Week 9 of the NFL season saw some teams pull off huge wins to help their playoff chances, while other squads suffered upset losses that will significantly impact their postseason hopes.
Each week, it’s becoming easier to identify the contenders and pretenders. As the 2025 NFL season progresses, let’s take a look at how the NFL playoff picture stacks up. With Week 9 over, here’s a look at the current postseason picture.
Week 9 Standings and Playoff Picture
AFC Playoff Picture
1. Indianapolis Colts, 7-2 (lost to Steelers on Sunday)
2. New England Patriots, 7-2 (beat Falcons on Sunday)
3. Denver Broncos, 7-2 (beat Texans on Sunday)
4. Pittsburgh Steelers, 5-3 (beat Colts on Sunday)
5. Buffalo Bills, 6-2 (beat Chiefs on Sunday)
6. Los Angeles Chargers, 6-3 (beat Titans on Sunday)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars, 5-3 (beat Raiders on Sunday)
In the Hunt
8. Kansas City Chiefs, 5-4 (lost to Bills on Sunday)
9. Houston Texans, 3-5 (lost to Broncos on Sunday)
10. Baltimore Ravens, 3-5 (beat Dolphins on TNF)
11. Cincinnati Bengals, 3-6 (lost to Bears on Sunday)
12. Las Vegas Raiders, 2-6 (lost to Jaguars on Sunday)
13. Cleveland Browns, 2-6 (bye week)
14. Miami Dolphins, 2-7 (lost to Ravens on TNF)
16. New York Jets, 1-7 (bye week)
15. Tennessee Titans, 1-8 (lost to Chargers on Sunday)
NFC Playoff Picture
1. Philadelphia Eagles, 6-2 (bye week)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 6-2 (bye week)
3. Seattle Seahawks, 6-2 (beat Commanders on SNF)
4. Green Bay Packers, 5-2-1 (lost to Panthers on Sunday)
5. Los Angeles Rams, 6-2 (beat Saints on Sunday)
6. San Francisco 49ers, 6-3 (beat Giants on Sunday)
7. Detroit Lions, 5-3 (lost to Vikings on Sunday)
In the Hunt
8. Chicago Bears, 5-3 (beat Bengals on Sunday)
9. Carolina Panthers, 5-4 (beat Packers on Sunday)
10. Minnesota Vikings, 4-4 (beat Lions on Sunday)
11. Dallas Cowboys, 3-5-1 (lost to Cardinals on MNF)
12. Arizona Cardinals, 3-5 (beat Cowboys on MNF)
13. Atlanta Falcons, 3-5 (lost to Patriots on Sunday)
14. Washington Commanders, 3-6 (lost to Seahawks on SNF)
15. New York Giants, 2-7 (lost to 49ers on Sunday)
16. New Orleans Saints, 1-8 (lost to Rams on Sunday)
NFL Teams on the Rise
The Vikings, Broncos, and Panthers took big steps in their hunts for playoff spots on Sunday.
The Vikings, with J.J. McCarthy back at quarterback, went into Ford Field and pulled off a 27-24 victory over the Detroit Lions. According to PFSN’s NFL Playoff Predictor, the Vikings now have a 38.7% chance to make the playoffs and a 16.6% chance to win their division.
As for the Broncos, they went on the road to NRG Stadium in Houston and Will Lutz’s game-winning field goal as time ran out gave them an 18-15 win over the Texans, who played most of the game without starting quarterback C.J. Stroud. The Broncos now have a 91.9% chance to make the playoffs and a 71.6% chance to win their division.
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The Carolina Panthers extended their push for a playoff spot on Sunday, upsetting the Packers in Green Bay off a last-second field goal. Now at 5-4, they’re firmly in the races for a Wild Card spot or an NFC South division title.
It’s been a bizarre season for the Panthers thus far, as some of their losses have come in absolute blowouts against the likes of the Patriots and Bills. But a win on the road against the Packers isn’t easy to accomplish, and Carolina has stacked up enough wins to stay competitive. Entering Week 9, the Panthers had just a 21.5% chance of making the playoffs; now, after this upset win, Carolina has a 36.5% chance of making the postseason.
NFL Teams on the Decline
Meanwhile, the Bengals and Texans stumbled in their home games.
The Bengals were involved in a back-and-forth game with the Bears before a late, long touchdown pass helped Chicago secure a wild 47-42 victory over the Bengals. After the loss, Cincinnati now has just a 7.8% chance to make the playoffs and a 5.7% chance of winning their division.
The Texans, who lost Stroud in the first half due to a concussion (and he never returned to the game), relied on five field goals for their offense. But it wasn’t enough as Broncos quarterback Bo Nix led a fourth-quarter comeback to upend Houston. The Texans now have a 14.2% chance of making the playoffs and a 5.7% chance of winning the division.
The Falcons are also in rough shape after dropping their third-straight game. With the Buccaneers at 6-2 and the Panthers sitting at 5-4, Atlanta now has just a 10.9% chance of making the playoffs and a 2.7% chance of winning the NFC South.
The Commanders also suffered the worst-case scenario in Week 9, losing in blowout fashion to the Seahawks but also losing Jayden Daniels to a gruesome injury that could end his season (and destroy Washington’s already-slim postseason hopes).