NFL Playoff Picture 2026, Week 9 Standings, Wild Card Info, Super Bowl Bracket Odds

The NFL playoff picture is beginning to take shape as the league approaches the midway point of the 2026 season, with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers standing tall over their respective conferences, while other expected playoff contenders have struggled.

What do the current standings look like, which teams are in the Wild Card hunt, and who do oddsmakers have as Super Bowl favorites through eight weeks?

At the end of last season, it looked like the championship window in Detroit may be closing. The team lacked the spark that offensive guru Ben Johnson had given it, and the defense allowed too many big plays for it to be Super Bowl-worthy.

The team heard the chatter and has gotten off to a hot start this season, shaking off two early losses to defeat the previously unbeaten Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon.

It was a defensive struggle for most of the game, with neither team reaching 20 points, but the Lions targeted Kyler Murray, sacking him three times and forcing an interception. They also limited Minnesota's time of possession to 24:17.

Meanwhile, Lions star running back and should-be MVP candidate Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown against the best defense in the league. Jared Goff, another MVP candidate, shook off his first interception of the season and four sacks to find Jameson Williams for what ended up being the game-winning score.

The NFC is loaded with potential Super Bowl contenders, including the Bears and the Packers in Detroit's own division. Unlike last season, the Lions are hell-bent on returning to the postseason and wreaking havoc.

A strong running game with a quarterback who plays smart, mistake-free football and a ferocious defense is a surefire recipe to make that goal a reality.