That's especially the case in the AFC, where there are two teams whose records stand out above the rest but who do not necessarily fit the traditional look of heavy favorites. Behind those teams (the Patriots and Broncos) is a group of eight squads that are fighting for five playoff spots -- two division titles and three wild cards.

If one thing became clear in Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season, it is that parody reigns supreme in professional football.

Denver’s surge and Buffalo’s slide into wild-card contention set up a possible playoff rematch at Empower Field as the AFC standings tighten.