NFL playoff picture: How does Ravens’ win over Bengals impact Week 10 AFC standings?

The Cincinnati Bengals entered Thursday Night Football on a run back into the playoff picture while the Baltimore Ravens featured not one but two MVP candidates. In the end, the Ravens outlasted the Bengals, scoring touchdowns on their final four drives (excluding the kneeldown) to win a 35-28 shootout.

Despite the game result, the NFL Playoff Picture stays exactly the same as it was heading into Week 10. The Sunday and Monday results could have big impacts thanks to the Thursday finish, but for right now the Ravens stay fifth and the Bengals stay ninth in the AFC.

Obviously with two AFC North teams playing on Thursday night, the divisional standings could have been in flux. The result didn’t change anything right now, however. The Pittsburgh Steelers remain in first place at 6-2 but they play the red-hot Washington Commanders on Sunday afternoon.

The Ravens at 7-3 (.700) are just behind the Steelers (.750) in win percentage with Baltimore playing two more games than Pittsburgh at this point. The Bengals are multiple games behind the Ravens but neither team has played the Steelers yet, so there is still a lot of football to play.

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

In the AFC Playoff Picture, the Kansas City Chiefs are the lone remaining undefeated team in the NFL at 8-0 with a win over the Ravens in their pocket. No matter what happens in Week 10, KC will stay there.

The Buffalo Bills are second in the AFC, a half-game ahead of Pittsburgh at this point. Buffalo plays the Colts on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers lead the AFC North 6-2 and sit a half-game behind the Bills for second. Pittsburgh plays the Commanders this weekend in a huge showdown.

At 6-3, the Houston Texans keep the lead in the AFC South and slot in behind the rest of the division leaders.

The Ravens continue their dominance in the Wild Card race, a full game up on the sixth place Los Angeles Chargers (5-3). After L.A. are the Denver Broncos at 5-4. All of the teams with winning records are in playoff position in the NFL.

The Bengals at 4-6 are now 1.5 games out of a playoff spot but play their best football down the stretch. Their next game is against those Chargers before their bye and then they have the Steelers. Games against the injured Dallas Cowboys, the bottom-dwelling Tennessee Titans, and the foundering Cleveland Browns lead them into their final two games against the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. They are far from out of it.

Here are the current AFC standings.

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

1. Kansas City Chiefs (8-0)
2. Buffalo Bills (7-2)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
4. Houston Texans (6-3)
5. Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
7. Denver Broncos (5-4)
8. Indianapolis Colts (4-5)
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-6)
10. New York Jets (3-6)
11. Tennessee Titans (2-6, win over MIA)
12. Miami Dolphins (2-6, loss to TEN)
13. Cleveland Browns (2-7, 2-3 AFC)
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7, 2-4 AFC)
15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7, 2-5 AFC, .474 SoV)
16. New England Patriots (2-7, 2-5 AFC, .368 SoV)

1. Detroit Lions (7-1)
2. Washington Commanders (7-2)
3. Atlanta Falcons (6-3)
4. Arizona Cardinals (5-4)
5. Minnesota Vikings (6-2, .472 SoV)
6. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2, .327 SoV)
7. Green Bay Packers (6-3)
8. Chicago Bears (4-4, win over LA)
9. Los Angeles Rams (4-4, win over SF, loss to CHI)
10. San Francisco 49ers (4-4, loss to LA)
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5, 4-2 NFC)
11. Seattle Seahawks (4-5, 1-4 NFC)
13. Dallas Cowboys (3-5)
14. Carolina Panthers (2-7, 1-2 NFCS, 1-4 NFC)
15. New Orleans Saints (2-7, 1-3 NFCS, 2-4 NFC)
16. New York Giants (2-7, 1-5 NFC)