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NFL standings update, Week 9: NFC division leaders are streaking

By John Buhler

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Jerick McKinnon of the Minnesota Vikings breaks through during the NFL International Series match between Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns at Twickenham Stadium on October 29, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Jerick McKinnon of the Minnesota Vikings breaks through during the NFL International Series match between Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns at Twickenham Stadium on October 29, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images) /
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With just Monday Night Football left on the slate, let’s take a look at the updated standings and playoff pictures in the NFL heading into Week 9.

We’re almost at the halfway point of the 2017 NFL season. Week 8 is essentially in the books with just Monday Night Football between a pair of AFC West rivals in the Denver Broncos (3-3) and the Kansas City Chiefs (5-2) left to play this week.

Before we completely turn the page to the upcoming Week 9 slate of games, let’s take a look at how the standings are across the league. Which teams are leading their divisions and who would be the six playoff teams if the season ended today?

The biggest trend going on in football is that the four division leaders in the NFC are on fire, all of which are riding at least four-game winning streaks. The Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks have rattled off four in a row, the New Orleans Saints have won five straight and the Philadelphia Eagles have emerged as a juggernaut as winners of six straight games.

Here are the updated standings heading into Monday Night Football in Week 8.

AFC East

  1. New England Patriots (6-2)
  2. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
  3. Miami Dolphins (4-3)
  4. New York Jets (3-5)

New England is the AFC East leader through eight weeks. The Patriots have a half-game lead over the Buffalo Bills, a 1.5-game lead over the Miami Dolphins and a three-game lead over the New York Jets. While New York is below .500, the AFC East has been one of the most competitive divisions in football. The AFC East should be able to get at least one wild card team in this January.

AFC North

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
  2. Baltimore Ravens (4-4)
  3. Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)
  4. Cleveland Browns (0-8)

The Pittsburgh Steelers have separated from the rest of the awful AFC North. Pittsburgh has a two-game lead over the Baltimore Ravens, a 2.5-game lead over the Cincinnati Bengals and a six-game lead over the winless Cleveland Browns. Pittsburgh should win 12 games this year. This is probably the worst division in football.

AFC South

  1. Tennessee Titans (4-3)
  2. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-3)
  3. Houston Texans (3-4)
  4. Indianapolis Colts (2-6)

The AFC South has been interesting, to say the least. The Tennessee Titans lead the division by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Jacksonville Jaguars. That being said, Jacksonville has been the most impressive team in the AFC South up to this point. The Houston Texans are one game back at 3-4 and the Indianapolis Colts are 2.5 games back at 2-6.

AFC West

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)*
  2. Denver Broncos (3-3)*
  3. Los Angeles Chargers (3-5)
  4. Oakland Raiders (3-5)

Even with Monday Night Football still left to be played, the Kansas City Chiefs will lead the AFC West through eight weeks. The Denver Broncos will be in second place regardless of Monday’s outcome. In third place will be the Los Angeles Chargers, who have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Oakland Raiders in the AFC West race.

If the season ended today, your top three seeds would be in some order New England, Pittsburgh and Kansas City. The No. 4 seed would be Tennessee. Buffalo would be the No. 5 seed. Jacksonville and Miami would be in the mix for the No. 6 seed, with potentially a 4-3 Broncos in it as well.

NFC East

  1. Philadelphia Eagles (7-1)
  2. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)
  3. Washington Redskins (3-4)
  4. New York Giants (1-6)

Philadelphia would be the favorite to win Super Bowl LII if the season ended today. The Eagles have a 2.5-game lead over the Dallas Cowboys, a 3.5-game lead over the Washington Redskins and a 5.5-game lead over the awful New York Giants.

NFC North

  1. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
  2. Green Bay Packers (4-3)
  3. Detroit Lions (3-4)
  4. Chicago Bears (3-5)

The Vikings are about to run away with the NFC North now that Aaron Rodgers is out for the year. Minnesota has a 1.5-game lead over the Green Bay Packers, a 2.5-game lead over the Detroit Lions and a three-game lead over the surprisingly competitive Chicago Bears.

NFC South

  1. New Orleans Saints (5-2)
  2. Carolina Panthers (5-3)
  3. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
  4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5)

New Orleans has won five straight games and hold a half-game lead over the Carolina Panthers in the NFC South race. The Saints do have the head-to-head tiebreaker over Carolina at the halfway point. One game back of the Saints are the archrival Atlanta Falcons. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are struggling mightily now three games back of the Saints.

NFC West

  1. Seattle Seahawks (5-2)
  2. Los Angeles Rams (5-2)
  3. Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
  4. San Francisco 49ers (0-8)

Seattle has the head-to-head tiebreaker over the rival Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West race. The aging Arizona Cardinals are two games back of the NFC West co-leaders. The San Francisco 49ers are one of two winless teams left in football. They are 5.5 games back of the Seahawks in the NFC West.

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If the season ended today, the Eagles would have home-field advantage as the No. 1 seed, the Vikings would have a first-round by as the No. 2 seed. In some order, the Saints and Seahawks would be the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds. The Rams would be the No. 5 seed. Carolina would be the No. 6 seed.

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