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    NFL Playoff Picture and Standings Week 8: Steelers Reclaim AFC North Lead, Commanders Stun Bears With Hail Mary, and More

    As Week 8 comes to a close, let's examine the current NFL standings and playoff picture, with a breakdown of the top games on the slate.

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    Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season featured perhaps the most shocking upset of the year, a Hail Mary game-winner as time expired, and several close contests that came down to the wire.

    As Week 8 sunsets, let’s examine the current NFL standings and playoff picture, and then we’ll break down the top games on the slate.

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    NFL Playoff Picture As Week 8 Wraps Up

    AFC Playoff Picture

    1. Kansas City Chiefs, 7-0 (beat Raiders on Sunday)
    2. Houston Texans, 6-2 (beat Colts on Sunday)
    3. Pittsburgh Steelers, 6-2 (beat Giants on Monday)
    4. Buffalo Bills, 6-2 (beat Seahawks on Sunday)
    5. Denver Broncos, 5-3 (beat Panthers on Sunday)
    6. Baltimore Ravens, 5-3 (lost to Browns on Sunday)
    7. Los Angeles Chargers, 4-3 (beat Saints on Sunday)

    In the Hunt

    8. Indianapolis Colts, 4-4 (lost to Texans on Sunday)
    9. Cincinnati Bengals, 3-5 (lost to Eagles on Sunday)
    10. Miami Dolphins, 2-5 (lost to Cardinals on Sunday)
    11. Cleveland Browns, 2-6 (beat Ravens on Sunday)
    12. Las Vegas Raiders, 2-6 (lost to Chiefs on Sunday)
    13. Jacksonville Jaguars, 2-6 (lost to Packers on Sunday)
    14. New England Patriots, 2-6 (beat Jets on Sunday)
    15. New York Jets, 2-6 (lost to Patriots on Sunday)
    16. Tennessee Titans, 1-6 (lost to Lions on Sunday)

    NFC Playoff Picture

    1. Detroit Lions, 6-1 (beat Titans on Sunday)
    2. Washington Commanders, 6-2 (beat Bears on Sunday)
    3. Atlanta Falcons, 5-3 (beat Buccaneers on Sunday)
    4. Arizona Cardinals, 4-4 (beat Dolphins on Sunday)
    5. Green Bay Packers, 6-2 (beat Jaguars on Sunday)
    6. Minnesota Vikings, 5-2 (lost to Rams on Thursday)
    7. Philadelphia Eagles, 5-2 (beat Bengals on Sunday)

    In the Hunt

    8. Chicago Bears, 4-3 (lost to Commanders on Sunday)
    9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4-4 (lost to Falcons on Sunday)
    10. San Francisco 49ers, 4-4 (beat Cowboys on Sunday night)
    11. Seattle Seahawks, 4-4 (lost to Bills on Sunday)
    12. Los Angeles Rams, 3-4 (beat Vikings on Thursday)
    13. Dallas Cowboys, 3-4 (lost to 49ers on Sunday night)
    14. New Orleans Saints, 2-6 (lost to Chargers on Sunday)
    15. New York Giants, 2-6 (lost to Steelers on Monday)
    16. Carolina Panthers, 1-7 (lost to Broncos on Sunday)

    Steelers Win Another MNF Game, Reclaim 1st in AFC North

    If it’s “Monday Night Football,” it’s a Steelers win. For the 22nd straight time at home, the Steelers get the win on MNF, this time over the fading Giants. With the win, Pittsburgh moves to 6-2 ahead of its bye with a one-game lead over the Ravens in the AFC North.

    Russell Wilson completed 20 of his 28 passes for 278 yards and a TD in his second win in as many starts as the Steelers’ QB1. Najee Harris added 114 yards on the ground, and the special teams unit added a punt return TD as the Steelers showed all facets of the game. At 6-2, they are third in the AFC, tied with the South-leading Texans.

    49ers Hold Off Cowboys, Remain in Playoff Hunt

    Despite all of the injuries the 49ers have dealt with in 2024, they improved to .500 with a win over the Cowboys in Week 8. 49ers star tight end George Kittle put together a monstrous performance on “National Tight Ends Day.”

    Kittle hauled in six receptions for 128 yards and one touchdown as the Cowboys were unable to slow down the All-Pro tight end. San Francisco improved to 4-4 and is currently ranked as the 10th overall seed in the NFC.

    Given the plethora of injuries that the 49ers have dealt with, they are still squarely in the playoff hunt following a much-needed victory on Sunday night. Now, the 49ers will await the latest news on Deebo Samuel Sr.’s rib injury, as San Francisco can’t afford many more blows to the team’s offensive weapons.

    Jameis Winston, Browns Upset Ravens For Second Win of the Year

    Entering this week’s game against the 5-2 Ravens, things were looking rough for the one-win Browns. They were looking like the worst team in the NFL after losing six of their first seven games. Then, they traded their WR1 Amari Cooper to Buffalo and lost starting quarterback Deshaun Watson for the rest of the season due to a ruptured Achilles.

    However, in Week 8, the Browns did the unthinkable, upsetting the Ravens 29-24. Early in the week, Baltimore was favored by 9.5 points over Cleveland, and the line eventually settled at 7.5. However, the Browns didn’t get the memo.

    Making his first start in two years, Winston was incredible, throwing for 334 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Watson had been arguably the worst starting quarterback in the NFL, so fans had been calling for Winston to play.

    Even without Cooper, Winston delivered a monster performance, connecting with Cedric Tillman (seven receptions, 99 yards, and two TDs), Elijah Moore (eight receptions for 85 yards), and David Njoku (five catches for 61 yards and a TD).

    Entering this game, the Browns had lost five straight games and hadn’t scored more than 16 points in any of them — the longest such streak within a single season since the 2017 Texans struggled from Weeks 12-17. However, on Sunday, Cleveland put up season-highs in points (29) and passing yards (334).

    The Ravens had scored 30+ points in their previous four games, but the Browns’ defense stepped up and contained Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Co.

    Commanders Beat Bears With Game-Winning Hail Mary

    The legend of Jayden Daniels continues to grow.

    Throughout the week, it was unclear if Washington’s rookie quarterback would play due to a rib injury. However, Daniels was active and pulled off the most exciting play of his young NFL career, completing a 52-yard Hail Mary pass to Noah Brown as time expired to defeat the Chicago Bears 18-15.

    Daniels looked like a poised veteran on the play, buying time — holding the ball for 12.75 seconds — before heaving it so that his wide receivers had time to get down the field.

    With this one play, Washington’s postseason odds increased by 17% (and their chances of winning the NFC East improved by 18%). Meanwhile, Chicago’s postseason odds decreased by 17% (and their chances of winning the NFC North dipped by 2.5%).

    This was a highly anticipated dual between No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and No. 2 overall pick Daniels.

    Daniels finished the game 21-of-38 for 326 passing yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions while adding eight rushes for 52 yards on the ground. Williams finished with just 131 passing yards, zero touchdowns, and zero interceptions with a 41.6% completion percentage.

    In PFN’s QB+ metric, Daniels finished this contest with a B- grade (61.8), which is the 13th-best grade thus far in Week 8. Meanwhile, Williams posted an awful D+ grade (41.7), which ranked 28th of 29 quarterbacks who have played so far this week.

    Everything is going right for Daniels and the Commanders as of late, as they have now won six of seven games, and he’s the strong favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

    On the season, Daniels has thrown for 1,736 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions, while adding 424 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

    Texans Stay Atop AFC South With Win Over Colts

    Houston won by a score of 23-20 after a game that can be considered nothing other than strange. Indianapolis appeared to pick up a late go-ahead touchdown on a recovered fumble, but the play was called back as the ball carrier was ruled down.

    The win leaves the Texans with a 6-2 record and in a commanding position over the 4-4 Colts after sweeping the season series for just the second time in franchise history. By contrast, had the Colts won, both teams would be sitting at 5-3 atop the AFC South.

    It was a tale of two quarterbacks, as Indy’s Anthony Richardson showed his arm strength but still completed just 10 of 32 passes. Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud was surgical as he played turnover-free football and racked up an efficient 285 yards and a touchdown.

    The Texans have the AFC South all but wrapped up, but the Colts, at 4-4, are hanging on to a spot in the AFC playoff picture. They’re in danger of dropping out completely, with big games against the Vikings and Bills coming up.

    Packers Win Another Close One

    Green Bay is on a four-game winning streak, but can it keep it up? Three of those victories came by one-score margins, including Sunday’s win, sealed by a last-second Brandon McManus field goal. Last week, the Packers took down the Texans in a similar fashion, but that result was viewed as much more impressive given the opposition.

    After a tenuous win over a struggling Jaguars team, the Packers are 6-2 and alive in the league’s most interesting divisional race. Every team in the NFC North still has either one or two losses, with Green Bay and Minnesota sitting right in the middle.

    It was a tough day for Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who has had something of an up-and-down season to this point. Love stayed under 200 yards, threw an interception, and did not record a touchdown in the challenging road game.

    Perhaps embarrassingly for Love, backup Malik Willis needed just five pass attempts to throw for a touchdown after Love exited with an injury. Running back Josh Jacobs ran well for the Packers, racking up 127 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground.

    Eagles Blow Out Bengals To Win Third Straight Game

    On Sunday, Philadelphia dominated Cincinnati, 37-17.

    After starting the season 2-2, the Eagles have bounced back, winning three straight games. This includes a 25-point win over the Giants last week and this 20-point victory over the Bengals this week. These are Philadelphia’s first wins by multiple scores since Week 7 of last season.

    Saquon Barkley had 22 carries for 108 yards, while DeVonta Smith finished with six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. Jalen Hurts was 16-of-20 for 236 yards and one touchdown.

    For the Bengals, Joe Burrow was 26-of-37 for 234 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Tee Higgins missed the game with a quad injury, so Mike Gesicki (seven receptions for 73 yards) and Ja’Marr Chase (nine receptions for 54 yards and one touchdown) led the way for the Bengals.

    Cincinnati struggled to run the ball, totaling just 58 yards on 20 carries (2.9 yards per attempt).

    Next week, the Eagles will try to improve their win streak to four games against the Jaguars at home. Then, they’ll have two divisional matchups, facing the Cowboys in Week 10 and the Commanders in Week 11. That Eagles-Commanders matchup could play a huge role in determining the NFC East winner.

    The Bengals will try to bounce back next week at home against Las Vegas.

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