As we flip the calendar to December, the NFL regular season is officially in the home stretch. Five weeks remain, and the playoff picture is anything but settled.
From perennial contenders fighting to stay alive to rising stars making MVP pushes, there’s no shortage of storylines to track as we barrel toward Week 18. Here are five of the biggest narratives to keep an eye on as the 2025 season hits its final gear.
1. Are the Chiefs in real danger of missing the playoffs?
It’s strange to even ask that question, but here we are. Since Patrick Mahomes took over as the full-time starter in 2018, Kansas City hasn’t just made the playoffs-they’ve lived in the AFC Championship Game. But that streak is teetering.
The Chiefs sit at 6-6, two games behind the Chargers, Colts, and Bills in a crowded AFC wild-card race. And it’s not just the standings that are concerning-it’s the way they’ve been playing.
Kansas City is 1-3 over its last four games, giving up over 25 points per contest in that stretch. That’s not the kind of December football we’re used to seeing from Andy Reid’s group.
The remaining schedule won’t do them any favors either-three of their last five games are against winning teams. If the Chiefs are going to extend their playoff streak to 11 straight seasons, they’ll need to flip the switch fast. Mahomes has made a career out of late-season heroics, but this may be his toughest test yet.
2. **Maye vs.
Stafford: Who takes home MVP honors? **
The MVP race got a serious jolt this past weekend. On one end, you had Drake Maye putting together a poised, efficient performance in a 33-15 win over the Giants-just another step forward in what’s been a breakout year for the Patriots’ young quarterback. On the other, Matthew Stafford had his roughest outing of the season in a loss to Carolina, throwing the race wide open.
Both quarterbacks have strong cases. Maye leads in completion percentage and passing yards and brings a dual-threat element that’s hard to ignore. Stafford, meanwhile, has more touchdown passes and fewer picks, and his veteran savvy has kept the Rams in the thick of the NFC race.
This one’s shaping up to be a photo finish. Maye is trying to become the rare second-year MVP, while Stafford is chasing his first after nearly two decades in the league. With five games left, every throw matters.
3. Can the Cowboys and Bengals crash the division title party?
Neither Dallas nor Cincinnati has played up to its potential for most of the season-but both teams are still breathing, and that’s a problem for the rest of their divisions.
The Cowboys, now 6-5-1, have ripped off three straight wins, including a 31-28 thriller over the Chiefs on Thanksgiving. Their defense may be giving up points in bunches, but the offense is starting to click. They’re just a game and a half behind the Eagles in the NFC East, and with momentum on their side, they’re not going away quietly.
Cincinnati’s path is even tighter. At 4-8, the Bengals have no room for error.
But their statement win over the Ravens-a 32-14 beatdown in Baltimore-showed they’re not dead yet. Joe Burrow looked sharp in his return from turf toe, and the defense forced five turnovers, a season high.
Both teams have uphill climbs, but both have the talent to make things interesting. If they can keep stacking wins, we might be talking about them in January.
4. Can the Bears finish strong and lock up the NFC’s top seed?
Chicago has been one of the season’s biggest surprises, clawing its way to the top of the NFC standings. But holding onto that No. 1 seed won’t be easy.
The road ahead is brutal. Two games against the Packers (8-3-1), a primetime showdown in San Francisco (9-4), and a season finale against the Lions (7-5)-who already dropped 52 points on them earlier this year-make for a treacherous final stretch.
Six of the Bears’ nine wins have come by five points or fewer, so they’ve been living on the edge all year. That kind of margin leaves little room for error down the stretch. If they can navigate this gauntlet and still come out on top, they’ll have earned that first-round bye the hard way.
5. The race for the No. 1 pick is heating up
At the other end of the standings, there’s a different kind of drama unfolding. Four teams-the Titans (1-11), Saints (2-10), Giants (2-11), and Raiders (2-10)-are locked in a battle for the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
A Week 17 matchup between Tennessee and New Orleans could go a long way in deciding who lands that No. 1 spot. The Titans already picked first in 2025, and if they finish at the bottom again, they’d be the first team since the Jaguars (2021-2022) to go back-to-back at No. 1.
The Saints haven’t had the top pick since 1981. The Giants have never picked first.
And the Raiders’ last No. 1 selection? JaMarcus Russell in 2007-a name that still makes Raiders fans wince.
All four franchises are in the middle of multi-year playoff droughts. The stakes are high-not for this season, but for the next era.
A top pick could mean a franchise quarterback, a defensive cornerstone, or the kind of trade leverage that reshapes a roster. Over the next five weeks, the race to the bottom might be just as compelling as the race to the top.
Final Stretch, Full Throttle
With just five weeks left, the NFL’s regular season is entering its most chaotic, compelling phase. Whether it’s playoff pushes, MVP debates, or draft positioning, every snap is going to matter. Buckle up-December football is here, and it’s not waiting for anyone.