NFL standings 2016: How the Week 9 schedule could shape the playoff picture

Week 9 of the NFL season is over, and the playoff picture is becoming clearer in certain places, and muddier elsewhere.

The Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons strengthened the grips on their respective divisions with key victories, while Washington sneaked into the playoff standings on its bye week thanks to a loss by the Green Bay Packers.

The NFC East and the AFC West currently hold down half of their conference’s playoff spots.

The Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos squared off on Sunday Night Football to determine who would stand atop the division after Week 9. Each team entered the matchup with a 6-2 record, but the Raiders proved that they’re for real with the 10-point victory. The Raiders are now alone in first place in the division with a 7-2 record. The Kansas City Chiefs improved to 6-2 on Sunday with a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, so they’re a half-game up on the 6-3 Broncos in the wild card race.

Here’s a look at this week’s results and who helped, or hurt, their playoff standing.

All times listed are Eastern and all games are on Sunday unless listed otherwise.

The Falcons maintained their lead in the NFC South by 1.5 games.

The Cowboys maintain at least a one-game lead over the rest of the NFC in the home-field advantage race and a two-game lead over their division. For the Browns, an 0-16 season is still very much in play, but at least it would come with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

The Jets remain in the AFC East basement, while the Dolphins improved to 4-4 and will finish Week 9 1.5 games out of the AFC’s second wild card spot.

Kansas City briefly settled into a tie for first in the AFC West, but the Chiefs will wake up in second place after the Raiders’ win over the Broncos. The Chiefs still have the inside track on the AFC’s top wild card spot, though. Jacksonville, meanwhile, has fewer wins in the conference than any team but the Browns, and can probably cancel any postseason plans.

The Giants took sole possession of second place in the NFC East, but still trail Dallas by two games. New York is currently in line for a wild card berth. Philadelphia dropped to .500 and into the middle of a stacked NFC playoff race. The Eagles finish Sunday as just half a game out of the wild card race.

Baltimore now leads the AFC North at 4-4 thanks to Sunday’s tiebreaking win over 4-4 Pittsburgh. Since both teams are more than a game behind the AFC’s wild card teams, a divisional crown may be their only chance at a postseason bid.

The NFC North got a bit more chaotic thanks to Minnesota’s third straight loss. The once invincible Vikings still lead the division, but hold just a half-game lead over Detroit. The Lions are only half a game out of a wild card bid.

Carolina is still at the bottom of the NFC South, but after two wins in a row, the Panthers are looking like they have a little life now. The Rams, however, have dropped four in a row and are now four losses from a 7-9 finish.

New Orleans climbs to .500, which lines up well for a potential wild card spot in the NFC. The 49ers still have a chance to earn the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.

Indianapolis gains half a game on the Texans and sits 1.5 games back of the divisional lead. The loss kicks Green Bay out of the playoff picture this week, but the Packers are a half game behind the Lions and a full game behind the Vikings for the top spot in the NFC North.

At 4-5, San Diego is last in the AFC West and trails the division-leading Raiders by three games. The Chargers sit at least 1.5 games away from a wild card berth. The Titans are 1.5 games behind the Texans in the AFC South.

Oakland is the new king of the AFC West, for this week at least. The Chiefs are just a half-game out of first, and the Broncos are just a game back.

Seattle holds on to its NFC West lead and moves into second place in the conference. Buffalo falls to third in the AFC East.