NFL Playoff Picture 2025-26, Standings, Bracket Scenarios After Ravens vs. Dolphins

The Baltimore Ravens won't finish Week 9 in a playoff position, but they did put more pressure on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North with Thursday's win over the Miami Dolphins.

Baltimore, now with a healthy Lamar Jackson, moved to 3-5, one game back of the AFC North-leading Steelers in the win column.

Baltimore still has five games within the AFC North, including two against the Steelers, so it is a serious player in the playoff discussion.

The conversation becomes even more concerning from a Pittsburgh standpoint if Mike Tomlin's team loses on Sunday against the AFC-leading Indianapolis Colts.

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. Baltimore (3-5)
8. Las Vegas (2-5)
9. Cleveland (2-6)
10. Miami (2-7)
11. New York Jets (1-7)
12. Tennessee (1-7)

Baltimore will put Pittsburgh's AFC North lead under threat.

The Ravens are now 1.5 games back of the Steelers with two head-to-head meetings still to come in the second half of the regular season.

At their healthiest, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens can compete with anybody in the AFC, which is why the Steelers shouldn't feel comfortable at all at 4-3.

Pittsburgh could easily drop to 4-4 with a loss to the AFC-leading Colts on Sunday. That would put the Steelers' situation in even more peril well before they face the Ravens.

Most of the AFC focus on Sunday, though, will be on the clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

Neither team is on top of their respective divisions at the moment. A loss for either team could jeopardize the Chiefs or Bills' quest of the No. 1 seed, or even a division title.

NFC Standings

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Division Leaders

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

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)

The only real drama in the NFC on Sunday will come from the NFC West.

The Seattle Seahawks are one game ahead of the Los Angeles Rams in the win column and one full game in front of San Francisco 49ers.

The Seahawks are on the road against a desperate Washington Commanders team that needs a win to stay within reach in the wild-card race.

The Rams are at home against the New Orleans Saints and the 49ers visit the New York Giants in games both teams are expected to win. A Seattle victory on Sunday night would keep the status quo in the NFC West.

Seattle and the rest of the NFC West contenders can gain ground on the Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, both of whom are on bye weeks.

The Green Bay Packers are expected to keep their advantage atop the NFC with a win over the Carolina Panthers.