The second half of the NFL season began this week, as some potential surprises looked to shake up the league standings. The league used the first nine weeks to establish standing, as teams know their place heading into the final nine weeks of the year.
Only one undefeated team remains: the Kansas City Chiefs, while some surprise division leaders remain in play. The Arizona Cardinals (NFC West) and Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North) fall into that category. The Buffalo Bills could have won their division before December 1st.
The conference standings didn’t change much this week, but they will obviously change quite a bit during the second half of the season. Below is a breakdown of the conference standings after Week 10:
Image from the AFC playoffs
1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)
The Chiefs are the only undefeated team in the AFC, holding a two-game lead over the Bills in the loss column for the No. 1 seed (Kansas City plays Buffalo in Week 11). They lead the AFC West by three games.
2. Buffaloes (8-2)
The Bills lead the AFC East by five games over the Jets and Patriots. They are two games behind the Chiefs in the loss column for the No. 1 seed in the conference.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2)
The Steelers remain in the lead of the AFC North after their victory over the Commanders. Pittsburgh is a half-game behind Buffalo for second place.
4. Houston Texans (6-4)
The Texans remain in the No. 4 seed in the conference after their second straight loss. They still lead the AFC South by two games over the Colts.
5. Baltimore Ravens (7-3)
The Ravens are the AFC’s top wild card team and remain a half-game behind the Steelers in the AFC North after their win over the Bengals.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)
The Chargers are the sixth seed and remain a half-game behind the Ravens for the top wild card spot. They are three games behind the Chiefs for the AFC West lead.
7. Denver Broncos (5-5)
The Broncos still hold the final AFC playoff spot, even after their second straight loss. They lead the Colts by one game for the final playoff spot.
8. Indianapolis Colts (4-6)
The Colts are one game out of the final AFC wild card, even after their loss to the Bills. They have the tiebreaker over the Bengals via the conference record tiebreaker. Indianapolis is 3-4 in the conference, while Cincinnati is 2-4.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-6)
The Bengals are currently ninth in the AFC, one game behind the Broncos for the final wild card spot. They lose the conference record tiebreaker to the Colts for the No. 8 seed.
10. New York Jets (3-7)
The Jets are two games out of the last AFC playoff spot, even after their loss to the Cardinals. They have the tiebreaker over the Patriots based on having a better winning percentage against common opponents.
11. New England Patriots (3-7)
The Patriots are the 11th seed in the AFC and have a worse record than the Jets against common opponents (which is the tiebreaker).
12. Miami Dolphins (2-6)
The Dolphins are the No. 12 seed in the AFC heading into their “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Rams.
13. Cleveland Browns (2-7)
The Browns are part of a three-way playoff for 13th place in the AFC. Cleveland (2-3) has a better conference record than Tennessee (2-4) and Las Vegas (2-5), which is why the Browns earned the No. 13 seed.
14. Tennessee Titans (2-7)
The Titans are 14th in the AFC. Tennessee has a better conference record than Las Vegas (2-5), which is why the Titans earned the 14th seed.
15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
The Raiders are the No. 15 seed, losing the conference record tiebreaker to the Browns and Titans.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8)
The Jaguars are 16th in the AFC and have the worst record in the conference.
Image from the NFC playoffs
1. Detroit Lions (8-1)
The Lions remain atop the NFC North with their win over the Texans, leading the division by one game over the Vikings (and own the head-to-head tiebreaker). They are also the No. 1 seed in the NFC, with a one-game lead over the Eagles.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (7-2)
The Eagles take the lead in the NFC East thanks to their victory over the Cowboys and the Commanders’ loss to the Steelers. They also take over the No. 2 seed in the NFC, one game behind the Lions for first place. Philadelphia plays Washington on Thursday.
3. Atlanta Falcons (6-4)
The Falcons lead the NFC South by two games over the Buccaneers, but have also swept Tampa Bay and own the season tiebreaker.
4. Arizona Cardinals (6-4)
The Cardinals lead the NFC West by a half-game over the 49ers, but own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the 49ers by defeating them in Week 5. They lose the conference record tiebreaker to the Falcons.
5. Minnesota Vikings (7-2)
Minnesota is the fifth seed in the NFC, one game behind Detroit for the division lead. The Vikings are the conference’s top wild card team.
6. Washington Commanders (7-3)
The Commanders are a half-game behind the Eagles in the NFC East. They will play Philadelphia on Thursday.
7. Green Bay Packers (6-3)
The Packers hold the final wild card spot in the NFC by one game over the Buccaneers.
8. San Francisco 49ers (5-4)
The 49ers are one game behind the Packers for the final NFC playoff spot. They are a half-game behind the Cardinals for the division lead.
9. Los Angeles Rams (4-4)
The Rams, the No. 9 seed in the NFC, play the Dolphins on “Monday Night Football,” looking to stay within one game of the final wild card.
10. Chicago Bears (4-5)
The Bears are two games out of the final NFC playoff spot. Chicago (2-2) holds the conference record in the tiebreaker over Seattle (0-40 for 10th place).
11. Seattle Seahawks (4-5)
The Seahawks were on a bye this week and are ranked No. 11 in the NFC. Seattle loses conference record tiebreaker to Chicago.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)
The Buccaneers are 12th in the NFC, two games behind the Falcons for first place in the NFC South (and were swept by Atlanta).
13. Dallas Cowboys (3-6)
The Cowboys are 13th in the NFC, three games out of the final playoff spot.
14. New Orleans Saints (3-7)
The Saints move up to 14th place after their win over the Falcons, holding the division record in the tiebreaker (2-3) over the Panthers (1-2).
15. Carolina Panthers (3-7)
The Panthers sit in 15th place in the NFC, after winning two in a row. The Saints hold the division record tiebreaker.
16. New York Giants (2-8)
The Giants are last in the NFC, tied for the worst record in American football.
