{"id":417277,"date":"2025-12-01T13:32:12","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T13:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/417277\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T13:32:12","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T13:32:12","slug":"nfl-playoff-picture-week-13-bears-surge-to-top-of-nfc-colts-plummet-in-afc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/417277\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL playoff picture, Week 13: Bears surge to top of NFC; Colts plummet in AFC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chicago might be The Second City, but its Bears are second to no one<\/a> \u2014 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\u2019s possible their reign lasts only a week, as they visit the Green Bay Packers next week in a battle for the NFC North lead.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at what else happened around the NFL in Week 13<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Listed odds to make the playoffs, win the division and secure the No. 1 seed are all via The Athletic\u2019s NFL Projection Model, created by Austin Mock. Go check out our NFL Playoff Simulator<\/a> to play out your favorite team\u2019s path to the playoffs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Denver Broncos<\/p>\n

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\u2019s the theme of the AFC this season. There isn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

Next three weeks<\/a>: <\/strong>at Raiders, vs. Packers, vs. Jaguars<\/p>\n

New England Patriots<\/p>\n

The Patriots, who host the New York Giants on Monday night, are riding a nine-game winning streak, but they\u2019ve beaten only two teams in the playoff picture. Still, they’re closing in on their first AFC East title since 2019.<\/p>\n

Next three weeks:<\/strong><\/a> vs. Giants, bye, vs. Bills<\/p>\n

Jacksonville Jaguars<\/p>\n

The Jags were 2 1\/2 games behind the Colts through eight weeks, but they\u2019ve won four of five to wrestle away control of the AFC South<\/a> 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\u2019re getting healthier, too.<\/p>\n

Next three weeks: <\/strong><\/a>\u00a0vs. Colts, vs. Jets, at Broncos<\/p>\n

Baltimore Ravens<\/p>\n

The Ravens mustered only 14 points against the league\u2019s worst defense in a Thanksgiving loss to the Bengals<\/a>, but they retained their AFC North lead because the Steelers have dropped five of their last seven games.\u00a0The 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?<\/p>\n

Next three weeks<\/a><\/strong>: vs. Steelers, at Bengals, vs. Patriots<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Chargers<\/p>\n

The Chargers have faced the third-easiest schedule in the league \u2014 only the top-seeded Patriots and Bears faced easier opponents \u2014 and they\u2019re just 1-2 against teams in the playoff field (plus a win against the Chiefs). While it\u2019s tough now to know whether to trust the Chargers, especially if quarterback Justin Herbert misses any games with his left hand injury<\/a>, their remaining slate against five teams on the fringe of the playoffs will tell the story of their season.<\/p>\n

Next three weeks:<\/strong><\/a> vs. Eagles, at Chiefs, at Cowboys<\/p>\n

Indianapolis Colts<\/p>\n

The Colts\u2019 struggles<\/a> have coincided with the tougher portion of their schedule. They\u2019re 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\u2019t start beating better teams with consistency.<\/p>\n

Next three weeks<\/a>: <\/strong>at Jaguars, at Seahawks, vs. 49ers<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills<\/p>\n

The Bills wore down the Steelers<\/a> 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\u2019t typically be much of a concern if they were consistently playing to their potential. But if they get caught sleepwalking, there\u2019s enough traffic in the playoff race that it\u2019s hardly inconceivable the Bills could find themselves at home watching the postseason for the first time since 2018.<\/p>\n

Next three weeks: <\/strong><\/a>\u00a0vs. Bengals, at Patriots, at Browns<\/p>\n

In the hunt<\/p>\n