The 2026 NFL playoff picture is beginning to take shape following Week 9, with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers leading their conferences as teams compete for division titles, wild card spots and home-field advantage. The standings below are a snapshot ahead of Monday Night Football on November 9.
AFC Playoff Picture After Week 9
Buffalo holds the AFC’s No. 1 seed, followed by division leaders Denver, Jacksonville and Pittsburgh.
| Seed | Team | Record | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buffalo Bills | 6-1 | AFC East |
| 2 | Denver Broncos | 7-2 | AFC West |
| 3 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6-2 | AFC South |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-2 | AFC North |
| 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | 6-2 | Wild Card |
| 6 | Cincinnati Bengals | 6-2 | Wild Card |
| 7 | New England Patriots | 5-4 | Wild Card |
AFC Teams Still in the Playoff Hunt
- Cleveland Browns (5-4)
- Las Vegas Raiders (4-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (4-5)
- Houston Texans (3-5)
Buffalo faces Minnesota on Monday Night Football with an opportunity to strengthen its position. Denver and Kansas City are also major factors in the AFC seeding race.
NFC Playoff Picture After Week 9
San Francisco leads the NFC, while Minnesota, the New York Giants and Carolina occupy the other division-leading positions.
| Seed | Team | Record | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco 49ers | 7-1 | NFC West |
| 2 | Minnesota Vikings | 6-1 | NFC North |
| 3 | New York Giants | 5-2-1 | NFC East |
| 4 | Carolina Panthers | 3-5 | NFC South |
| 5 | Chicago Bears | 7-2 | Wild Card |
| 6 | Detroit Lions | 6-2 | Wild Card |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | 6-3 | Wild Card |
NFC Teams Still in the Playoff Hunt
- Seattle Seahawks (5-4)
- Los Angeles Rams (5-4)
- Dallas Cowboys (4-5)
- New Orleans Saints (3-5)
NFC North Could Send Multiple Teams to the Playoffs
Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit and Green Bay are all in playoff position in this Week 9 snapshot. Chicago strengthened its wild-card standing with a 27-24 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday night.
Why Carolina Holds the NFC No. 4 Seed
Carolina leads the NFC South despite a 3-5 record. Under NFL rules, each division winner receives one of the top four seeds and hosts a wild-card game, even when a visiting wild-card team has a better record.
Which Teams Would Receive First-Round Byes?
Only the No. 1 seed in each conference receives a first-round bye. In this snapshot, those teams are Buffalo in the AFC and San Francisco in the NFC.
Projected NFL Wild Card Matchups
If the season ended with these seeds, the opening-round pairings would be:
AFC Wild Card Round
- No. 2 Denver Broncos vs. No. 7 New England Patriots
- No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars vs. No. 6 Cincinnati Bengals
- No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. No. 5 Kansas City Chiefs
NFC Wild Card Round
- No. 2 Minnesota Vikings vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers
- No. 3 New York Giants vs. No. 6 Detroit Lions
- No. 4 Carolina Panthers vs. No. 5 Chicago Bears
These are hypothetical pairings, not finalized postseason games. The higher seed would host.
How Many NFL Teams Make the Playoffs?
Four division winners and three wild-card teams qualify from each conference, for 14 playoff teams total. The top seed in each conference gets a bye, while the other six teams play on Wild Card Weekend. The AFC and NFC champions will meet in Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027.
Have Any Teams Clinched a Playoff Berth?
As of November 9, no team has officially clinched a playoff berth. Several weeks of the regular season remain.
Monday Night Football Could Change the Picture
The Buffalo Bills visit the Minnesota Vikings on November 9. Both enter the matchup among the leading contenders in their respective conferences, making the result important to the race for top seeds.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 NFL playoff picture remains fluid after Week 9. Buffalo and San Francisco currently control the top seeds, while Denver, Minnesota, Chicago and other contenders pursue better postseason positioning. The Sports Cast will continue covering standings, playoff scenarios and the road to Super Bowl LXI.