NFL Playoff Bracket Picture 2024-25: AFC, NFC Standings After Week 8 Early Slate

A handful of NFL divisions could be determined earlier than usual in the 2024 NFL season if the form of certain teams hold.

The AFC East, AFC South and AFC West leads are more than a game and the NFC South belongs to the Atlanta Falcons after their second win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Most of the divisional competition will take place in the NFC, especially in the NFC North, where all four teams could finish Sunday with five wins.

The Detroit Lions look like the class of the NFL, but they have a marginal lead over the Green Bay Packers because everyone in the NFC North is playing so well.

Three of the four NFC North teams currently reside in playoff positions and the Chicago Bears are in eighth place despite their heartbreaking loss to the Washington Commanders.

Washington used its thrilling last-second win to remain ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East with two more weeks until the franchises square off for the first time this season.

AFC Standings

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HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 27: Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (28) celebrates his first half rushing touchdown during the football game between the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans on October 27, 2024 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Division Leaders

1. Kansas City (7-0)

2. Houston (6-2)

3. Buffalo (6-2)

4. Pittsburgh (5-2)

Wild-Card Race

5. Denver (5-3)

6. Baltimore (5-3)

7. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)

8. Indianapolis (4-4)

9. Cincinnati (3-5)

10. Miami (2-5)

11. Cleveland (2-6)

12. Las Vegas (2-6)

13. Jacksonville (2-6)

14. New England (2-6)

15. New York Jets (2-6)

16. Tennessee (1-6)

The Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs sit in ideal spots atop their respective divisions in the AFC.

Buffalo will be at least 2.5 games ahead of its closest competition in the AFC East after the losses suffered by the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.

Houston gained more separation over the Indianapolis Colts with their second head-to-head win of the season. The Texans are up two games and a tiebreaker on Indianapolis.

Kansas City is cruising at 7-0 and on top of the AFC West. It is a full three games ahead of second-place Denver in the loss column and it can be more concerned about the top seed if it beats the Broncos in two weeks.

The AFC North race is the only one in question right now. The Pittsburgh Steelers can extend their advantage over the Baltimore Ravens to one game with a Monday night win over the New York Giants.

Baltimore dropped ground with its defeat to the Cleveland Browns, who looked nothing like a 2-6 team on Sunday with Jameis Winston at the helm.

NFC Standings

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DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 27: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions looks to pass in the third quarter of a game against the Tennessee Titans at Ford Field on October 27, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Division Leaders

1. Detroit (6-1)

2. Washington (6-2)

3. Atlanta (5-3)

4. Arizona (4-4)

Wild-Card Race

5. Green Bay (6-2)

6. Minnesota (5-2)

7. Philadelphia (5-2)

8. Chicago (4-3)

9. Tampa Bay (4-4)

10. San Francisco (4-4)

11. Seattle (4-4)

12. Los Angeles Rams (3-4)

13. Dallas (3-4)

14. New York Giants (2-5)

15. New Orleans (2-6)

16. Carolina (1-7)

Detroit's offense continued its rampage through opposing defenses with a 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans.

The Lions have scored over 30 points in each of their last four victories and they look like the clear favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Dan Campbell's side will face toughest tests in the coming weeks with road trips to Green Bay and Houston in back-to-back weeks.

The Week 9 clash with the Packers will be the Lions' first test within a division that looks like the best in the NFL.

Green Bay extended its winning streak to four games with a last-second triumph over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Detroit and Green Bay were joined by the Washington Commanders in the NFC's six-win club after Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary toss to Noah Brown beat the Bears.

The Bears dropped to 4-3, but they are only one game back of the Eagles for the final wild-card spot.

The NFC South is the division with the most clarity after eight weeks. The Atlanta Falcons now own two head-to-head wins over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is the only apparent competitor to the Falcons for the divisional crown.

All of the other divisions have far less clarity, including the NFC West, which for now, is topped by the Arizona Cardinals.

Arizona is ahead of the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks on the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The Niners moved level on record with the Cardinals after their Sunday night win over the Dallas Cowboys. They are off to a Week 9 bye and then play three of their next four on the road, so it may take some time for them to clear the Cardinals in the standings.