NFL playoff picture: Who helped and hurt themselves in Week 8

It is officially Halloween week.

Which means it is a perfect time to start thinking about the NFL Playoffs.

Now that we are nearly through October, the NFL playoff picture is taking shape. Here is how the 2025-2026 NFL Playoffs would look if the season ended today, as well as a look at what is on the line tonight when the Washington Commanders visit the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football.

AFC Playoff Picture

Indianapolis Colts (7-1, 1st place AFC South)
Week 9: at Pittsburgh

New England Patriots (6-2, 1st place AFC East)
Week 9: vs. Atlanta

Denver Broncos (6-2, 1st place AFC West)
Week 9: at Houston

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2, 1st place AFC North)
Week 9: vs. Indianapolis

Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Week 9: vs. Kansas City

Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
Week 9: at Tennessee

Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)
Week 9: at Las Vegas

Kansas City Chiefs (4-3)
Week 8: at Washington

Houston Texans (3-4)
Week 9: vs. Denver

Cincinnati Bengals (3-5)
Week 9: vs. Chicago

Las Vegas Raiders (2-5)
Week 9: vs. Jacksonville

Baltimore Ravens (2-5)
Week 9: at Miami

Cleveland Browns (2-6)
Week 9: Bye

Miami Dolphins (2-6)
Week 9: vs. Baltimore

New York Jets (1-7)
Week 9: Bye

Tennessee Titans (1-7)
Week 9: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

The Colts’ dream season rolled on this Sunday, as Indianapolis stayed atop the AFC with a commanding win over the Titans. If the playoffs began today, the road to Super Bowl LX in the AFC would run through Lucas Oil Stadium.

Both New England and Denver won on Sunday to improve to 6-2, but at the moment, the Patriots hold the tiebreaker advantage between the two teams thanks to a better record in conference games.

In addition, if the playoffs began today, Jacksonville would be in … and Kansas City would be out, thanks to the Jaguars’ win over the Chiefs back in 5.

NFC Playoff Picture

Green Bay Packers (5-1-1, 1st place NFC North)
Week 9: vs. Carolina

Philadelphia Eagles (6-2, 1st place NFC East)
Week 9: Bye

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2, 1st place NFC South)
Week 9: Bye

Seattle Seahawks (5-2, 1st place NFC West)
Week 9: at Washington

Detroit Lions (5-2)
Week 9: vs. Minnesota

Los Angeles Rams (5-2)
Week 9: vs. New Orleans

San Francisco 49ers (5-3)
Week 9: at New York Giants

Chicago Bears (4-3)
Week 9: at Cincinnati

Carolina Panthers (4-4)
Week 9: at Green Bay

Dallas Cowboys (3-4-1)
Week 9: vs. Arizona

Atlanta Falcons (3-4)
Week 9: at New England

Minnesota Vikings (3-4)
Week 9: at Detroit

Washington Commanders (3-4)
Week 9: vs. Seattle

Arizona Cardinals (2-5)
Week 9: at Dallas

New York Giants (2-6)
Week 9: vs. San Francisco

New Orleans Saints (1-7)
Week 9: at Los Angeles Rams

Green Bay’s win over the Steelers on Sunday night moves the Packers into the top spot in the NFC. If the playoff began today, the road to Super Bowl LX in the NFC would run through Lambeau Field, as the Packers would have home-field advantage as well as the only bye.

After dropping two games to have fans reaching for the panic button, the Eagles have won two consecutive games to reach 6-2, and right now they slot into the No. 2. The Eagles now have a bye week before a huge Week 10 tilt with the Packers that could go a long way towards deciding home-field advantage in the NFC.

The Eagles currently hold a tiebreaker over the Buccaneers thanks to Philadelphia’s Week 4 win over Tampa Bay.

If the playoffs began today, the NFC West would have three teams in the postseason, starting with the Seahawks as the winners of the division. Both the Rams and the 49ers would be in as Wild Card teams. Seattle has the current tiebreaker advantage over the Rams based on a better division record (1-1 vs. 0-1). As for why the Lions are ahead of the Rams, at the moment Detroit has the better conference record (2-1 vs. 0-2).

How can Chiefs-Commanders impact the NFL Playoff Picture?

If the Chiefs win on Monday Night Football they would move to 5-3 on the season, which would put them into the playoffs for the moment. Jacksonville’s 4-3 record would drop them down to No. 8 in the AFC.

Thus exposing a flaw with looking at the playoff picture at this point in the calendar year, but I digress.

If the Chiefs lose on Monday Night Football they would drop to 4-4, but stay in the No. 8 spot in the AFC.

As for the Commanders, they are currently 13th in the NFC, but a win would improve their record to 4-4 on the season, the same as the Panthers. However, right now Carolina has the tiebreaker advantage thanks to a better conference record.

A loss on Monday night would drop the Commanders to 3-5 on the season, but they would still be 13th in the NFC.

NFL playoff picture: Who helped and hurt themselves in Week 8

Tags: