Week 12 of the 2025 
NFL season is on the horizon with several Super Bowl contenders jockeying for positioning in their respective conferences. The 
Kansas City Chiefs are now 5-5 and out of the AFC West hunt after their one-possession road loss to the 
Denver Broncos.
Meanwhile, the 
Los Angeles Rams beat the 
Seattle Seahawks to take firm control of the NFC West. Out East, the 
Buffalo Bills posted a statement win against the 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to reaffirm themselves as a Super Bowl contender.
In addition, the 
New England Patriots moved their lengthy winning streak to eight games, thanks to another efficient performance from Drake Maye. All-time great quarterback and NFL analyst Tom Brady has been taking note of all of these results and made some drastic changes to his ten best teams in the NFL list.
Here is the future Hall of Famer’s most recent ranking and his justifications for several of these teams’ spots.
10
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are losers of their past two games after seeing their AFC West chances all but slip away against the Denver Broncos. Patrick Mahomes and the offense have hit a rut the past few weeks even with most of his receiving corps back and healthy.
Now Andy Reid‘s team will host the 
Indianapolis Colts, who Brady shockingly does not have on the list, to stay in the Wild Card hunt.
“If you’re going to comment about the Chiefs being in the top 10, I want you to do something real quick: close your eyes and visualize. It’s January. It’s cold out. Patrick Mahomes has the ball with five minutes left. How do you think that story is going to end? They’re just a cheat code for power rankings. If we’re being honest, you’re lucky they’re not higher.”
9
Green Bay Packers
The 
Green Bay Packers secured their seventh win of the season against a feisty 
New York Giants team to end their two-game losing streak. Micah Parsons continued his Defensive Player of the Year campaign with a strip sack last Sunday for a team that now trails just the 
Chicago Bears in the NFC North.
On paper, quarterback Jordan Love is having his best season yet, but the 27-year-old has struggled against Green Bay’s high-profile opponents. Matt LaFleur will need more production under center, as well as Josh Jacobs back and healthy to truly contend for an NFC Championship.
8
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears continue to be the Cardiac Kids under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Caleb Williams and company are now 7-3 with their opponents outscoring them by six points combined through Week 11.
Looking ahead, the Bears have the second-hardest schedule in the league, which means that the well better not dry up for one of the NFL’s most exciting teams.
7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers were gashed on defense, thanks to a record-setting performance from Josh Allen. Baker Mayfield struggled on the road against a feisty Buffalo Bills‘ secondary that made up for the lackluster run defense.
The Buccaneers are just a half a game in front of the 
Carolina Panthersin the NFC South and will be heavy underdogs Sunday night at the Los Angeles Rams. The cracks are showing for a team believed to be a dark horse Super Bowl contender.
6
Seattle Seahawks
It’s a testament to the Seattle Seahawks that Sam Darnold threw four interceptions, and they only lost on the road to the Los Angeles Rams by two points.
Needless to say Sunday’s defeat was a blown opportunity for Mike Macdonald’s team, which has a more challenging schedule going forward than its NFC West foe.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, however, continued his MVP campaign as he looks to become the first wideout ever to reach 2,000 receiving yards. This is a very reasonable spot for a team that can now be considered an NFC contender.
5
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills bounced back from their dismal loss to the 
Miami Dolphins to prove once again that they will be a hard out in the playoffs. Josh Allen and the offense had one of their best performances of the year, while the defense was able to contain Baker Mayfield in the last 30 minutes of this 44-32 victory.
The Bills still have a deliberating weakness, their run defense, but they remain in the mix to win a sixth straight AFC East crown.
“They survived five lead changes in a classic against the Bucs. That felt a little bit like a playoff game, but I think it’s a good representation about Josh Allen, how good they are and what they’re going to look like in the playoffs.”
4
New England Patriots
But the favorite in the AFC East is the New England Patriots, who won their ninth straight game last Thursday night. TreVeyon Henderson reached the end zone three times, while the defense held firm to pull away from the 
New York Jets in Foxborough.
Mike Vrabel’s team has a top 10 scoring offense and defense, and with its reasonable schedule down the stretch, New England are one of the favorites to claim the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Brady isn’t being all that biased with this ranking of his former team.
“The Pats, they overcame a slow start against the Jets, but they still sit at No. 4 this week. It was a huge game from Drake ‘Drake Maye’ Maye. That’s an awesome nickname. I missed out there.”
3
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos continue to win close games thanks to one of the best defenses in the league, and an offense that is doing just enough. Wil Lutz‘s game-winning victory brought Sean Payton’s team to 9-2 and kept the Kansas City Chiefs out of the AFC West hunt.
Bo Nix still remains a question mark at quarterback, but the second-year starter at his best, has the upside to lead this franchise back to the Super Bowl.
“Mile High was rocking as Denver held off the Chiefs in a great game. This Denver defense has the potential to be an all-time unit at this rate. I trust Sean Payton to keep this squad focused.”
2
Los Angeles Rams
Tom Brady kept his top 2 the same, and there was no reason to make any drastic changes after the Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles both moved to 8-2.
In the case of Matthew Stafford and company, they still remain the team to beat in the NFC West after their 21-19 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
As Brady says, the Rams are becoming more dangerous by the week and they keep finding new ways to win games.
“The Rams took control of the NFC West with a win against Seattle. That defense for the Rams stepped up with four interceptions, which I love to see. You’ve gotta be able to win in multiple ways to be great in this league. The Rams, they’re showing they can do that.”
1
Philadelphia Eagles
The defending champs made a defensive upgrade during the trade deadline, and that move is already paying dividends. Jaelen Phillips had another sack as well as two quarterback hits in the team’s 16-9 win over the 
Detroit Lions.
The Philadelphia Eagles have a much different team than last year, but they’re finding their way through a challenging schedule by any means necessary.
“Philly stays in the top spot with a huge win on Sunday night against the Lions. It really hasn’t been that pretty all season long for the Eagles, and this game was no different. But we’ve seen this at different times over the last few seasons, so I’m giving the defending champions the benefit of the doubt.”
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