Sportsnaut
As we head to the final stretch of the 2025 NFL regular season, the playoff races are heating up. Entering Week 15, there are 12 teams in the AFC still alive for playoff contention, and in the NFC, there are 11. This year, the NFL is as wide open as it’s ever been, as there’s no clear Super Bowl favorite. In fact, there are teams that are currently on the outside looking in that could be a dangerous team if they reach the postseason.
Here are the five most dangerous teams that are currently outside of the playoff picture.
The Detroit Lions are currently the eighth seed in the NFC, just one game back of the Chicago Bears for the seventh and final spot. Detroit has a tough schedule ahead of it as it plays three of its last four games on the road, including the season finale at Chicago.
The Lions offense is explosive, as the 394 points they’ve scored are the most in the NFL, thanks to playmakers such as Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St Brown, and Jameson Williams. Losing safety Brian Branch for the season due to an Achilles injury is a devastating blow, but if they can get in the postseason, their offense has enough firepower to beat anyone.
Remaining Games: @Rams, Steelers, @Vikings, @Bears
For the first time this late in the season in the Patrick Mahomes era, the Kansas City Chiefs are below 500. Their once potent offense has been out of sync all year, and Mahomes’ 63.1 completion percentage is the lowest of his career since he became the starter.
Despite their struggles, Kansas City has been in every game they’ve played, as their seven losses were for a combined 35 points. Their defense is still playing at a high level and can cause problems for any offense in the conference. Having played in the last three Super Bowls and winning two of them, this team knows how to step up its game in January and February. With the top teams in the AFC lacking playoff experience, nobody wants to play the three-time defending AFC Champions come playoff time.
They will have to win out in order to make it, and if they do, they’ll be the scariest team in the AFC.
Remaining Games: Chargers, @Titans, Broncos, @Raiders
The Carolina Panthers have been one of the surprise teams and are currently ninth in the NFC, but tied for the division lead in the NFC South with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They have an impressive victory over the Dallas Cowboys, and have upset wins over the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers
Quarterback Bryce Young continues to make strides in his third season, and they have the 10th-ranked rushing offense in the league. Typically, you wouldn’t expect a team with zero playoff experience to be a threat if they get in. But perhaps their wins over the Rams and Packers will...
