NFL Playoff Picture 2026-27, Standings, Bracket Scenarios After Jaguars vs. Ravens

With Week 9 of the NFL season underway, we've officially reached the halfway point in the 2026 campaign, and the playoff picture is starting to come together.

On Thursday, the Jacksonville Jaguars continued their stronghold of the struggling AFC South, improving to 6-2 with a win over the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens, meanwhile, dropped to 4-5, and their playoff hopes are dwindling as they continue to be without star quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Ahead of the rest of Week 9 on Sunday and Monday, here's a look at how things are shaking out.

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2, Lead AFC South)

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2, Lead AFC North)

Josh Allen and the Bills are in control of both the AFC and the AFC East amid a dominant start to the 2026 campaign, but they can't relax just yet as they try to secure a wild-card bye.

The second half of Buffalo's schedule is relatively daunting, with matchups against the Vikings, Chiefs, Patriots, Bears and more on the way.

The Steelers and Broncos are only a game ahead in their respective divisions, so they can't afford to take their foot off the gas.

The Jaguars are sitting comfortably ahead of the Pack in the AFC South, with the 2-5 Texans sitting in second place. Jacksonville should have no trouble winning its second consecutive division crown.

The race for the division crown is most definitely still on for these four squads.

The Chiefs looked like the team to beat through the first few weeks, but back-to-back losses suggest they're not quite the Super Bowl contenders they appeared to be. Still, any team led by Patrick Mahomes has a shot, and they're just a game back from the Broncos.

The Patriots beat the Bills earlier this season and could very well dethrone them for the AFC East title, and the matchup between those two on Dec. 6 will have plenty of implications.

The Bengals, meanwhile, have looked like playoff contenders; it's just a matter of staying consistent.

The bottom half of the AFC is pretty weak this year, and aside from the Brown, Raiders and Ravens, most of these teams have virtually no chance of reaching the playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers (6-1, Lead NFC West)

The Niners and Vikings are the only two teams in the NFC that have truly looked dominant through the early going. Minnesota's success perhaps comes as a surprise, as it appeared to be in for a rebuilding year, but nonetheless, Kevin O'Connell has his group looking like a contender.

The Giants being atop the NFC East says less about how good they are and more about how bad the rest of the division is. They're the only team above .500 and still have not beaten a team with a winning record.

The same can be said of the Panthers, but they're not far ahead of the Buccaneers and Falcons.

The entirety of the NFC North appears capable of making a Super Bowl run, which makes it arguably the most interesting divisional race to watch. If all four teams reach the playoffs, it would mark NFL history.

The defending champion Seahawks and the new-look Rams both came into the season expecting to compete for a Super Bowl, but injuries have them both off to a rough start. If they can get their rosters healthy, both NFC West squads could turn things around.

The Bucs and Falcons still have a path to the postseason thanks to their weak division, while the Cowboys and Commanders could also both say the same.