The NFL playoff picture after week 10: who is likely in and who is in trouble?

There are eight weeks remaining in the regular season, but it’s never too early to start thinking about the playoff race. The downhill stretch has officially begun and Week 10 gave us some fantastic finishes that may play an important role when it comes to playoff positioning later in the season.

Orchard Park set the stage for the game of the season as the Vikings pulled off a dramatic win to shake things up in the conversation for best team in the league. The Bills spent the first half of the campaign widely considered the favorites to win the Super Bowl, but a two game slide has them belly up in the AFC East.

The Eagles dropped a game for the first time this season as Taylor Heinicke and the Commanders got right back in the race for the post season with their win on Monday Night Football.

Teams hanging around the top of their respective conferences will be jockeying for position with hopes of a first round bye, while teams a little farther behind the leaders of the pack will look to grab one of the three Wild Card spots.

AFC EAST

This is, without question, the toughest division in football. The Bills lost to the Vikings on Sunday and went from leading the AFC, to dropping to third in the East. That’s how tight things are, and they are only going to get tighter as the weeks go on. The Dolphins have yet to lose a game that Tua Tagovailoa has started and finished, while the Jets are getting better and better with each passing week. Could we see every team in the AFC East make the playoffs? At the moment it doesn’t see too far fetched.

Miami Dolphins: 7-3

New York Jets: 6-3

Buffalo Bills: 6-3

New England Patriots: 5-4

AFC NORTH

The Ravens come out of their bye week in pole position, and with a cake walk of a schedule the rest of the way. They play just one teams with a winning record the rest of the way, and that is the Bengals on the last week of the season, but by that time Baltimore might have the division wrapped up already. The Browns need a miracle to get back into the race before Deshaun Watson returns in Week 13.

Baltimore Ravens: 6-3

Cincinnati Bengals: 5-4

Cleveland Brown: 3-6

Pittsburgh Steelers: 3-6

AFC SOUTH

This division looked like it was on it’s way to being a one horse race, but with the Colts recent coaching change, it makes you think that Indy might have a chance to get back in the race. The Jags and the Texans have essentially been punching bags the Titans and Colts for the last few years, so they won’t cause too much trouble for Tennessee and Indianapolis. While the Colts will be looking to keep pace with the Titans, Mike Vrable’s men still have a chance at the top seed in the conference, which would make it two years running.

Tennessee Titans: 6-3

Indianapolis Colts: 4-5-1

Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-7

Houston Texans: 1-7-1

AFC WEST

The division everyone, including myself, thought was going to be the best in football was been deceptively disappointing this season. The Chiefs have won the AFC West six years running, and look to be on track for a seventh straight division title. Even with their loss to the Niners, the banged up Chargers are within striking distance of KC, and can draw even closer with the huge Sunday night matchup against the Chiefs on Sunday Night.

Kansas City Chiefs: 7-2

Los Angeles Chargers: 5-4

Denver Broncos: 3-6

Las Vegas Raiders: 2-7

AFC Wild Card at the moment:

New York Jets 6-3

Buffalo Bills 6-3

New England Patriots 5-4

In the hunt:

LA Chargers 5-4

Cincinnati Bengals 5-4

Indianapolis Colts 4-5-1

Cleveland Browns 3-6

Denver Broncos 3-6

Pittsburgh Steelers 3-6

Jacksonville Jaguars 3-7

NFC EAST

The NFC East is giving the AFC East a run for it’s money for best division in football. The Eagles loss proves that Philly is not invincible, and that has suddenly given the Giants to take the division title. The Cowboys loss to the Packers puts them in the behind the 8 ball, and the Commanders sudden resurgence with Taylor Heinicke has Washington right in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Philadelphia Eagles: 8-1

New York Giants: 7-2

Dallas Cowboys: 6-3

Washington Commanders: 5-5

NFC NORTH

The Packers win over the Cowboys gives Green Bay a way back into the playoff hunt, but their five game losing streak didn’t do them any favors. Minnesota just keeps on winning and they may have the division wrapped up in the next few weeks. Will it be just them and the Eagles fighting for the top spot in the NFC? The Giants may have something to say about that.

Minnesota Vikings: 8-1

Green Bay Packers: 4-6

Detroit Lions: 3-6

Chicago Bears: 3-7

NFC SOUTH

It doesn’t seem like it’s going to take much for the Bucs to win this division, but they haven’t don’t seem too eager to take the wheel in the NFC South. They have won two straight and jumped right to the top of the division. Everyone is still in the race including the Saints who looked lost, and the Panthers who could be on the rise despite a coaching change and losing their best player. It wouldn’t surprise many to see the team coming out of the NFC South with a .500 record or worse.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-5

Atlanta Falcons: 4-6

Carolina Panthers: 3-7

New Orleans Saints: 3-7

NFC WEST

For all the hard work the Seahawks put in at the beginning of the season, and the noise they were making around the league, they have just a half game lead over the Niners who are suddenly one of the favorites in the conference. The Rams look like they are headed for disaster after Cooper Kupp hurt his ankle and Matt Stafford has been getting battered all season. As bad as things have been for the Cardinals they are still in the race after beating the Rams over the weekend.

Seattle Seahawks: 6-4

San Francisco 49ers: 5-4

Arizona Cardinals: 4-6

Los Angeles Rams: 3-6

NFC Wild Card at the moment:

New York Giants 7-2

Dallas Cowboys 6-3

San Francisco 5-4

In the hunt:

Washington Commanders 5-5

Green Bay Packers 4-6

Atlanta Falcons 4-6

Arizona Cardinals 4-6

Detroit Lions 3-6

Los Angeles Rams 3-7

Carolina Panthers 3-7

New Orleans Saints 3-7

Chicago Bears 3-7