by Believe it or not, the NFL is entering the second half of the season this week. The first half of the season produced some surprises, such as the Denver Broncos with a record over .500, the Washington Commanders leading the NFC East and the Arizona Cardinals leading the NFC West.
But in other ways, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated and top of the AFC, with the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills their biggest challengers so far. In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles prepare to challenge the Commanders in the NFC East – and both can challenge Detroit for the best in the NFC. The competition is preparing for a wild second half.
These rankings will of course change considerably in the second half of the season. Below you will find an overview of the status of the conference after week 9:
AFC play-off photo
1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0)
The Chiefs are the only undefeated team in the AFC and own the top seed in the conference heading into “Monday Night Football,” with a two-game lead in the loss column for the No. 1 seed. They lead the AFC West by three games in the loss column.
2. Buffalo notes (7-2)
The Bills lead the AFC East by four games over the Jets and are two games behind the Chiefs in the loss column for No. 1 in the conference.
3.Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
The Steelers remain in the lead in the AFC North as they were off this week. Pittsburgh is a half-game behind Buffalo for the No. 2 seed.
4. Houston Texans (6-3)
The Texans dropped to No. 4 in the conference with their loss to the Jets, but still lead the AFC South by two games over the Colts.
5.Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
The Ravens are the top wild-card team in the AFC, a half-game behind the Steelers in the AFC North.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
The Chargers are the No. 6 seed, half a game behind the Ravens for the top wild-card spot. They are three games behind the Chiefs in the loss column for the AFC West lead.
7. Denver Broncos (5-4)
The Broncos still hold the final playoff spot in the AFC, even after their loss to the Ravens. They lead the Colts by a game for the final playoff spot.
8. Indianapolis Foals (4-5)
The Colts are one game away from the final wild card spot in the AFC. They hold the tiebreaker over the Bengals via the conference record tiebreaker. Indianapolis is 3-3 in the conference, while Cincinnati is 2-3.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-5)
The Bengals are currently No. 9 in the AFC, one game behind the Broncos for the final wild card spot. They lose the conference record tiebreaker to the Colts for No. 8.
10. New York Jets (3-6)
The Jets are two games out of the final playoff spot in the AFC.
11. Tennessee Titans (2-6)
The Titans are the No. 11 seed in the AFC and win the tiebreaker over the Dolphins thanks to their head-to-head win in Week 4.
12. Miami Dolphins (2-6)
The Dolphins lost to the Titans in Week 4, so they lose the tiebreaker for the No. 11 seed.
13.Cleveland Browns (2-7)
The Browns are part of a four-way tiebreaker for No. 13 in the AFC. Cleveland (2-3) has a better conference record than Jacksonville (2-4), Las Vegas (2-5) and New England (2-5), which is how the Browns earned the No. 13 seed.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7)
The Jaguars are No. 14 in the AFC. Jacksonville has a better conference record than Las Vegas (2-5) and New England (2-5), which is how it earned the No. 14 seed.
15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
The Raiders and Patriots have the same conference record (2-5), but the Raiders are ranked No. 15 based on winning strength (.444 to .389).
16. New England Patriots (2-7)
The Patriots are No. 16 in the AFC and are losing the power of the win game to the Raiders.
NFC Playoff Photo
1. Detroit Lions (7-1)
The Lions remain atop the NFC North with their win over the Packers and lead the division with a matchup against the Vikings (and own the head-to-head tiebreaker). They are also #1 in the NFC.
2. Washington Commanders (7-2)
The Commanders are the leaders of the NFC East by a half-game ahead of the Eagles and are the No. 2 seed in the NFC. They are half a game behind the Lions for the top seed.
3. Atlanta Falcons (6-3)
The Falcons lead the NFC South with a game against the Buccaneers in the loss column, but have also swept Tampa Bay and own the head-to-head tiebreaker of the season.
4. Arizona Cardinals (5-4)
The Cardinals lead the NFC West by a half-game over the 49ers, but own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the 49ers by beating them in Week 5.
5. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
Minnesota is No. 5 in the NFC and trails Detroit for the division lead per game. The Vikings are the best wild-card team because they possess the power of a tiebreaker win over Philadelphia (.472 to .333).
6.Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)
The Eagles are half a game behind the Commanders in the NFC East. They are No. 6 as a result of losing the power of the victory tiebreaker to the Vikings.
7. Green Bay Packers (6-3)
The Packers retain the final wild card spot in the NFC with a game in the loss column against the Buccaneers.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-4)
The Buccaneers are No. 8 in the NFC, one game in the loss column behind the Packers for the final playoff spot heading into “Monday Night Football.”
9. Chicago Bears (4-4)
The Bears hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rams for the No. 9 seed by virtue of their Week 4 win. The Rams defeated the 49ers in Week 3 in head-to-head play, which is why they are ahead of San Francisco in the standings.
10. Los Angeles Rams (4-4)
The Rams, ranked No. 10 in the NFC, lose the head-to-head tiebreaker to the Bears but own the same tiebreaker versus the 49ers. The Rams are a half-game behind the Cardinals for first place in the NFC West.
11. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
San Francisco had a bye week this week, falling to No. 11 thanks to tiebreakers. The 49ers are a half-game behind the Cardinals for first place in the NFC West.
12.Seattle Seahawks (4-5)
The Seahawks are ranked No. 12 in the NFC, one game behind the Cardinals for first place in the NFC West.
13.Dallas Cowboys (3-5)
The Cowboys hold the No. 13 seed in the NFC, two games in the loss column outside of the final playoff spot.
14. Carolina Panthers (2-7)
The Panthers hold the three-way tiebreaker for the No. 14 seed in the NFC. The Panthers (1-4) have a better conference record than the Giants (1-5) and hold the division record tiebreaker over the Saints (Panthers are 1-2 in the division and Saints are 1-3).
15. New Orleans Saints (2-7)
The Saints are the NFC’s No. 15 seed and hold the conference record tiebreaker (2-4) over the Giants (1-5).
16. New York Giants (2-7)
The Giants lose the conference record tiebreaker to the Panthers and Saints. They are last in the NFC.
