The week of January 6 officially marks the end of the 2024-25 NFL regular season. The end of the regular season marks a turning point for every team, some of whom will be chasing glory in the postseason while others will simply be preparing for the next season, planning draft picks, and making strategic plays focused on enhancing their chances for a playoff berth next season. Let’s take a closer look at the games played at the end of the 2024-25 NFL season.
AFC Standings
Current AFC Playoff Standings
- Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)*
- Buffalo Bills (13-4)*
- Baltimore Ravens (12-5)*
- Houston Texans (10-7)*
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)*
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)*
- Denver Broncos (10-7)*
Eliminated: Cincinnati Bengals (9-8), Miami Dolphins (8-9), Cleveland Browns (3-14), Indianapolis Colts (8-9), Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13), Las Vegas Raiders (4-13), New England Patriots (4-13), New York Jets (5-12), Tennessee Titans (3-14)
*= clinched playoff berth
The Indianapolis Colts failed to win any games during the season that boosted their chances at a chance at the playoffs— and then won when draft positioning was on the line. Indianapolis still has not settled on a solid starting quarterback and will almost certainly go into next season hoping that Anthony Richardson will stay healthy and develop as a passer.
The Buffalo Bills fell to the New England Patriots in week 18, however, that is not representative of their overall season. The Bills roster depth is equipped for an extensive playoff run, led by superstar quarterback Josh Allen. The win for the New England Patriots did not put the team in good spirits, however, as the front office decided to fire newly appointed head coach Jerod Mayo after one season of coaching. The Patriots are expected to pursue Mike Vrabel, another former Patriot who played 8 seasons with the club. The win over Buffalo destroyed the Patriot’s chances for the #1 pick, dropping them down to pick #4. In the offseason, the Patriots are expected to make offers to receivers Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin who both had exceptional seasons with their teams this season. Commenting on the Patriot’s chances for next season, Hingham High School Junior Noah Rawoof said “The Patriots were disappointing this season, and I am glad they fired Jerod Mayo. They will have to make big moves in the off-season to even have a small chance next season.”
Injuries at wide receiver have battered the Houston Texans this year as three of their most targeted receivers have seen time away from the field. Nico Collins missed time with a hamstring injury earlier in the season while newly acquired Stefon Diggs and rookie Tank Dell are both out for the season with knee injuries. With Sunday’s loss, the period of Mason Rudolph and Will Levis should officially be over as the Titans seek to enter the 2025 NFL draft with their eyes on the star quarterback at the University of Colorado, Shadeur Sanders. The Titans are in the best position possible to secure their new starter after New England’s victory over Buffalo moved them up to the #1 pick.
NFC Standings
Current NFC Playoff Standings
- Detroit Lions (15-2)*
- Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)*
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)*
- Los Angeles Rams (10-7)*
- Minnesota Vikings (14-3)*
- Washington Commanders (12-5)*
- Green Bay Packers (11-6)*
Eliminated: Atlanta Falcons (8-9), Seattle Seahawks (10-7), Arizona Cardinals (8-9), Carolina Panthers (5-12), Dallas Cowboys (7-10), Chicago Bears (5-12), New York Giants (3-14), New Orleans Saints (5-12), San Francisco 49ers (6-11)
The Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears engaged in a thrilling contest this Sunday with the Bears edging out a win with a final score of 24-22. The Bears, who also recently fired their head coach, are said to be actively pursuing Mike Vrabel and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to fill the vacancies in their coaching staff. On the other side, the Green Bay Packers are looking forward to their postseason run. Led by quarterback Jordan Love, the Packer’s passing game will almost certainly be a part of their playoff offense.
It is expected that the New York Giants will make a crucial decision in the near future regarding the coaching staff in the next few days. As a general manager, Joe Schoen has made countless mistakes when making roster decisions, signing Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million extension in 2023 and then releasing him a year later. Schoen also made the choice to let running back Saquon Barkley walk in free agency, a decision that would come back to haunt him as in week 18 Barkley led the Philadelphia Eagles to an easy victory over the Giants, defeating them 20-13. When asked what he thought about the Giants’ recent history, HHS junior Will Crespi said “The Giants have really sucked in the past few years, after they lost Odell Beckham Jr. I think they should fire their head coach, he’s not really doing anything to help the team.”
The Los Angeles Rams made the decision to rest quarterback Matthew Stafford this Sunday. This, amongst numerous others who were benched in the game ultimately caused the Rams to lose the contest. The Rams’ playoff berth has been set in stone for a while now, however, the health of injury-prone Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and Cooper Kupp to consider as they move forward in their quest to the Super Bowl.
