It is officially Halloween week.
NFL playoff picture: Who helped and hurt themselves in Week 8
Here is the current playoff picture in the NFL ahead of Chiefs-Commanders
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Mark Schofield is a former college quarterback and attorney covering the NFL and F1.
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.
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