Through Week 14 of the 2025 NFL season, there are 20 teams alive as playoff contenders who still have a legitimate shot to win Super Bowl 60. The league has never had so much intriguing parity across both conferences, which makes the race for a ring more wide open than ever.
The NFL no doubt is top-heavy with 10 (or half) of those teams already having 9 or more wins going into Week 15. Many of the contenders, from quarterback play to defense to coaching, have several assets in their favor. But all of them also have at least one major weakness that keep them from walking off winners at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8.
Here's breaking down the most important shortcoming that can keep every team from living up to their Lombardi Trophy dreams:
MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture heading into Week 15
Denver Broncos
Fatal flaw: Passing efficiency
The Broncos are only No. 23 in the league with their team passer rating of 86.1, tie to the wild play of Bo Nix, who tends to be terrible for three quarters and saves the day in the fourth. He is inconsistent with his accuracy and decision-making, often leading to the hole out of which he has to dig the team.
Knocking Nix has gotten out of control given his clutch heroics, but slow, rough starts can catch up to him and his team when playing better QBs.
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New England Patriots
Fatal flaw: Red zone defense
The Patriots give up touchdowns on 73.1 percent of their teams' trips inside their own 20, which is dead last (No. 32) in the league. New England is overall a sound defense for Mike Vrabel with stoutness against the run and improving pop against the pass. But if Drake Maye and the offense has to settle for field goals, the opponents can make it up big time with touchdowns to end longer drives.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
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Fatal flaw: Penalties
The Jaguars have had 130 flags thrown against them, No. 1 in the NFL. That's not a surprise as this is a young team finding itself and its total disciplined identity under Liam Coen. Coen models his gritty versatile well-rounded club on the Rams, but that's a huge difference give how few mental mistakes that team makes under Sean McVay.
MORE: How Jaguars' divisional win over Colts impacts AFC South
Pittsburgh Steelers
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Fatal flaw: Rushing offense
The Steelers are supposed to run the ball well with multiple tight ends and blocking emphasis to take pressure off Aaron Rodgers and his limited options in the passing game beyond DK Metcalf. But despite offensive coordinator Arthur Smith having the dynamic duo of Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh is No. 29 in average rushing yards, 89.2 per game. Putting Rodgers in too many uncomfortable one-dimensional situations can spell the Steelers' playoff doom in a hurry.
MORE: Steelers move in front of Ravens for AFC North lead
Los Angeles Chargers
Fatal flaw: Pass protection
The Chargers, after the debacle against the Eagles, are up allowing 47 sacks this season, tied for 30th in the NFL. They would be a whole lot better with first-round starting offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater in the lineup, but those injured stars aren't returning to help Justin Herbert. A team with a good pass rush, either with front four only or blitzing, can make it another rough early exit for Jim Harbaugh's team.
MORE: Explaining why Justin Herbert is wearing extra padding on non-throwing hand
Buffalo Bills
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Fatal flaw: Run defense
This has been a Buffalo bugaboo all season long and it hasn't improved much. The Bills rank No. 28 against the run in the league, giving up on average 135.2 rushing yards per game. A playoff opponent can use that formula to pound away on their defense, sustain and finish long drives plus also limit the time the ball is in Josh Allen's hands for the offense.
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Houston Texans
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Fatal flaw: Red zone offense
The Texans are too reliant on money kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn when they are inside the 20. They are No. 31 in red-zone touchdown rate at only 44.2 percent. C.J. Stroud and the running game can get stuck when compressed, leading to too many shorter field-goal attempts. That opens the door for a team to win low-scoring defensive slugfests with Houston if it can break through for even one big touchdown against that dominant defense.
MORE: How AFC wild-card race shapes up Texans' big win over Chiefs
Indianapolis Colts
Fatal flaw: Pass defense
The Colts have lost a major offensive element without quarterback Daniel Jones and their running game with Jonathan Taylor has sputtered of late. That's not good for outscoring teams for the rest of the regular season and maybe into the playoffs. The pass defense has been bad all season and is missing newcomer Sauce Gardner. It's ranked No. 29, giving up on average 246.3 yards per game.
MORE: 6 reasons why Philip Rivers signing with the Colts is bad news
Baltimore Ravens
Fatal flaw: Passing offense
Lamar Jackson is far off from his MVP-caliber play throwing the ball. He might be off still with his hamstring injury and the running game hasn't been so automatic with him and Derrick Henry. That makes them being No. 27 in the league with an average of 182.2 passing yards per game even more problematic for their playoff chances.
MORE: Why Ravens' playoff chances are fading to black
Kansas City Chiefs
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Fatal flaw: Pass rush
The Chiefs have a lot of little things going wrong everywhere. But when their offense can be anemic with little help from the running game and Patrick Mahomes turning over the ball, they are doomed. They make opposing QBs far too comfortable with their lack of pressure which Mahomes feels on the other side. They are only No. 24 with 25 sacks produced for Steve Spagnuolo so far.
MORE: Chiefs clinch worst record in the Patrick Mahomes era with seventh loss
Los Angeles Rams
Fatal flaw: Cornerback play
The Rams are pretty strong all-around for McVay with a dangerous passing offense, good line, strong running, good pass rush and stout run defense. The one area teams can attack and beat them in the playoffs is taking advantage of strong wide receiver matchups against Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Darious Williams and slot man Cobie Durant.
MORE: How Matthew Stafford is making his Hall of Fame case a slam dunk
Green Bay Packers
Fatal flaw: Consistency
The Packers can lose to teams in shocking fashion (see the Panthers and Browns). Or they can look unbeatable (see Lions and Bears). Jordan Love is a streaky QB. They have shuffling injuries. Matt LaFleur can call a great game or have a lousy one. You never know which level of Green Bay team will show up and one off day is all it takes to lose in the playoffs (see previous years).
MORE: Jordan Love is putting Packers on his back on way to playoffs
Philadelphia Eagles
Fatal flaw: Third-down offense
The Eagles aren't running the ball well on early downs. They are maybe being too aggressive in looking for big pass plays on those down as a result. That's led to them being No. 28 in converting third downs at 34.2 percent. The finger-pointing isn't helpful. Knowing they need to win first and second down consistently in the playoffs does. This is why everyone is screaming for the Eagles to get mini chunks so they can keep moving the chains.
MORE: 6 Eagles most to blame for offensive woes
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fatal flaw: Pass defense
The Buccaneers have had shaky coverage and pass rush all season long for defensive-minded coach Todd Bowles. They are No. 27 in the league in allowing an average of 237.8 yards per game. This can end their playoff run short vs. Any of the explosive passing NFC teams in the playoffs.
MORE: Buccaneers drop game to Panthers to tighten NFC South race
Seattle Seahawks
Fatal flaw: Turnovers
For a winning team, the Seahawks have given the ball away a lot. Their 23 combined interceptions and fumbles lost are No. 2 in the NFL, behind only the Vikings. Sam Darnold has had his share of faults, making unforced errors despite strong pass protection. He's up to 11 INTs through 13 games. Darnold needs to avoid those or it would be lights out for the Emerald City.
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San Francisco 49ers
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Fatal flaw: Pass rush
The 49ers have lost Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to devastating season-ending defensive injuries. They have failed to get the needed pressure for Robert Saleh, putting a lot of pressure on the back-end coverage. Their 16 sacks are No. 32 and lowest total in the NFL. They need to generate some pressure in the playoffs or be one-and-done.
MORE: Inside look at 49ers' extensive injury history in recent seasons
Chicago Bears
Run defense
The Bears are the Bills of the NFC. They can run the ball well and make big defensive plays against the pass. But they also are No. 27 against the run, giving up on average 132.5 rushing yards per game. That can doom them more than Caleb Williams' inconsistency.
MORE: Bears fall out of first place of NFC North after loss to Packers
Detroit Lions
Fatal flaw: Injuries
The Lions have been dropping like flies on offense and defense, getting worse with the injury bug than they were last year. Every aspect of the team has been hurt short or long-term with the real exception of Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. There might be too many holes to overcome again in the playoffs.
MORE: Lions continue to be on the outside of NFC playoff picture
Carolina Panthers
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Fatal flaw: Third-down defense
The Panthers allow teams to convert at 44.2 percent, 29th in the NFL. This is a problem because they can be inconsistent against run and pass through early downs. This flaw is likely to keep them out of the playoffs.
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Dallas Cowboys
Fatal flaw: Pass defense
The Cowboys get the last mention, dead last in the NFL at No. 32, giving on average 255.2 passing yards per game. They have tried to fix things up front, but they still are only getting better vs. The run. Their secondary stinks and keeps getting roasted because of injury, inexperience, inconsistency and straight-up ineffectiveness. This goes well beyond not having Micah Parsons, who they will watch play for the Packers in the playoffs while they miss out.
MORE: Cowboys playoff hopes take massive hit after loss to Lions