As we are headed into Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season, who is in a playoff position?
The 2024 NFL season is approaching the mid-way point, providing an early look at who is in a playoff position and who is starting to fall by the wayside. There is still a lot of football to be played this year, but we are also starting to see the AFC and NFC playoff pictures come into focus.
Which team will make a surprise run and jump up in the standings? Which early-season leader will struggle down the stretch? Will the Miami Dolphins, who are expected to see the return of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa this week, spark a run and challenge for a wild card position or even the AFC East lead?
Here are the NFL playoff standings as we head into Week 8:
AFC East standings (through Week 7):
Buffalo Bills (5-2)
Miami Dolphins (2-4) – 2.5 games back
New York Jets (2-5) – 3 games back
New England Patriots (1-6) – 4 games back
Week 8 schedule:
Cardinals at Dolphins, 1 p.m. Eastern, Sunday
Jets at Patriots, 1 p.m. Eastern, Sunday
Bills at Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. Eastern, Sunday
AFC playoff picture (through Week 16):
1 – Kansas City Chiefs (6-0, AFC West leader)
2 – Houston Texans (5-2, AFC South leader)
3 – Baltimore Ravens (5-2, AFC North leader)
4 – Buffalo Bills (5-2, AFC East leader)
5 – Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2, Wild Card 1 position)
6 – Indianapolis Colts (4-3, Wild Card 2 position)
7 – Denver Broncos (4-3, Wild Card 3 position)
Los Angeles Chargers (3-3)
Cincinnati Bengals (3-4)
Miami Dolphins (2-4)
Las Vegas Raiders (2-5)
New York Jets (2-5)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5)
Tennessee Titans (1-5)
Cleveland Browns (1-6)
New England Patriots (1-6)
Tiebreaks:
- 2nd seed: Ravens over Steelers based on division record (divisional tiebreak); Three-way tie – Bills eliminated due to head-to-head sweep by Texans, Ravens; Texans over Ravens based on AFC winning percentage
- 3rd seed: Ravens over Steelers based on division record (divisional tiebreak); Ravens over Bills based on head-to-head results
- 6th seed: Colrs over Broncos based on AFC winning percentage
- 11th position: Three-way tie – Jaguars eliminated based on AFC winning percentage for Jets, Raiders; Raiders over Jets based on strength of victory
- 12th position: Jets over Jaguars based on AFC winning percentage
- 15th position: Browns over Patriots on AFC winning percentage
AFC Clinching Scenarios Week 8:
None.
AFC Elimination Scenarios Week 16
None.
NFC Playoff Picture (through Week 7)
1 – Detroit Lions (5-1, NFC North leader)
2 – Washington Commanders (5-2, NFC East leader)
3 – Seattle Seahawks (4-3, NFC West leader)
4 – Atlanta Falcons (4-3, NFC South leader)
5 – Minnesota Vikings (5-1, Wild Card 1 position)
6 – Green Bay Packers (5-2, Wild Card 2 position)
7 – Chicago Bears (4-2, Wild Card 3 position)
Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)
Dallas Cowboys (3-3)
Arizona Cardinals (3-4)
San Francisco 49ers (3-4)
Los Angeles Rams (2-4)
New Orleans Saints (2-5)
New York Giants (2-5)
Carolina Panthers (1-6)
Tiebreaks:
- 1st seed: Lions over Vikings based on head-to-head results
- 3rd seed: Falcons over Buccaneers based on head-to-head results (divisional tiebreak); Seahawks over Falcons based on head-to-head results
- 4th seed: Falcons over Buccaneers based on head-to-head results
- 7th seed: Bears over Eagles based on NFC winning percentage
- 11th position: Cardinals over 49ers based on head-to-head results
- 14th position: Saints over Giants based on NFC winning percentage
NFC Clinching Scenarios Week 8
None.
NFC Elimination Scenarios Week 8
None.
