Entering Week 7, we're about only one-third of the way through the regular season. So what good is a playoff lookahead this early, especially one where last season's champs (Seahawks) and this season's favorites (Rams) are not included? 

You might be surprised.

On the one hand, if we look at the Week 6 standings from the 2025 season, you'd notice that the Colts and Buccaneers were the top two seeds in each respective conference. Neither team ended up making the playoffs.

On the other hand, the fields were not that out of whack from what we eventually saw in the playoffs. Six of the seven AFC teams and five of the seven NFC teams that were in the playoff field after Week 6 eventually made the postseason.

So there are certainly some big-picture things we can take from the current playoff field. It gives some perspective on just how much ground preseason playoff favorites, such as the Rams and Texans, have to make up if they want in on the playoff party come January.

It also shows just how strong the NFC North is now, with all four teams currently projected to make the postseason. Since the playoff format expanded in 2020, no division has ever landed all four teams in a single playoff field.

Here is the current playoff field entering Week 7, listed by divisional seed:

AFC

1. Chiefs

The unbeaten Chiefs own the best point differential (plus-57) in the NFL, and three of their five victories have been quite comfortable. Kenneth Walker III (655 rushing yards, the most ever by a player in his first five games with a team) has been a godsend, Patrick Mahomes has looked mostly terrific coming off injury, and KC's defense is allowing the second-fewest points per game. But they haven't faced a battering ram of a schedule so far, and six of their next eight games are on the road, so we are going to find out just how real they are over the next two months.

2. Bills

Buffalo hits the bye week in great shape at 5-1, but there have been some close-shave victories (and a home loss to the Patriots) among them. Josh Allen has been mostly tremendous in leading the NFL's top-scoring offense, but he's also had to do most of the heavy lifting at times. The run defense has shown improvement from a year ago, but virtually every other aspect of the defense as a whole could use improvement. It will be interesting to see if general manager Brandon Beane can make any personnel improvements on that side of the ball prior to the trade deadline.

3. Jaguars

The Jaguars have backed up their 13-win season with a strong 4-2 mark to start this year, although losses to the Broncos and Texans both featured second-half breakdowns after holding fourth-quarter leads. On the whole, Jacksonville has performed like a playoff-caliber team, with Trevor Lawrence playing well and Travis Hunter starting to impact games in more ways. The remaining schedule looks favorable on the surface, with the lowest opponent win percentage (.409), and yet seven of the final 11 games are away from home.

4. Browns

This season's early darlings, who incredibly are likely a dropped punt snap away from being 5-1, are 2-0 in the division with wins over the Steelers and Ravens. Deshaun Watson has been functional on the whole but especially good in second halves. This remains a low-scoring offense (17.7 ppg) with pass-protection issues and a lack of run-game punch. Cleveland's defense has been on the rise, keeping four of the past five opponents to 19 points or fewer, but the Browns will have to find ways to make life easier on themselves with all four AFC North teams currently over .500.

5. Patriots

The season started on a sour note, as Drake Maye struggled and the defense could do only so much to help out. The arrow has pointed up in recent weeks as Maye has gotten back on track and A.J. Brown has returned to the lineup, although his first full game in Week 6 was forgettable. Keeping pace with the Bills will be tough with four of the next five games away from home and some high-profile matchups left, including current unbeatens Minnesota and Kansas City in Weeks 14 and 15.

6. Broncos

There's a lot to figure out on offense, where play-calling duties have already shifted from Davis Webb back to Sean Payton — and the early results have been even worse than before. On the season, the Broncos average a league-worst 4.6 yards per play. Denver's two losses, both on the road, have each been by double digits. Its four victories have all been one-score affairs. Defensively, the Broncos have lived and died on sacks and turnovers but have been leaky against the run, with poor tackling. Payton has a tough, competitive team, but until Bo Nix and the offense get going, they're also an incomplete one. 

7. Steelers

Aaron Rodgers has 12 TD passes and is on pace for his best passing totals since his MVP campaign in 2021, but he's averaging a turnover per game. The Steelers needed overtime to beat the Buccaneers and lost their other two road outings. With the Ravens and Bengals right on their heels, the Steelers will need to continue forcing turnovers on defense and cut back on them on offense. Their margin for error feels a little slim, even with the 4-2 start to the season.   

NFC

1. 49ers

Even after Monday's scare against the Commanders, it's been hard to argue with much of what we've seen from the Niners this season. They're 6-0, including 3-0 in the division with head-to-head road victories over the Rams and Seahawks, the presumed NFC West faves entering the season. Brock Purdy is playing at an MVP level, and the defense has been improved, even if there's a need for more big plays. One thing to watch: Mike Evans' health. The 49ers are a different team with and without him on the field. Losing him, on top of all their other injuries, would be a major blow to their No. 1 seed chances.

2. Vikings 

They're 5-0 but ripe for questions given the state of the offense right now. Kyler Murray is back under center after missing parts of two games, and they've had the bye week to make adjustments, but they'll need to find ways to be more explosive. Brian Flores' defense is absolutely smothering opponents, averaging two forced turnovers per game and giving up 513 pass yards the past four games combined, but can this unit carry the team all season? There's also the matter of the remaining strength of schedule, which is a whopping .572, with several tough opponents ahead.

3. Panthers

Bryce Young is off to a terrific start, and the Panthers' offense is starting to resemble a pretty interesting unit. Chuba Hubbard has anchored the run game, and the offensive line hasn't been the concern area some thought it might be. After allowing 59 points in the opener, the Panthers have settled down a bit, giving up only 64 in the four games since. There's still room for improvement on that side, but the arrow is pointing up. With more home games (seven) than road games (five) remaining, and amid a weaker NFC South, there's a pretty good runway for the Panthers to make the postseason two straight years. 

4. Giants

The move to start J.J. McCarthy feels like an inflection point on the season. The Giants currently lead the morass that is the NFC East, but they're going to need better QB play consistently from here on out to hang onto the division lead. All three wins have come at home, and they have yet to win on the road, which is where the next two games are, with the bye in between. John Harbaugh has helped make the team more competitive, but the defense needs to make more big plays to keep them ahead of a weakened division.

5. Packers

The Packers' season looked wayward after the 1-2 start, but three straight victories have changed the trajectory, especially with Jordan Love starting to take command of the offense. Matthew Golden and Christian Watson are fueling the vertical passing game again, even if there has been some meat left on the bone. Don't overlook the contributions of the defense, either. In the past three games, they've forced nine turnovers and allowed only 34 points. This unit could ascend even higher once Micah Parsons returns, but it might be a few more weeks' wait.

6. Bears

It has been a tale of three mini-seasons in one: before Caleb Williams' injury, the three games he missed, and after his return. With Williams, the Bears feel like a frightening team capable of taking down almost anyone; without him, it's hard to imagine the Bears threatening quality opponents. Defensively, it appears they need to force turnovers to be effective, allowing the most yards per play in the NFL. The schedule also figures to be a grind, with several tough opponents remaining, and they'll have to do something about their 0-2 mark in the division.

7. Lions

It has been an uneven start thus far for the Lions, but they're in the playoff field as of now, thanks to an offense that puts up the second-most points per game at 32.8. The problem, of course, is a defense that gives up nearly 30 points and more than 400 yards per game. They have shown a better pass rush, and the secondary could welcome Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph back at some point, but vast improvement is needed. They're coming off a bye with two huge games at home upcoming against the Packers and Vikings. Win those and the Lions can really help their chances of reclaiming the NFC North.