NFL Playoff Bracket Scenarios 2025-26 Week 10, Standings After Cardinals vs. Cowboys

The Arizona Cardinals' Monday night win over the Dallas Cowboys made the biggest impact on the NFC East.

The Philadelphia Eagles were already the heavy favorite to win the NFC East, but now they have an even bigger advantage following the primetime losses from the Cowboys and the Washington Commanders on Sunday night.

Arizona and Dallas are both on the outside looking in at the NFC wild-card race, and each team will need a miracle in the second half of the regular season to get into the field.

The next game on the NFL schedule puts the AFC West into the spotlight, as the Denver Broncos host the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night.

AFC Standings

AP Photo

Division Leaders

Indianapolis (7-2)

New England (7-2)

Denver (7-2)

Pittsburgh (5-3)

Wild-Card Race

Buffalo (6-2)

Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)

Jacksonville (5-3)

Kansas City (5-4)

Houston (3-5)

Baltimore (3-5)

Cincinnati (3-6)

Las Vegas (2-6)

Cleveland (2-6)

Miami (2-7)

New York Jets (1-7)

Tennessee (1-8)

The Broncos have an opportunity to extend their lead atop the AFC West over the next month.

Denver plays the Raiders twice, starting with Thursday night's game in Colorado.

The lone challenge over the next four games is a home contest with the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 11. Denver needs to play well during that stretch because the finish to its schedule is brutal.

Denver faces the Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers in the final four games.

The other two top teams in the AFC have one big challenge each in November. The Indianapolis Colts visit the Chiefs in Week 12, while the New England Patriots visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Kansas City is not in a playoff position yet, but it can still win the division with two wins over Denver and some help. A wild-card spot seems like a given for Patrick Mahomes and Co., especially if they can beat Denver and Indianapolis out of the bye.

The Baltimore Ravens are the only other contender outside the playoff spots right now. Their playoff surge could receive a huge boost if they beat the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

NFC Standings

AP Photo

Division Leaders

Philadelphia (6-2)

Tampa Bay (6-2)

Seattle (6-2)

Green Bay (5-2-1)

Wild-Card Race

Los Angeles Rams (6-2)

San Francisco (6-3)

Detroit (5-3)

Chicago (5-3)

Carolina (5-4)

Minnesota (4-4)

Dallas (3-5-1)

Arizona (3-5)

Atlanta (3-5)

Washington (3-6)

New York Giants (2-7)

New Orleans (1-8)

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles could not have asked for a better bye week.

The Eagles are even further ahead of the Cowboys and Commanders after their respective primetime defeats. They also moved to the top of the NFC after the Green Bay Packers fell to the Carolina Panthers.

Philadelphia is in Green Bay next Monday and then it hosts the Detroit Lions on Sunday night in Week 11.

If the Eagles win both of those games, they will be viewed as the favorite to win the NFC.

Green Bay and Detroit are locked in a fierce divisional battle with the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. All four teams are seperated by less than two games.

The NFC West is also crowded with the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers all with six wins.

Arizona moved to 3-5 on Monday night, but it feels like it is lightyears away from the trio at the top of the NFC West. A wild-card spot doesn't even seem possible for the Cardinals with a second-half surge because of the quality above them.

As for the Cowboys, their playoff chances are slim. They somehow need to go on a winning streak and get a ton of help just to be in the conversation come December.