NFL teams are just about halfway through the 2025 season, and this year’s playoff picture is already seeing some big gains and big losses. The Indianapolis Colts sit atop the AFC standings, even above the usual juggernauts in Buffalo, Kansas City, and Baltimore, thanks to what might be the best offseason signing by any team in Giants washout QB Daniel Jones. But who else finds themselves competing with the blue horseshoes entering Week 9 of 17?
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) spins the ball on his fingers Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, ahead of the game against the Denver Broncos at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
1. Colts (7-1, def Titans 38-17)
Daniel Jones is on a personal revenge tour.
After washing out as a member of the Giants, where his most memorable moment was tripping over his own feet on a would-be 80-yard touchdown scamper despite not a single defender close to him, it was time for a culture change. Now the 28-year-old finds himself a little to the southwest and excelling in an offense that was looking to be in serious trouble after Anthony Richardson’s injury woes finally caught him. On top of that, he’s got some better weapons as well, in RB Jonathan Taylor and WRs Michael Pittman and Josh Downs. TE Tyler Warren also fits into the Colts’ 4-weapon offense, making them one scary team as Halloween approaches.
Indianapolis sits at 7-1, clearly atop the AFC South, long considered the NFL’s “worst” by fans, even having the nickname of the “7-9 Division” for some time. The Colts have since bucked that trend and a little more, riding high into what should most likely be a top AFC seed, if not the #1 overall seed in an otherwise gauntlet-like AFC.
2. Lions (5-2, bye)
Detroit got a rest after a solid win over Baker Mayfield’s Buccaneers, which gives them more time before the November 4 trade deadline to address their concerns on defense. The offense is still clicking with the Lions’ own 4 weapon attack (QB Jared Goff, RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, and TE Sam LaPorta), but the reason why the Lions aren’t quite as up there as the Colts is because of those defensive holes. The two losses are to good Kansas City and Green Bay teams, but the defense has been leaky all season long and needs to be plugged asap.
Right now, the NFC North is still a two horse race between the Lions and Green Bay, but if Detroit wants another solo divisional crown, they better fix things that need to be fixed. Making some moves at the trade deadline early next month will help solve a team that’s otherwise still in good shape after this break.
3. Chiefs (5-3, def Commanders 28-7)
Kansas City finally has its mojo back. That’s the good news.
The bad news? Mahomes still threw two picks in last night’s game, something he hadn’t done the entirety of his NFL career up until then, and news broke earlier today that RB Isaiah Pacheco picked up a serious knee sprain after a low tackle in that game. The speedy but not quite as sturdy back could miss a few weeks, a major impact on Kansas City’s offensive firepower. And with the trade deadline coming up, this is pretty much the perfect time to make a move for a new flashy RB.
Sure, they have rookie Brashard Smith, but A) he’s a rookie and B) it’s not like he was super high on the depth chart to begin with. Veteran Kareem Hunt will most likely serve as the lead back for the Chiefs moving forward til a deal is struck.
4. Packers (5-1-1, def Steelers 35-25)
Jordan Love has a new favorite aerial target, and he’s one of the best TEs in the NFL right now, with seemingly no one talking about him. A 3rd-year superstar out of FCS power South Dakota State, Tucker Kraft had a monster SNF against the Steelers, posting two scores to tie him for 3rd most by a TE this season in addition to 143 yards on less than 10 catches!
Last Sunday’s game gives the 24-year-old Kraft 6 touchdowns on the season, only trailing Dallas’ Jake Ferguson and Philadelphia’s Dallas Goedert, each with 7. Kraft also has more total receiving yards than both of them (469; Ferguson has 334, Goedert has 289) and slightly more targets than Ferguson (41 to 39).
And yet… no one talks about him enough. I know the guy as being an absolute dog in fantasy, whether it’s full or half PPR leagues. The first week I put him on my team, in Week 4 of last year? Two touchdowns and 25 points. Last Sunday’s game had him with 33 points. You don’t see that with a tight end. That’s QB/RB material.
The main concern for this otherwise fiery Packers offense is their game management. This is a team that has put away opponents in just the last quarter of games, not the other prior 3. And while it hasn’t been that since their opening win over Detroit, they’ve more than got the tools to start doing it.
5. Eagles (6-2, def Giants 38-20)
Probably the most dramatic of victors in a crazy game, Philadelphia continued to roll, even with more and more Tush Push scrutiny. Several fans called out a particular fumble by QB Jalen Hurts that was overturned, despite the fact that the play was not blown dead until well after the ball hit the turf. But this is a power rankings article that started with the Colts’ own dominance, not a Tush Push grievance. I could easily do that another time.
Now, where was I? Yes- the Eagles easily handled a Giants team that was dealt a significant blow- rookie sensation Cam Skattebo will miss the remainder of the 2025 season after his nasty ankle injury. On top of that, the Eagles’ own sensational RB in Saquon Barkley (MADDEN CURSE ALERT!) left that game with a groin strain. Luckily, that injury wasn’t serious, as Barkley could’ve returned to the game but just wasn’t needed, and with the Eagles on bye this week, he’ll have plenty of time to chill at home before Philly faces Green Bay up north on November 10.
Rounding out the top 10 power rankings led by the dark horse Colts are:
Seahawks (5-2, also got a bye and dropped two spots from the Week 8 rankings despite a strong offense like the Colts)
Rams (5-2 with a bye of their own after a London trip)
Buccaneers (6-2 and a much-needed bye this week for a depleted Baker Mayfield-led offense)
Bills (5-2 with a dominant defensive win over the Carolina Panthers, led by 7 sacks of QB Andy Dalton and forcing 3 turnovers)
Broncos (6-2 with a solid victory over a Dallas defense that needs a ton more work than Detroit’s)
See also: Colts RB Taylor Is Lock for NFL OPOY, And It’s His Award to Lose