Updated AFC Playoff picture, AFC Wild Card standings after Chiefs, Jets win in Week 7

Let’s check the pulse on the AFC Playoff Picture and AFC Wild Card standings after the Chiefs, Jets, and Bengals won in Week 7.

After seven weeks, the NFL Playoff Picture on the AFC side of the bracket is starting to take shape.

We’re at the midway point of the season, and the only thing that seems clear is that the AFC is the superior conference. As Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady fall apart, the NFC appears to be the Eagles, Giants, Cowboys, and then everyone else.

That’s good news for the AFC.

Kansas City running through the San Francisco 49ers gave a little indication of what may lie ahead. Kyle Shanahan called a great game with a new weapon in Christian McCaffrey, but the Chiefs still shredded them on the road.

While nothing is determined in October — especially the playoff picture — it’s starting to look like whoever comes out of the NFC will be sacrificial lambs to the gods that emerge from the other conference.

The question is who will be there at the end and how tough will the road through the AFC be?

Updated AFC Playoff Picture after Week 7 (Updated after Sunday Night Football)

With the Buffalo Bills on a bye week, the best that Kansas City could do is tread water and not fall further back from the No. 1 seed. The goal for the Chiefs from here on out is to play perfect football and hope the Bills run into turbulence with their AFC East opponents.

There’s a safe bet that happens.

New York has two playoff surprises: the Giants in the NFC and the Jets in the AFC. The Jets defense looks legit and their quickly gaining confidence that could cause problems for the Bills when they meet this season. The Patriots are always dangerous and can scheme their way into a win, and the Dolphins have Tua back and already beat the Bills earlier this season.

Buffalo owns the tiebreaker with Kansas City by way of their Week 6 victory, which means they’ll need to lose twice to lose the No. 1 seed to Kansas City. Beyond the Chiefs, the Bills need to keep a watchful eye on the Tennessee Titans, who haven’t been overwhelmingly great this season but are hanging around the top of the AFC Playoff Picture.

Here’s what the AFC playoff bracket would look like if the postseason started today:

1. Buffalo Bills (5-1)
2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)
3. Tennessee Titans (4-2)
4. Baltimore Ravens (4-3)
5. New York Jets (5-2)
6. Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)
7. Cincinnati Bengals (4-3)

Based on those standings, here’s what the playoff matchups would look like for the first weekend of action:

• (2) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (7) Cincinnati Bengals
• (3) Tennessee Titans vs. (6) Los Angeles Chargers
• (4) Baltimore Ravens vs. (5) New York Jets

AFC Wild Card standings after Week 7 (Updated after Sunday Night Football)

Below the fold of the AFC Playoff Picture, the Cincinnati Bengals are back in the mix. The Super Bowl runner-ups got off to a rocky start to the year but dominated the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, a performance that seems to indicate the offense is awake. Joe Burrow looks like the MVP candidate he was in 2021 and the Bengals appear to have shaken off the Super Bowl hangover — for now.

Cincinnati got some help from the team they beat in the playoffs last year. Tennessee walloping the Colts knocked Indianapolis out of the playoff picture for now and opened up a path for teams like Miami and New England to leap them.

For now, here’s what the Wild Card standings look like after Week 7:

5th Seed: New York Jets (5-2)
6th Seed: Los Angeles Chargers (4-3)
7th Seed: Cincinnati Bengals (4-3)

On The Bubble
Miami Dolphins (4-3)
Indianapolis Colts (3-3-1)
New England Patriots (3-3)

In The Hunt
Las Vegas Raiders (2-4)
Denver Broncos (2-5)
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-5)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5)
Cleveland Browns (2-5)
Houston Texans (1-4-1)

AFC Playoff Picture Tiebreaker Scenarios

With so many teams tied in the standings, a handful of tiebreakers come into play based on various factors related to the schedule.

• Ravens win the tiebreaker over Cincinnati based on head-to-head win percentage.
• Bengals hold the tiebreaker Miami based on head-to-head win percentage.
• Dolphins hold a tiebreaker over New England based on head-to-head win percentage.