The 2022 NFL season is reaching its halfway point in Week 9. Although the playoff picture for the AFC and NFC won’t be finalized until Week 18, it’s a good time to look at the updated standings and what teams would be in the playoffs if the season ended now.
Here’s a breakdown of the NFL’s latest playoff field and seedings, looking at the contenders on the brink of joining the potential postseason party:
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NFL standings for Week 9
AFC playoff picture
1. Buffalo Bills (6-1), first place, AFC North. The preseason Super Bowl 57 favorites are rolling, minus one weird loss at Miami to the second-place Dolphins. Buffalo is a good bet to stay and finish with the top seed and home-field advantage after already beating Tennessee and Kansas City.
2. Tennessee Titans (5-2), first place, AFC West. The Titans are on a five-game winning streak since losing to the Bills in Week 2 and hold the tiebreaker over the Chiefs because of a superior conference record at 4-1. The Titans would lose that edge if they lose at the Chiefs on Sunday night.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2), first place, AFC West. The Chiefs have lost to the Bills and also were upset on the road by the Colts. They will look to jump back up to No. 2 to at least score that seed later by beating the Titans as heavy favorites.
4. Baltimore Ravens (5-3), first place, AFC North. The Ravens rule the roost again their division by virtue of a home win over the Bengals. They still have plenty of work to do with the Bengals right behind them.
5. New York Jets (5-3), second place, AFC East. The Jets, who lost to the Ravens in Week 1, are shocking to see here, But they get the edge over the East rival Dolphins because of a head-to-head victory before facing the Bills.
6. Miami Dolphins (5-3), third place, AFC East. The Dolphins have rallied to get back into playoff position after the early 3-0 and 0-3 roller coaster. They still have a ton of work to do and can’t afford to stumble in trap games.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3), second place, AFC West. The Chargers are still in position despite all their injuries with their unique record coming out of a Week 8 bye. They will need to get hot with Justin Herbert to stay here in the second half.
Who’s in the hunt?
8. New England Patriots (4-4), third place, AFC East
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-4), second place, AFC North
10. Indianapolis Colts (3-4-1), second place, AFC South
11. Cleveland Browns (3-5), third place, AFC North
12. Denver Broncos (3-5), third place, AFC West
The Bengals are the obvious team to watch most as the still reigning AFC champions. The Browns have a shot after just beating the Bengals with Deshaun Watson’s return looming. The Colts and Broncos are the two most disappointing teams in this group.
Who’s likely out?
13. Las Vegas Raiders (2-5), last place, AFC West
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6), last place, AFC South
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5), last place, AFC North
16. Houston Texans (1-6-1), last place, AFC South
The Raiders and Jaguars had some promise early but that’s faded fast. The Steelers are accepting the first-ever losing season under Mike Tomlin.
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NFC playoff picture
1. Philadelphia Eagles (8-0), first place, NFC East. The Eagles have opened up a two-game lead in the division after their bye with the Cowboys and Giants both having two losses. They can fast track to winning the East and with it, the No. 1 seed and playoff home-field advantage. The biggest question left might be whether they go undefeated after a perfect first half.
2. Minnesota Vikings (6-1), first place, NFC North. The Vikings’ lone loss was acceptable as they fell to the Eagles in Philadelphia in Week 2. They are up by more than three games on the Packers, whom they beat in Minnesota in Week 1. The Vikings are looking good to lock down No. 2 with a favorable schedule while leading a weak division.
3. Seattle Seahawks (5-3), first place, NFC West. The Seahawks are surprising as just an above-.500 team, let alone division leaders. They should be concerned most by the 49ers, who are only one game behind and beat them in San Francisco in Week 2.
4. Atlanta Falcons (4-4), first place, NFC South. The shocking Falcons lead their division by only one game over the Buccaneers and Saints, two teams that beat them in the first half of the season. Keeping the division lead or falling back on a wild-card berth will be difficult.
5. Dallas Cowboys (6-2) second place, NFC East. The Cowboys had their chance against the Eagles once and came up short in Philadelphia. They will need to wait until Christmas Eve until the rematch in Dallas. They are looking good to be a top wild card at the least after beating the Giants.
6. New York Giants (6-2), third place, NFC East. The Giants’ losses have to the Seahawks and the Cowboys. They still look good for a surprise wild card with Brian Daboll for now, but watch out for the underachieving NFC powers behind them surging in the second half.
7. San Francisco 49ers (4-4), second place, NFC West. The 49ers have a good chance to jump up to No. 3 in the end by simply taking the division winners. With all due respect to Seattle, San Francisco still should be considered the favorite to take the division after resting during a Week 9 bye.
Who’s in the hunt?
8. Washington Commanders (4-4), fourth place, NFC East
9. Los Angeles Rams (3-4), third place, NFC West
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5), second place, NFC South
11. Green Bay Packers (3-5), second place, NFC South
12. Arizona Cardinals (3-5), fourth place, NFC West
13. New Orleans Saints (3-5), third place, NFC South
14. Chicago Bears (3-5), fourth place, NFC North
Will the reigning Super Bowl champion Rams be hungover to the point of missing the playoff. Between them, the Buccaneers and Packers, three of the top four seeds in last year’s NFC playoffs are in trouble.
The Bucs have the best chance to turn it around because of a weak division. The Rams are in trouble because they’ve already lost twice to the 49ers. The Packers could get hot and get back into the playoff race or simply go ice cold.
Who’s likely out?
15. Carolina Panthers (2-6), last place, NFC South
16. Detroit Lions (1-6), last place, NFC North
These cats need to find true franchise quarterbacks with their high draft picks in 2023.
