Lamar Jackson is not the same with Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs fighting for NFL playoff lives, says Phoebe Schecter

The 2025 NFL season is threatening to become the year of the underdog as pre-season Super Bowl favourites fight for their playoff lives, including Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes.

Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs, who have been to three straight Super Bowls, are staring at the prospect of a shock omission as they sit 6-6 following Thursday's 31-28 Thanksgiving defeat to the Dallas Cowboys.

The Baltimore Ravens meanwhile just saw their five-game winning streak come to an end as they were beaten 32-14 by the Cincinnati Bengals, who had welcomed Joe Burrow back to the lineup after a nine-game absence.

Jackson struggled once again having been marred by further injury setbacks following his three-game layoff with a hamstring issue. His side are now 6-6 at the top of the AFC North, marginally ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6) with Burrow's Bengals lurking.