Week 7 is pretty much in the books with Monday Night Football left. Let’s take a look at the updated standings across the NFL as we head into Week 8.
We’ve got essentially another NFL week in the books. There is still Monday Night Football to be had, with a pair of NFC East rivals clashing in the Philadelphia Eagles (5-1) and the Washington Redskins (3-2).
Two teams were on their byes in Week 7 in the Detroit Lions and the Houston Texans. So let’s take a look at the division races across both conferences up to this point. Who are your division leaders and which six teams would make the NFL playoffs if the season ended today?
AFC East
- New England Patriots (5-2)
- Buffalo Bills (4-2)
- Miami Dolphins (4-2)
- New York Jets (3-4)
New England for the time has separated in the AFC East. The Patriots are half a game up on the Bills and Dolphins and two games up on the Jets in the divisional race. Who say the AFC East being this competitive at the start of the year?
AFC North
- Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
- Baltimore Ravens (3-4)
- Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)
- Cleveland Browns (0-7)
Isn’t the AFC North lovely? The Pittsburgh Steelers should cake walk in the division if they can keep their heads on a swivel. Pittsburgh has a two-game lead over the Ravens, a 2.5-game lead over the Bengals and a five-game lead over the winless Browns.
AFC South
- Tennessee Titans (4-3)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)
- Houston Texans (3-3)
- Indianapolis Colts (2-5)
The AFC South has been a surprisingly good follow this year. Tennessee edges out Jacksonville for the division lead due to the head-to-head tiebreaker. Houston is half a game back of Tennessee and Jacksonville. Indianapolis is two games back of the Titans and the Jaguars in the AFC South race.
AFC West
- Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)
- Denver Broncos (3-3)
- Los Angeles Chargers (3-4)
- Oakland Raiders (3-4)
The hottest team in the AFC West in late October is, you guessed it, the Chargers. Leading the division is still the Kansas City Chiefs at 5-2. They have a 1.5-game lead over the Broncos. Los Angeles has won three straight to be two games back. Oakland is only two games back after beating Kansas City on Thursday Night Football.
If the season ended today, Pittsburgh would be the No. 1 seed, Kansas City would be No. 2, New England would be No. 3 and Tennessee would be your No. 4 seed as the division winners. The two wild cards would go to the Bills and Dolphins, both at 4-2.
NFC East
- Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)*
- Washington Redskins (3-2)*
- Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
- New York Giants (1-6)
Philadelphia will still lead the NFC East regardless of how Monday Night Football shakes out. Washington and Dallas are in the mix just a few games back. New York is way out of it at 1-6 on the season.
NFC North
- Minnesota Vikings (5-2)
- Green Bay Packers (4-3)
- Detroit Lions (3-3)
- Chicago Bears (3-4)
The Vikings might be the team to beat in the NFC North at 5-2. They are a game up on the Packers, 1.5 games up on the Lions and two games up on the Bears. Minnesota is on top, but Chicago is a dangerous team at the bottom of the division for sure.
NFC South
- New Orleans Saints (4-2)
- Carolina Panthers (4-3)
- Atlanta Falcons (3-3)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4)
Who saw the Saints leading the NFC South in late October? They have a half-game lead over the Panthers, a one-game lead over the Falcons and a two-game lead over the Buccaneers. The Saints might be for real, or the NFC South just might not be all that good.
NFC West
- Los Angeles Rams (5-2)
- Seattle Seahawks (4-2)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (0-7)
Don’t be surprised to see the Rams leading the NFC West at 5-2. They have a half-game lead over the Seahawks, but not the head-to-head tiebreaker. Arizona is two back at 3-4. San Francisco is completely out of it five games back at 0-7.
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If the season ended today the Eagles would be the No. 1 seed, the Vikings would be the No. 2 seed, the Rams would be the No. 3 seed and the Saints would be the No. 4 seed a division winners. Your two wild cards teams would be the Seahawks as the No. 5 seed and the Redskins as the No. 6 seed with a win on Monday night. A loss by Washington puts either Carolina or Green Bay in.