NFL Playoff Bracket Scenarios 2025-26 Week 9, Latest Update as Chiefs Beat Commanders

The Kansas City Chiefs might sit seventh in the AFC standings after their Monday night win over the Washington Commanders, but they have the look of a Super Bowl contender.

Kansas City is now 5-1 in its last six games heading into one of the marquee games each year on the NFL schedule against the Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo needs to work up the standings in its own right with a 5-2 record and in second place in the AFC East.

The Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots and Denver Broncos are the unlikely top trio in the AFC going into Week 9.

The NFC standings are more predictable with the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the top.

Washington is nowhere close to a playoff return with a 3-5 record in a conference that is loaded at the top.

AFC Standings

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Division Leaders

1. Indianapolis (7-1)
2. New England (6-2)
3. Denver (6-2)
4. Pittsburgh (4-3)

Wild-Card Race

1. Buffalo (5-2)
2. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
3. Kansas City (5-3)
4. Jacksonville (4-3)
5. Houston (3-4)
6. Cincinnati (3-5)
7. Las Vegas (2-5)
8. Baltimore (2-5)
9. Cleveland (2-6)
10. Miami (2-6)
11. New York Jets (1-7)
12. Tennessee (1-7)

Most eyes in the AFC will be on the Kansas City-Buffalo clash in Week 9.

The Chiefs and Bills can't afford too many losses if they want to chase down the Colts for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

With the way Indianapolis is playing, Sunday's game in Buffalo might serve as an elimination game for the top spot in the standings.

The Colts will be in Pittsburgh on Sunday for a clash of division leaders, but for how long the Steelers top the AFC North is a huge question.

Lamar Jackson returns on Thursday night for the Baltimore Ravens against the Miami Dolphins. Baltimore is only two games back of the Steelers, so a Ravens run to the top of the division is not out of the question.

The other two division leaders, New England and Denver, will hope to win in Week 9 and then get help in the Kansas City-Buffalo game to extend their advantages. New England is at home against the Atlanta Falcons, while the Broncos visit the Houston Texans.l

NFC Standings

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. Green Bay (5-1-1)
2. Philadelphia (6-2)
3. Tampa Bay (6-2)
4. Seattle (5-2)

Wild-Card Race

1. Detroit (5-2)
2. Los Angeles Rams (5-2)
3. San Francisco (5-3)
4. Chicago (4-3)
5. Carolina (4-4)
6. Dallas (3-4-1)
7. Atlanta (3-4)
8. Minnesota (3-4)
9. Washington (3-5)
10. Arizona (2-5)
11. New York Giants (2-6)
12. New Orleans (1-7)

Green Bay has an opportunity to extend its advantage atop the NFC in Week 9.

The Packers are at home against the Carolina Panthers, while both Philadelphia and Tampa Bay are on bye weeks.

The Seattle Seahawks visit the Commanders next Sunday night in a game they need to stay in front of the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.

Washington is not in the same form as last year, and it's hard to see the Commanders being competitive next Sunday after the 21-point loss to Kansas City on Monday.

Detroit, San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams all have winnable games in Week 9. If they all come out victorious, the gap between the top seven in the NFC and the rest of the pack will continue to grow.

For as strong as the NFC is at the top, there are plenty of struggling teams at the bottom that may not make the wild-card race competitive come December and January.