The second half of the The season began this week with some potential upsets looking to shake up the league standings. The league used the first nine weeks to position itself as teams know where they stand heading into the final nine weeks of the year.
Only one undefeated team remains – the Kansas City Chiefs – while some surprising division leaders remain in play. The Arizona Cardinals (NFC West) and Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC North) fall into this category. The Buffalo Bills could win their division by December 1st.
The conference rankings didn't change much this week, but these rankings will obviously change significantly in the second half of the season. Below is a breakdown of the conference standings by Week 10:
AFC playoff image
1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)
The Chiefs are the only undefeated team in the AFC and hold a two-game lead over the Bills in the No. 1 seed's loss list (Kansas City plays Buffalo in Week 11). They lead the AFC West by three games.
2. Buffalo Bills (8-2)
The Bills lead the AFC East by five games over the Jets and Patriots. They trail the Chiefs by two games in the loss list for the conference's No. 1 seed.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2)
The Steelers remain atop the AFC North after their win over the Commanders. Pittsburgh is half a game behind Buffalo and is the No. 2 seed.
4. Houston Texans (6-4)
The Texans remain in 4th place 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 top wild-card team in the AFC 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 No. 6 seed and remain a half-game behind the Ravens for the first wild-card spot. They are three games behind the Chiefs and lead the AFC West.
7. Denver Broncos (5-5)
The Broncos still hold the final playoff spot in the AFC 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 away from clinching the final wild card spot in the AFC, even after their loss to the Bills. They retain the tiebreaker over the Bengals by 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 the No. 9 seed in the AFC, one game behind the Broncos for the final wild card spot. They lose the conference record tiebreaker to the No. 8 seed Colts.
10. New York Jets (3-7)
The Jets are two games out of the final playoff spot in the AFC, even after their loss to the Cardinals. They are ahead of the Patriots in the tiebreaker because they have a better win rate against common opponents.
11. New England Patriots (3-7)
The Patriots are the No. 11 seed in the AFC and have a worse record against common opponents than the Jets (which makes all the difference).
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 tiebreaker for the No. 13 seed in the AFC. Cleveland (2-3) has a better conference record than Tennessee (2-4) and Las Vegas (2-5) – which earned the Browns a 13th seed.
14. Tennessee Titans (2-7)
The Titans are the No. 14 seed in the AFC. Tennessee has a better conference record than Las Vegas (2-5), which earned the Titans a 14th seed.
15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
The Raiders are No. 15 and lose the conference record tiebreaker to the Browns and Titans.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8)
The Jaguars are the No. 16 seed in the AFC and have the worst record in the conference.
NFC playoff picture
1. Detroit Lions (8-1)
The Lions remain atop the NFC North with their win over the Texans and lead the division by one game over the Vikings (and own the direct tiebreaker). They are also the No. 1 seed in the NFC and have a lead over the Eagles.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (7-2)
The Eagles take the lead in the NFC East thanks to their win 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 the top seed. 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 defeated Tampa Bay and are in the regular 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 No. 5 seed in the NFC and is one game behind Detroit for the league lead. The Vikings are the top wild card team in the conference.
6. Washington Commander (7-3)
The Commanders are half a game behind the Eagles in the NFC East. They play Philadelphia on Thursday.
7. Green Bay Packers (6-3)
The Packers hold the final wild card spot in the NFC through a game against the Buccaneers.
8. San Francisco 49ers (5-4)
The 49ers are one game behind the Packers for the final playoff spot in the NFC. They are half a game behind the Cardinals for the league lead.
9. Los Angeles Rams (4-4)
As the No. 9 seed in the NFC, the Rams play the Dolphins on “Monday Night Football” and try to stay one game out of the final wild card spot.
10. Chicago Bears (4-5)
The Bears are two games out of the final playoff spot in the NFC. Chicago (2-2) holds the conference record tiebreaker over Seattle (0:40 for No. 10).
11. Seattle Seahawks (4-5)
The Seahawks had a bye this week and are the No. 11 seed in the NFC. Seattle loses conference record tiebreaker to Chicago.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)
The Buccaneers are in 12th place in the NFC, two games behind the Falcons for first place in the NFC South (and were defeated by Atlanta).
13. Dallas Cowboys (3-6)
The Cowboys are in 13th place in the NFC, three games out of the final playoff spot.
14. New Orleans Saints (3-7)
The Saints move up to No. 14 after their win over the Falcons and hold the division record in the tiebreaker (2-3) over the Panthers (1-2).
15. Carolina Panthers (3-7)
The Panthers are in 15th place in the NFC after two straight wins. The Saints hold the division record tiebreaker.
16. New York Giants (2-8)
The Giants are in last place in the NFC and tied for the worst record in football.
