NFL playoff picture: AFC, NFC standings as Week 10 unfolds

The Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals kicked off Week 10 on Thursday night with a bang, and even though the Ravens’ win kept the standings the same, it set the stage for a bunch of potential movement in the AFC playoff picture on Sunday.

Sunday night sees the NFC-leading Detroit Lions face the AFC South-leading Houston Texans in a marquee matchup. The Monday Night Football game isn’t as sexy with the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams.

AFC playoff picture

The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos went back and forth, and it came down to a field goal with one second left. Denver’s attempt was blocked and the Chiefs survived. The Buffalo Bills won easily, defeating the Indianapolis Colts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers won a back-and-forth game over the Washington Commanders.

In the AFC Wild Card, the Ravens and Chargers won and the Denver Broncos lost, so they all stay fifth, sixth, and seventh, respectively.

NFC playoff picture

The Commanders lost on Sunday but stayed second in the NFC, at least for now as the Philadelphia Eagles are playing in the late window. The Atlanta Falcons lost but they remain in third place.

In the Wild Card race, the Minnesota Vikings won to stay the fifth seed. The Green Bay Packers stuck in seventh on their bye.

Here are the current AFC standings.

Note: In the standings below, only the pertinent tiebreakers are listed.

AFC standings during Week 10

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)
2. Buffalo Bills (8-2)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2)
4. Houston Texans (6-3)
5. Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)
7. Denver Broncos (5-5)
8. Indianapolis Colts (4-6, 3-4 AFC)
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-6, 2-4 AFC)
10. New York Jets (3-6)
11. New England Patriots (3-7)
12. Miami Dolphins (2-6)
13. Cleveland Browns (2-7, 2-3 AFC)
14. Tennessee Titans (2-7, 2-4 AFC)
15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7, 2-5 AFC)
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8)

NFC standings during Week 10

1. Detroit Lions (7-1)
2. Washington Commanders (7-3)
3. Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
4. Arizona Cardinals (5-4)
5. Minnesota Vikings (7-2)
6. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)
7. Green Bay Packers (6-3)
8. San Francisco 49ers (5-4)
9. Los Angeles Rams (4-4)
10. Chicago Bears (4-5, 2-2 NFC)
11. Seattle Seahawks (4-5, 1-4 NFC)
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6, 4-2 NFC)
13. Dallas Cowboys (3-5)
14. New Orleans Saints (3-7, 2-3 NFCS)
15. Carolina Panthers (3-7, 1-2 NFCS)
16. New York Giants (2-7, 1-5 NFC)

Every NFL team with a winning record is in playoff position

There are a lot of bad teams and a lot of good teams. There aren’t a lot of them in between. Every team with a winning record is in playoff position right now.

The Broncos are a legit playoff contender

Denver sits at 5-5 after losing to the Chiefs, but they showed some serious fight. They enter a bounce-back opportunity moving forward, facing a shaky Falcons squad and then getting the Raiders and Browns heading into their bye. They need to win those three games to firm up their playoff chances before the home stretch of the season.

Steelers claim battle of surprise teams

Washington and Pittsburgh have been two of the more unexpected division leaders heading into Week 10. Russell Wilson connected with Mike Williams late to stun the Commanders at FedEx Field. Jayden Daniels found Zach Ertz on a long fourth down conversion attempt, but a replay ruled it just short in a wild finish. Both teams remain in first place and have the Ravens and Eagles chasing them down in their respective divisions.

Stick a fork in the Bears

After much discussion about the NFC North potentially sending four teams to the playoffs, Chicago has fallen back to earth in a big way. Losses to the Commanders and Cardinals were explainable. Sunday’s ugly loss to the Patriots was downright embarrassing. They went from 4-2 and in playoff position to now 4-5.

Buffalo Bills dominating AFC East race

The Buffalo Bills are up five wins on the New York Jets in the AFC East race with seven games left for Buffalo. With the Miami Dolphins at 2-6 and the New England Patriots at 3-7, the Bills can clinch the division by the end of November.

NFL Division Standings

AFC East standings

1. Buffalo Bills, 8-2
2. New York Jets, 3-6
3. New England Patriots, 3-7
4. Miami Dolphins, 2-6

AFC North standings

1. Pittsburgh Steelers, 7-2
2. Baltimore Ravens, 7-3
3. Cincinnati Bengals, 4-6
4. Cleveland Browns, 2-7

AFC South standings

1. Houston Texans, 6-3
2. Indianapolis Colts, 4-6
3. Tennessee Titans, 2-7
4. Jacksonville Jaguars, 2-8

AFC West standings

1. Kansas City Chiefs, 9-0
2. Los Angeles Chargers, 6-3
3. Denver Broncos, 5-5
4. Las Vegas Raiders, 2-7

NFC East standings

1. Washington Commanders, 7-3
2. Philadelphia Eagles, 6-2
3. Dallas Cowboys, 3-5
4. New York Giants, 2-8

NFC North standings

1. Detroit Lions, 7-1
2. Minnesota Vikings, 7-2
3. Green Bay Packers, 6-3
4. Chicago Bears, 4-5

NFC South standings

1. Atlanta Falcons, 6-4
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4-6
3. New Orleans Saints, 3-7 (2-3 NFCS)
4. Carolina Panthers, 3-7 (1-2 NFCS)

NFC West standings

1. Arizona Cardinals, 5-4 (H2H over SF)
2. San Francisco 49ers, 5-4
3. Los Angeles Rams, 4-4
4. Seattle Seahawks, 4-5