Listed odds to make the playoffs, win the division and secure the No. 1 seed are all via The Athletic’s NFL Projection Model, created by Austin Mock. Go check out our NFL Playoff Simulator to play out your favorite team’s path to the playoffs. 

Denver Broncos

The Broncos will run their winning streak to 10 games next week if they can beat the Raiders for the fourth consecutive time. While the Broncos can be knocked for taking advantage of a soft schedule, that’s the theme of the AFC this season. There isn’t a single team in the AFC playoff field with a strength of schedule above .500. Still to come on Denver’s slate, however: a four-game stretch that features three current playoff teams and the Chiefs.

Next three weeks: at Raiders, vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars

New England Patriots

The Patriots, who host the New York Giants on Monday night, are riding a nine-game winning streak, but they’ve beaten only two teams in the playoff picture. Still, they’re closing in on their first AFC East title since 2019.

Next three weeks: vs. Giants, bye, vs. Bills

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags were 2 1/2 games behind the Colts through eight weeks, but they’ve won four of five to wrestle away control of the AFC South for the first time this season. The timing sets up dramatic theater, with two matchups against the Colts over the next four weeks. Despite squandering opportunities for a couple of additional wins earlier in the season, the Jaguars have it all in front of them down the stretch, and they’re getting healthier, too.

Next three weeks:  vs. Colts, vs. Jets, at Broncos

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens mustered only 14 points against the league’s worst defense in a Thanksgiving loss to the Bengals, but they retained their AFC North lead because the Steelers have dropped five of their last seven games. The Steelers and Ravens have two showdowns in the final five weeks, conceivably with the AFC North on the line. But with the Bengals lurking two games back, could the Steelers and Ravens ultimately cancel each other out?

Next three weeks: vs. Steelers, at Bengals, vs. Patriots

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers have faced the third-easiest schedule in the league — only the top-seeded Patriots and Bears faced easier opponents — and they’re just 1-2 against teams in the playoff field (plus a win against the Chiefs). While it’s tough now to know whether to trust the Chargers, especially if quarterback Justin Herbert misses any games with his left hand injury, their remaining slate against five teams on the fringe of the playoffs will tell the story of their season.

Next three weeks: vs. Eagles, at Chiefs, at Cowboys

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts’ struggles have coincided with the tougher portion of their schedule. They’re 6-0 this season against teams with losing records and 2-4 against everyone else. And since their final five opponents all have winning records, the Colts will be in serious danger of missing the playoffs if they can’t start beating better teams with consistency.

Next three weeks: at Jaguars, at Seahawks, vs. 49ers

Buffalo Bills

The Bills wore down the Steelers to hang on to their one-game edge over the Texans for the AFC’s final wild-card spot, which is significant with the Texans owning the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Bills have a dangerous closing stretch, which wouldn’t typically be much of a concern if they were consistently playing to their potential. But if they get caught sleepwalking, there’s enough traffic in the playoff race that it’s hardly inconceivable the Bills could find themselves at home watching the postseason for the first time since 2018.

Next three weeks:  vs. Bengals, at Patriots, at Browns

In the hunt
Houston Texans (7-5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)
Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
Miami Dolphins (5-7)
Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
New York Jets (3-9)
Cleveland Browns (3-9)
Eliminated
Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
Tennessee Titans (1-11)
Chicago Bears

The unlikely kings of Thanksgiving weekend, the Bears outlasted the Eagles on Friday in a street fight, announcing to the league that they’ll continue to meet coach Ben Johnson’s season-long challenge of being the more physical team on the field. And with the Rams’ stunning loss Sunday, the Bears suddenly find themselves sitting atop the NFC.

Next three weeks: at Packers, vs. Browns, vs. Packers

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams looked invincible during their six-game winning streak, swatting aside opponents by an average of 18.5 points per clip, but they learned a valuable lesson Sunday during a 31-28 loss in Carolina. The Panthers viewed the Rams as a measuring stick and played like it, and the Rams need to meet that challenge against future opponents.

Next three weeks: at Cardinals, vs. Lions, at Seahawks

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles aren’t dominating with their offensive line anymore, and it’s thrown their entire offense out of rhythm. Not only have the Eagles fallen from the No. 1 seed during their two-game slide, but also they have only a 1 1/2-game lead over the surging Cowboys in the NFC East. However, they have a relatively favorable schedule over the final five weeks, so the Eagles aren’t in panic mode just yet.

Next three weeks: at Chargers, vs. Raiders, at Commanders

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Panthers’ stunning victory against the Rams was loaded with style points, while the battered Bucs were just happy to survive against the Cardinals. But all wins count the same, and the Bucs maintained their half-game edge over the Panthers in the NFC South. And considering the Panthers are the No. 10 seed, the NFC South is again shaping up to be an all-or-nothing proposition.

Next three weeks: vs. Saints, vs. Falcons, at Panthers

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks have only one turnover during their two-game win streak, which is a nice way to bounce back after coughing it up seven times over their previous pair of games. The Seahawks have six multi-turnover games this season, though they’re 3-3 in those tilts. But it’s why they’re currently ceding the NFC West to the Rams, as the Seahawks’ four giveaways doomed them in a 21-19 loss to the Rams in Week 11.

Next three weeks: at Falcons, vs. Colts, vs. Rams

Green Bay Packers

The Packers finished off their 2025 season sweep of the Lions to return the favor from a season ago, but it won’t mean much if they stumble down the stretch against a tricky schedule, highlighted by a pair against the Bears over the next three weeks. It’ll be a rare role reversal in the NFC North series, though, with the Packers chasing the top-seeded Bears. The Packers have won 26 of their last 30 meetings, but the Bears took the last one in the 2024 season finale.

Next three weeks: vs. Bears, at Broncos, at Bears

San Francisco 49ers

Two seasons ago, the 49ers hosted the Lions in the NFC Championship Game. Now, the two teams are battling it out for the final playoff spot. The Niners, who enter their bye week, have a one-game edge over the Lions in the loss column and an easier remaining schedule. And if the Niners get into the playoffs, their current wild-card matchup would be against the Rams, who have won four of the last five meetings with their NFC West foe.

Next three weeks: Bye, vs. Titans, at Colts

In the hunt
Detroit Lions (7-5)
Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)
Carolina Panthers (7-6)
Atlanta Falcons (4-8)
Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
Washington Commanders (3-9)
Eliminated
Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
New Orleans Saints (2-10)
New York Giants (2-10)