As Week 11 progresses, the NFL playoff race is officially wild, and every fan is already scoreboard watching. The playoff chase is wild as Week 11 rolls on, and every fan is already scoreboard watching. Here’s everything laid out for 2025.
_NFL Playoff (Credits: Imagn)_
The NFL postseason features 14 teams – half from the AFC and half from the NFC. Each league sends seven teams, although only one team is exempt from the opening round. While most start playing right away, that top seed waits. One team gets rest; others jump straight into action. Per the league’s current format, the top seed in each conference rests on Wild Card Weekend while everyone else fights for their January lives.
Teams qualify in two ways: first, by winning their division; second, by winning their conference. There are four division winners in every conference, and they automatically get the top four seeds. Their records determine the order. Second, the following three teams with the best records in each conference secure the wild card spots. This makes Week 11 crucial, as a single game can shift a team’s growth curve from a home game to a dangerous road trip.
Tiebreakers are the real plot twist. Head-to-head record, division record, common opponents, strength of victory, and even strength of schedule can separate teams. Fans scrolling through standings on Sunday nights are tracking these layers without even realizing it.
Seeding shapes the matchups. Two plus seven. Three takes on six. Four goes at it with five, no neutral turf. Higher seeds keep the home field as long as they stay alive. That home crowd noise in January? It messes with people. Teams gut through rough weather, injuries, and panic, hoping to snag that edge.
According to the latest [FOX Sports playoff](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2025-nfl-playoff-picture-bracket-schedule-after-week-10) report as of November 11, 2025, the Colts, Broncos, and Patriots sit atop the standings, all of which have 8-2 records. The Chargers, Bills, Steelers, and Jaguars fill out the rest of the field. The NFC race is even more challenging, with the Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, and Rams all at 7-2, followed closely by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers. If things go the same way, these teams will undoubtedly be the best in the league.
Also, as the week 11 matchup is in full swing, every team knows the reality. The playoffs are not just about who is best, but rather about who survives the longest.