As we head into Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season, the playoff picture is starting to sharpen-but no team has punched its postseason ticket just yet. That could change this weekend.
Three teams sit on the brink of clinching: the 11-2 Broncos, the 11-2 Patriots, and the 10-3 Rams. All three have been among the league’s most consistent performers this season, and each has a chance to lock in a playoff berth-if not more-depending on how things unfold on Sunday.
Let’s break down what’s at stake for each of them, and what needs to happen for these squads to officially secure their spot in January football.
Denver Broncos (11-2): Win and You’re In? Almost.
The Broncos have quietly put together one of the most balanced seasons in the league. At 11-2, they’ve combined a top-tier defense with an offense that’s taken care of business when it matters. This week, they face a tough test in the 9-3-1 Green Bay Packers-a team that’s also very much in the playoff hunt.
Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday (CBS), and while Denver doesn’t control all the variables for clinching just yet, a win would go a long way.
Depending on how other results shake out, the Broncos could secure a playoff berth by the end of the weekend. Either way, they’re in the driver’s seat-and looking every bit like a team built for a deep postseason run.
New England Patriots (11-2): Division Crown Within Reach
The Patriots have been on a mission all season long, and now they’re on the verge of not just clinching a playoff spot, but locking up the AFC East title. Standing in their way? A familiar foe: the 9-4 Buffalo Bills.
This matchup has heavyweight implications. Not only is it a potential playoff preview, but it could also decide the division. A New England win would seal the AFC East and punch their postseason ticket in one shot.
Kickoff is Sunday at 1 p.m. ET (CBS), and you can bet Gillette Stadium will be rocking.
The Patriots have been efficient, physical, and opportunistic all year. If they keep that formula going against a tough Bills squad, they’ll be celebrating more than just a W.
Los Angeles Rams (10-3): Win and You’re In
The Rams don’t need any help-they just need to handle business. A win over the 8-5 Detroit Lions on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX) would clinch a playoff berth.
Los Angeles has been one of the NFC’s most complete teams this season, with a defense that can take over games and an offense that’s found its rhythm down the stretch. The Lions are no pushover-they’ve been scrappy and explosive-but the Rams have the edge in experience and execution.
This is the kind of game that can set the tone for a playoff push. Win here, and the Rams are officially back in the postseason. And given how they’ve been trending, they’re not just looking to get in-they’re aiming to make noise once they do.
The Bigger Picture
While eight teams-the Jets, Falcons, Browns, Cardinals, Raiders, Saints, Titans, and Commanders-have already been eliminated from playoff contention, the rest of the field is still jockeying for position. With just a few weeks left in the regular season, every snap, every drive, and every result carries weight.
Week 15 could be a turning point. For the Broncos, Patriots, and Rams, the path to the playoffs is right in front of them. All they have to do is take it.