NFL Playoff Picture 2026-27, Standings, Bracket Scenarios After Giants vs. Commanders

Week 10 of the NFL season is here, and with it comes a handful of divisional matchups that are bound to shake up the standings.

The week kicked off on Thursday with an NFC East clash between the New York Giants and the Washington Commanders. The Commanders desperately needed a win, and they got it to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Ahead of the rest of the matchups on Sunday and Monday, here's a look at the updated standings and playoff picture.

AFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. Buffalo Bills (7-1, Lead AFC East)
2. Denver Broncos (7-2, Lead AFC West)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2, Lead AFC South)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2, Lead AFC North)

There was no change at the top of the AFC in Week 9, and the Buffalo Bills remain in control of both the division and the conference after Monday's win over the Minnesota Vikings.

The Broncos are rolling after winning their fifth straight game, but the Chiefs aren't far behind. The Jaguars are sitting comfortably atop a weak AFC South, while the Steelers now have the same record as the Bengals after Cincinnati won its fourth consecutive game, with Pittsburgh on a bye week.

5. Kansas City Chiefs (6-2)

6. Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)

7. New England Patriots (5-4)

The Chiefs and Bengals are still very much in the hunt for their respective division titles, but the Patriots' odds took a hit as they lost to the Green Bay Packers last week.

Sunday's game between the Steelers and Bengals will be the game to watch this week.

In the Hunt

8. Cleveland Browns (5-4)

9. Las Vegas Raiders (4-5)

10. Baltimore Ravens (4-5)

11. Houston Texans (3-5)

12. New York Jets (2-7)

13. Indianapolis Colts (2-7)

14. Miami Dolphins (1-7)

15. Tennessee Titans (1-7)

16. Los Angeles Chargers (0-8)

There is a pretty clear separation between the top and bottom halves of the AFC, though it's fair to say the Cleveland Browns are still in the hunt, especially with Deshaun Watson back this week.

The Raiders will be interesting to watch since they traded Kirk Cousins and promoted rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the starter. Perhaps a new quarterback can spark a late-season run for Las Vegas, but it's hard to imagine that will happen.

With Lamar Jackson on the injured reserve, the Ravens likely won't be able to overcome a 4-5 start, while the Texans are just hoping to go on a magical run as they did a year ago.

For the rest of the AFC, it's time to start preparing for the draft.

NFC Playoff Picture

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1. San Francisco 49ers (7-1, Lead NFC West)
2. Chicago Bears (7-2, Lead NFC North)
3. New York Giants (5-3-1, Lead NFC East)
4. Carolina Panthers (3-5, Lead NFC South)

The Niners held their spot atop the NFC this week after bouncing back from their first loss of the season.

The Bears jumped the Vikings for the top of the NFC North after Minnesota's ugly loss to the Bills, and Chicago is looking more and more like a Super Bowl contender each week.

The Giants' spot at the top of the NFC East is mostly a product of playing in a bad division, but nonetheless, New York is playoff-bound at the moment.

Each team in the NFC North is separated by one game or less, so the Panthers have no room for error against the Saints this week.

Wild-Card Race

5. Detroit Lions (6-2)

6. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)

7. Green Bay Packers (6-3)

As of right now, it looks like the entire NFC North is going to be competing in the playoffs, which would be a first for the NFL. The Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams are both still hanging around, though.

In the Hunt

8. Seattle Seahawks (5-4)

9. Los Angeles Rams (5-4)

10. Dallas Cowboys (4-5)

11. Washington Commanders (3-5-1)

12. New Orleans Saints (3-5)

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6)

14. Atlanta Falcons (3-6)

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-6)

16. Philadelphia Eagles (2-7)

The Seahawks' Super Bowl defense hasn't gone the way they hoped, but they're still in the mix. The Rams, meanwhile, seem to be on the right track after a rough start to the year.

Still, both teams have lots of work to do to break the strong hold the NFC North has on the playoff race.

The entire NFC South is up for grabs given how weak it has been this year, and the Saints can take first place from the Panthers with a win this week.

The NFC East is likewise still anyone's game, though it's fair to assume the Eagles are out of the mix with quarterback Jalen Hurts done for the year. Thursday's game was a must-win for the Commanders, and they're firmly back in the race for the NFC East.