We now enter Week 9 of the 2026 NFL Season. The AFC Playoff Picture honestly appears to be set in terms of teams, as there is a clear divide after seven playoff squads. The real remaining questions may be in NFC now.
With the trade deadline approaching, those teams that see themselves as contenders will and will at least try to make some sort of move to put their team on the sidelines. With, roughly, the entire second half of the season left to play, there’s still time for fireworks.
Let’s dive into a prediction for how we think the playoffs could shake out using the current playoff field.
Predicting the entire NFL Playoffs with the current NFL Playoff Picture
AFC Playoff Teams
1. Buffalo Bills (6-1)
The Buffalo Bills have a superior offense and can ride their high-scoring unit into the playoffs. They are sitting at No. 1 seed now.
2. Denver Broncos (6-2)
The Denver Broncos own the No. 2 seed now and, if the standings hold, will win the AFC West for the second year in a row.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-2)
The Jacksonville Jaguars love making teams and have been one of the best teams in the NFL since the halfway mark of the 2025 season. They could run away with the AFC South title in 2026.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
Pittsburgh is a high-floor, low-ceiling team with a major quarterback deficiency, but right now, they’re in the top-4 seed and will have a home playoff game.
5. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2)
The Kansas City Chiefs have won six games in all of 2025 and will likely clinch their sixth win of the year in Week 9. Still alive in the AFC West, the Chiefs sit at No. 5 seed and will travel to the Wild Card Round.
6. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)
Cincinnati’s improved defense could be the one thing that helps this team make a deep playoff run, and it looks like it’s only a matter of time before they overtake the Steelers in the AFC North standings.
7. New England Patriots (5-3)
The New England Patriots went 14-3 last year and have three losses in eight games this year, but with Drake Maye heating up, the team could begin a long winning streak and challenge for the AFC East crown.
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