NFL Playoff Bracket Picture 2025-26 and AFC, NFC Standings After Sunday's Week 8

With six teams on their bye weeks in Week 8 of the NFL season and numerous high-impact players around the league sitting out due to injuries, the stage was set for a day of surprises and swings. 

Sunday delivered. 

In the early slate, the New York Jets' first win of the season came at the worst time for the Cincinnati Bengals, who went into the game as 5.5-point favorites. Another favorite was taken down when the underdog Miami Dolphins ( 7.5) found a way to outduel the Atlanta Falcons 34–10. 

With Tyler Huntley (or "Snoop") under center, the Baltimore Ravens were able to hold off the Chicago Bears, snap their four-game losing streak and bring their playoff probability back up above 50%.

Some games, however, went just as expected. The Buffalo Bills demolished the Carolina Panthers, 49–0, while the Philadelphia Eagles shrugged off their fluky loss to the Giants two weeks ago.

The late afternoon games did not hold much intrigue, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints, the Denver Broncos took care of business against the Dallas Cowboys and the Indianapolis Colts continued their recent dominance, taking down the Tennessee Titans 38–14.

To cap a chaotic day, the Green Bay Packers' emphatic win over the Aaron Rodgers–led Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football shook up the standings considerably.

Let's take a look at the updated AFC and NFC playoff brackets after Sunday's Week 8 games. 

Playoff probability via NFL.com.

AFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

1. Indianapolis Colts (7–1), 1st AFC South
2. New England Patriots (6–2), 1st AFC East
3. Denver Broncos (6–2), 1st AFC West
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (4–3), 1st AFC North
5. Buffalo Bills (5–2), 2nd AFC East
6. Los Angeles Chargers (5–3), 2nd AFC West
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (4–3), 2nd AFC South 

On the Bubble

Kansas City Chiefs (4–3), 3rd AFC West

The Ravens' win did help them move up in the bubble race, though they'll need to stack more of them to sniff the playoffs. It also moved the Cleveland Browns down to a playoff probability of just 2%. 

The Bengals will be licking their wounds following the Jets loss. Their playoff probability is now only 7%.

The Colts' and Broncos' wins meant that they stood pat at their current seeding (No. 1 and No. 3, respectively).

NFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Green Bay Packers (5–1–1), 1st NFC North

Philadelphia Eagles (6–2), 1st NFC East

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6–2), 1st NFC South

Seattle Seahawks (5–2), 1st NFC West

Detroit Lions (5–2), 2nd NFC North

Los Angeles Rams (5–2), 2nd NFC West 

San Francisco 49ers (5–3), 3rd NFC West

On the Bubble 

Chicago Bears (4–3), 3rd NFC North 

With their statement win over the division rival New York Giants, the Eagles moved into position for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, with a playoff probability of 94%. 

With their loss, the 49ers fell five spots, all the way to the No. 7 seed and just a 69% playoff probability. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, both of whom are on bye, still moved up to the No. 4 and No. 6 seeds, respectively.

Thanks to their win over the division-rival Saints, the Bucs moved up over the Packers to the No. 2 seed. But their rise was short-lived.

On Sunday Night Football, Jordan Love and the Packers put on an offensive clinic and left with a 35–25 victory over the Steelers. The win moved the Bucs back down to the No. 3 seed—and the Eagles to No. 2. The Packers are now in possession of the NFC's No. 1 seed...and have a date with Philly in Week 10.