The Sports Wire

NFL standings, 2026

Updated

Every NFL division in order and the playoff seeds as of today, with each team's chance of reaching the playoffs.

Data through Week 5's games (the last played Mon, Oct 12), from nflverse play-by-play; nflverse last published it .

AFC playoff picture

The Chiefs (4–0) lead the AFC. The Raiders (3–2) hold the 7th seed on a tiebreaker over the Browns, Steelers and Bengals with the same record, and two more are a game or less behind.

SeedTeamW-L-TPlayoff chance
1Kansas City ChiefsAFC West leader4–092%
2Baltimore RavensAFC North leader4–170%
3Jacksonville JaguarsAFC South leader4–196%
4Buffalo BillsAFC East leader4–190%
5New England PatriotsWild card3–284%
6Denver BroncosWild card3–265%
7Las Vegas RaidersWild card3–219%
In the hunt
Cleveland BrownsSame record as the 7th seed3–224%
Pittsburgh SteelersSame record as the 7th seed3–249%
Cincinnati BengalsSame record as the 7th seed3–264%
New York Jets1 game behind the 7th seed2–39%
Indianapolis Colts1 game behind the 7th seed2–321%

NFC playoff picture

The 49ers (5–0) lead the NFC, ahead of the Vikings on a tiebreaker. The Bears (3–2) hold the 7th seed on a tiebreaker over the Seahawks with the same record, and four more are a game or less behind.

SeedTeamW-L-TPlayoff chance
1San Francisco 49ersNFC West leader5–099%
2Minnesota VikingsNFC North leader5–094%
3New York GiantsNFC East leader3–1–146%
4Carolina PanthersNFC South leader2–256%
5Green Bay PackersWild card3–252%
6Detroit LionsWild card3–262%
7Chicago BearsWild card3–235%
In the hunt
Seattle SeahawksSame record as the 7th seed3–272%
Los Angeles Rams1 game behind the 7th seed2–357%
Atlanta Falcons1 game behind the 7th seed2–336%
Philadelphia Eagles1 game behind the 7th seed2–333%
Dallas Cowboys1 game behind the 7th seed2–327%

Through Week 5 of the 2026 regular season. Seeds as of today: the four division leaders are seeds 1–4, the three best other teams in each conference the wild cards, 5–7. In the hunt: the teams within one game of the 7th seed, in tiebreaker order (a tie counts half a game).

AFC East

TeamW-L-TWin %DivConfPFPADiffStreakPlayoff chance
Buffalo BillsDiv 0–1 · Conf 2–1 · Streak W14–1.8000–12–1164141+23won their last game90%
New England PatriotsDiv 1–0 · Conf 3–1 · Streak W23–2.6001–03–111094+16won 2 in a row84%
New York JetsDiv 0–0 · Conf 2–0 · Streak W12–3.4000–02–09396−3won their last game9%
Miami DolphinsDiv 0–0 · Conf 0–3 · Streak L50–5.0000–00–370132−62lost 5 in a row<1%

AFC North

TeamW-L-TWin %DivConfPFPADiffStreakPlayoff chance
Baltimore RavensDiv 0–0 · Conf 2–0 · Streak W34–1.8000–02–0146119+27won 3 in a row70%
Cleveland BrownsDiv 1–0 · Conf 1–2 · Streak L13–2.6001–01–293112−19lost their last game24%
Pittsburgh SteelersDiv 1–1 · Conf 2–2 · Streak W13–2.6001–12–2111109+2won their last game49%
Cincinnati BengalsDiv 0–1 · Conf 2–2 · Streak W13–2.6000–12–2128109+19won their last game64%

AFC South

TeamW-L-TWin %DivConfPFPADiffStreakPlayoff chance
Jacksonville JaguarsDiv 0–0 · Conf 3–1 · Streak W34–1.8000–03–112370+53won 3 in a row96%
Indianapolis ColtsDiv 1–0 · Conf 1–3 · Streak L12–3.4001–01–3124138−14lost their last game21%
Houston TexansDiv 1–1 · Conf 1–3 · Streak W11–4.2001–11–3110112−2won their last game14%
Tennessee TitansDiv 0–1 · Conf 0–3 · Streak L50–5.0000–10–358109−51lost 5 in a row<1%

AFC West

TeamW-L-TWin %DivConfPFPADiffStreakPlayoff chance
Kansas City ChiefsDiv 2–0 · Conf 4–0 · Streak W44–01.0002–04–011877+41won 4 in a row92%
Denver BroncosDiv 1–1 · Conf 2–1 · Streak W13–2.6001–12–197111−14won their last game65%
Las Vegas RaidersDiv 1–1 · Conf 2–2 · Streak L23–2.6001–12–2132129+3lost 2 in a row19%
Los Angeles ChargersDiv 0–2 · Conf 0–3 · Streak L50–5.0000–20–384129−45lost 5 in a row<1%

NFC East

TeamW-L-TWin %DivConfPFPADiffStreakPlayoff chance
New York GiantsDiv 1–0–1 · Conf 2–1–1 · Streak T13–1–1.7001–0–12–1–1109106+3tied their last game46%
Philadelphia EaglesDiv 1–0 · Conf 1–2 · Streak L32–3.4001–01–292112−20lost 3 in a row33%
Dallas CowboysDiv 1–1 · Conf 1–2 · Streak L12–3.4001–11–2138136+2lost their last game27%
Washington CommandersDiv 0–2–1 · Conf 1–2–1 · Streak T11–3–1.3000–2–11–2–1115149−34tied their last game9%

NFC North

TeamW-L-TWin %DivConfPFPADiffStreakPlayoff chance
Minnesota VikingsDiv 2–0 · Conf 4–0 · Streak W55–01.0002–04–010964+45won 5 in a row94%
Green Bay PackersDiv 1–1 · Conf 2–2 · Streak W23–2.6001–12–2104112−8won 2 in a row52%
Detroit LionsDiv 0–0 · Conf 2–1 · Streak W13–2.6000–02–1164148+16won their last game62%
Chicago BearsDiv 0–2 · Conf 2–2 · Streak L13–2.6000–22–211996+23lost their last game35%

NFC South

TeamW-L-TWin %DivConfPFPADiffStreakPlayoff chance
Carolina PanthersDiv 1–0 · Conf 2–1 · Streak W12–2.5001–02–1121109+12won their last game56%
Atlanta FalconsDiv 1–1 · Conf 2–1 · Streak L12–3.4001–12–1119122−3lost their last game36%
Tampa Bay BuccaneersDiv 0–0 · Conf 1–2 · Streak W11–4.2000–01–2100112−12won their last game13%
New Orleans SaintsDiv 0–1 · Conf 0–3 · Streak L31–4.2000–10–3118151−33lost 3 in a row8%

NFC West

TeamW-L-TWin %DivConfPFPADiffStreakPlayoff chance
San Francisco 49ersDiv 3–0 · Conf 3–0 · Streak W55–01.0003–03–015493+61won 5 in a row99%
Seattle SeahawksDiv 1–1 · Conf 1–2 · Streak L13–2.6001–11–2134105+29lost their last game72%
Los Angeles RamsDiv 0–1 · Conf 2–1 · Streak L12–3.4000–12–1119120−1lost their last game57%
Arizona CardinalsDiv 0–2 · Conf 0–4 · Streak L41–4.2000–20–4108162−54lost 4 in a row1%

How to read the tables

How the simulation works

We play out the rest of the 2026 season 20,000 times, from the same starting number every time, so the same results and predictions always give the same chances.