NFL Playoff Bracket Picture 2026-27 and AFC, NFC Standings After Week 8 Early Slate

The NFL playoff race took another major turn Sunday as the Week 8 early slate reshaped both conferences. 

The biggest headline came in Detroit, where the Lions handed the previously unbeaten Vikings their first loss of the season. It was an emotional win for Detroit, which lost linebacker Jack Campbell to a serious injury that halted the game for several minutes. Quarterback Jared Goff's late touchdown to Jameson Williams provided the decisive moment in the division tilt.

Notably, if the NFL season ended today, the NFC North would send all four of its teams to the playoffs. 

The Buffalo Bills entered the day tied with the Kansas City Chiefs near the top of the AFC. Josh Allen's team strengthened its hold on the AFC's top echelon by routing Baltimore.

Pittsburgh seized control of the AFC North with a convincing win over Cleveland, Jacksonville continued its surge in the AFC South and Tampa Bay climbed back into the NFC South race after shutting out Atlanta. 

With the late afternoon games, Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football still to come, here's how the NFL playoff bracket would look if the season ended after the Week 8 early slate.

AFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

AFC Playoff Bracket

No. 1 Buffalo Bills (6-1), first-round bye

No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) vs. No. 7 Cleveland Browns (5-3)

No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) vs. No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)

No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) vs. No. 5 Denver Broncos (5-2)

AFC Playoff Standings

No. 1 Buffalo Bills (6-1)

No. 2 Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)

No. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)

No. 4 Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) 

No. 5 Denver Broncos (5-2)

No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)

No. 7 Cleveland Browns (5-3)

NFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

NFC Playoff Bracket

No. 1 San Francisco 49ers (6-1), first-round bye

No. 2 Minnesota Vikings (6-1) vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers (5-3)

No. 3 New York Giants (4-2-1) vs. No. 6 Chicago Bears (5-2)

No. 4 Carolina Panthers (3-4) vs. No. 5 Detroit Lions (5-2)

NFC Playoff Standings

No. 1 San Francisco 49ers (6-1)

No. 2 Minnesota Vikings (6-1) 

No. 3 New York Giants (4-2-1) 

No. 4 Carolina Panthers (3-4)

No. 5 Detroit Lions (5-2)

No. 6 Chicago Bears (5-2)

No. 7 Green Bay Packers (5-3)