NFL Playoff Bracket Picture 2025-26 and AFC, NFC Standings After Week 10 SNF

Several teams made loud statements to the rest of the NFL in Week 10, staking their claim to a potential postseason spot, battling for their division leads, and establishing themselves as legitimate Super Bowl contenders.

Others suffered severe setbacks, dropping down the rankings and even out of wildcard positioning.

Who took big leaps forward, who stumbled, and which team established itself as, possibly, the best in their conference?

Find out with this look at the NFL Playoff bracket.

NFC Playoff Picture

The NFC playoff picture is as follows:

Seattle Seahawks (7-2, West; wins tie break over LA based on best win percentage in division games)

Philadelphia Eagles (6-2, East)

Green Bay Packers (5-2-1, North)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3, South)

Los Angeles Rams (7-2, Wild card)

Detroit Lions (6-3, Wild card; wins tie break over Chicago based on win percentage in conference games)

Chicago Bears (6-3, Wild card)

San Francisco 49ers (6-4)

Carolina Panthers (5-5)

Minnesota Vikings (4-5)

Dallas Cowboys (3-5-1)

Arizona Cardinals (3-6; wins tie break over Atlanta based on best win percentage in conference games)

Atlanta Falcons (3-6)

Washington Commanders (3-7)

New Orleans Saints (2-8; wins tie break over New York based on head-to-head win percentage)

New York Giants (2-8)

AFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo/Martin Meissner

The AFC playoff picture is as follows:

Indianapolis Colts (8-2, South; wins tie breaker over Denver and New England based on head-to-head win percentage)

Denver Broncos (8-2, West; wins tie break over New England based on best win percentage in conference games)

New England Patriots (8-2, East)

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4, North)

Los Angeles Chargers (7-3, Wildcard)

Buffalo Bills (6-3, Wildcard)

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-4, Wildcard; wins tie breaker over Baltimore based on head-to-head win percentage)

Kansas City Chiefs (5-4)

Houston Texans (4-5; wins tie breaker over Baltimore based on head-to-head win percentage)

Baltimore Ravens (4-5)

Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)

Miami Dolphins (3-7)

New York Jets (2-7)

Las Vegas Raiders (2-7; wins tie break over Miami based on best win percentage in conference games)

Cleveland Browns (2-7)

Tennessee Titans (1-8)

Playoff scenarios via ESPN.

Are the New England Patriots the AFC's Best?

AP Photo

The Indianapolis Colts may lead the conference but after a loss to Pittsburgh last week and a tense, dramatic, overtime win against an under-performing Atlanta Falcons, the AFC South team may be coming back down to earth.

Enter the New England Patriots, who won their seventh-straight against the NFC South division-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 28-23.

The offense exploded for 435 yards and allowed just one sack. They did not win time of possession and committed the only turnover of the game, but the defense came up big and rookie running back TreyVeon Henderson had a breakout game (14 carries, 147 yards, 2 TDs).

The Patriots have been one of the most consistent teams in the league this season and have a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills, thanks to a head-to-head win over Josh Allen and Co. in their first meeting and their rivals' upset loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

While it is unlikely they will go undefeated the rest of the way, the Pats play good football in all three phases, have an MVP candidate at the most important position on the field, and a coach in Mike Vrabel who has changed the locker room culture.

New England has the easiest schedule remaining according to Tankathon, meaning the AFC East leader will have every chance at topping the entire conference by the end of 18 weeks.