With just two weeks left in the 2025 NFL regular season, the playoff picture is starting to take shape - but there’s still plenty of drama left on the board. Ten teams have already punched their postseason tickets - five from the AFC (Patriots, Bills, Jaguars, Broncos, Chargers) and five from the NFC (Eagles, Bears, Seahawks, 49ers, Rams). That leaves four spots up for grabs and a whole lot of teams still in the mix.
It’s been a season full of surprises, comebacks, and statement wins - and there are some key numbers that help tell the story heading into Week 17.
3: From Basement to Bracket
This time last year, the Patriots, Bears, and 49ers were all looking ahead to the draft, not the postseason. They combined for just 15 wins in 2024 and each finished dead last in their respective divisions. Fast forward to 2025, and all three are playoff-bound - with division titles still within reach.
The 49ers, after a rough 6-11 campaign last year, are back in the hunt for their third NFC West crown in four seasons. The Patriots, who haven’t topped the AFC East since 2019, have engineered a dramatic turnaround.
And in Chicago, the Bears are eyeing their first NFC North title since 2018. These aren’t just bounce-back stories - they’re full-blown redemption arcs.
14: Overtime Action Heating Up
If you’ve felt like there’s been more late-game chaos this year, you’re not imagining things. With two more overtime thrillers in Week 16 - including the Seahawks’ 38-37 win over the Rams and the Bears’ walk-off 46-yard touchdown from Caleb Williams to D.J. Moore to beat the Packers - we’re now up to 14 OT games in 2025.
That’s just two shy of last season’s total (16), and while we’re still a ways from the all-time record of 25 (set back in 2002), the trend reflects how tight the competition has been across the league. Parity is real - and it’s making for some incredible finishes.
11: Ground Game Revival
The run game is back in a big way this season. Heading into Week 17, 11 players have already crossed the 1,000-yard mark on the ground, with Bills running back James Cook leading the pack at 1,532 yards. Another five backs are knocking on the door with 900-plus yards.
To put that in perspective, the league finished with 16 1,000-yard rushers last year. The all-time record is 23, set in 2000 and tied again in 2006.
Cook, meanwhile, is chasing a bit of history himself - trying to become the first Bill to lead the NFL in rushing since O.J. Simpson did it back in 1976.
That’s nearly five decades ago. If he finishes strong, he could etch his name into franchise lore.
8: Lions’ Season Defined by Missed Opportunities
No team has felt the sting of regression quite like the Detroit Lions. After going 15-2 and locking up the NFC’s top seed last year, they’ve stumbled to just eight wins in 2025. The offense has still been explosive - only the Rams have scored more points - but the defense continues to be a question mark.
What’s remarkable, though, is how disciplined the Lions have been with the football. They’ve committed just eight turnovers all season.
If that number holds, they’ll tie the NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season, shared by the 2019 Saints and last year’s Bills. It’s a testament to ball security - but also a reminder that even clean football doesn’t always translate to wins when other parts of the team aren’t clicking.
128: Rams’ Defense Tells Two Stories
The Rams are sitting at 11-4 and looking every bit like a Super Bowl contender. They’ve scored more points than any team in the league and have allowed just 299 - a mark bettered by only five other teams. But when you dig into the details, there’s a stark contrast between their wins and losses.
In their 11 victories, the Rams have surrendered just 171 points and 17 total touchdowns. In their four losses?
A whopping 128 points and 16 touchdowns allowed. That’s nearly the same amount of damage done in less than half the games.
And it's not just about giving up yards - they’ve been burned by three return touchdowns in those losses: one on a blocked field goal, one pick-six, and one punt return.
It’s a reminder that while the Rams have the firepower to win shootouts, their margin for error shrinks when special teams and turnovers swing momentum.
As we head into the final stretch of the regular season, the playoff race is still wide open, and the numbers are telling us exactly how we got here. Whether it’s comeback stories, clutch overtime wins, or eye-popping individual performances, Week 17 is shaping up to be a pivotal chapter in what's been one of the most unpredictable NFL seasons in recent memory. Buckle up - the best may still be yet to come.