Believe it or not, the NFL is entering the second half of the season this week. The first half produced some surprises, such as the Denver Broncos having an over .500 record, the Washington Commanders leading the NFC East, and the Arizona Cardinals holding the top spot in the NFC West.
In other respects, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The Kansas City Chiefs remain unbeaten and on top of the AFC, with the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills emerging as their biggest challengers thus far. In the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles are gearing up to contest the Commanders in the NFC East, both potentially vying for supremacy against the Lions. The league is setting the stage for an exhilarating second half.
These standings are sure to shift significantly over the remaining weeks. Below is a breakdown of the conference standings after Week 9:
AFC Playoff Picture
1. Kansas City Chiefs (8-0)
The Chiefs are the lone undefeated team in the AFC and hold the top seed in the conference heading into “Monday Night Football,” possessing a two-game lead for the No. 1 seed. They lead the AFC West by three games in the loss column.
2. Buffalo Bills (7-2)
The Bills lead the AFC East by four games over the Jets and trail the Chiefs by two games in the loss column for the No. 1 seed.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)
The Steelers remain in the AFC North lead as they were idle this week, a half game behind Buffalo for the No. 2 seed.
4. Houston Texans (6-3)
The Texans fell to the No. 4 spot in the conference following their loss to the Jets but still lead the AFC South by two games over the Colts.
5. Baltimore Ravens (6-3)
The Ravens are currently the top wild-card team in the AFC, a half game behind the Steelers in the AFC North.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)
The Chargers occupy the No. 6 seed, a half game behind the Ravens for the top wild-card spot. They are three games back of the Chiefs in the loss column for the AFC West lead.
7. Denver Broncos (5-4)
Despite their loss to the Ravens, the Broncos still hold the final playoff spot in the AFC, leading the Colts by a game for this position.
8. Indianapolis Colts (4-5)
The Colts are a game out of the final wild-card spot in the AFC, holding the tiebreaker over the Bengals due to their better conference record.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-5)
The Bengals are currently the No. 9 seed in the AFC, one game behind the Broncos for the last wild-card spot, losing the tiebreaker to the Colts.
10. New York Jets (3-6)
The Jets are two games out of the final playoff spot in the AFC.
11. Tennessee Titans (2-6)
The Titans are the No. 11 seed in the AFC, winning the tiebreaker over the Dolphins due to their head-to-head victory in Week 4.
12. Miami Dolphins (2-6)
After the loss to the Titans in Week 4, the Dolphins fall below Tennessee in the standings.
13. Cleveland Browns (2-7)
The Browns are part of a four-way tiebreaker for the No. 13 seed in the AFC, earning it based on their superior conference record.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7)
The Jaguars rank as the No. 14 seed in the AFC, holding a better conference record than the Raiders and the Patriots.
15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
The Raiders and Patriots are tied in conference record, but the Raiders take the No. 15 seed based on strength of victory.
16. New England Patriots (2-7)
The Patriots sit at the No. 16 seed in the AFC, losing the tiebreaker to the Raiders.
NFC Playoff Picture
1. Detroit Lions (7-1)
The Lions are leading the NFC North following their victory over the Packers, holding a one-game lead over the Vikings.
2. Washington Commanders (7-2)
The Commanders are the top team in the NFC East by half a game over the Eagles and are a half game behind the Lions for the top seed.
3. Atlanta Falcons (6-3)
The Falcons are leading the NFC South by one game over the Buccaneers, having swept them in their season meetings.
4. Arizona Cardinals (5-4)
The Cardinals currently lead the NFC West by a half game over the 49ers, having won their earlier matchup in Week 5.
5. Minnesota Vikings (6-2)
The Vikings are the No. 5 seed in the NFC, trailing the Lions by a game for the division lead, and are the top wild-card team.
6. Philadelphia Eagles (6-2)
The Eagles are in second place in the NFC East, a half game behind the Commanders, and rank as the No. 6 seed due to their tiebreaker loss to the Vikings.
7. Green Bay Packers (6-3)
The Packers hold the final wild-card spot in the NFC by a game in the loss column over the Buccaneers.
8. Chicago Bears (4-4)
The Bears hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Rams for the No. 8 seed due to their victory in Week 4.
9. Los Angeles Rams (4-4)
The Rams rank as the No. 9 seed in the NFC, losing the tiebreaker to the Bears while winning it against the 49ers.
10. San Francisco 49ers (4-4)
The 49ers were on a bye week, falling to the No. 10 seed due to tiebreakers.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5)
Following their loss to the Chiefs on “Monday Night Football,” the Buccaneers are the No. 11 seed in the NFC.
12. Seattle Seahawks (4-5)
The Seahawks are at No. 12 in the NFC, trailing the Cardinals by one game for first place in the NFC West.
13. Dallas Cowboys (3-5)
The Cowboys have the No. 13 seed, two games behind the final playoff spot.
14. Carolina Panthers (2-7)
The Panthers hold a three-way tiebreaker for the No. 14 seed in the NFC, possessing a better conference record than the Giants and the Saints.
15. New Orleans Saints (2-7)
The Saints hold the No. 15 seed in the NFC, having a worse conference record than the Panthers.
The Giants have the lowest seed in the NFC, having lost the tiebreaker to both the Panthers and Saints.
Time.news Interview: Navigating the NFL’s Surprising 2023 Season with Expert Analyst Sarah Mitchell
Editor: Welcome to Time.news, everyone! Today, we have the privilege of speaking with Sarah Mitchell, a seasoned sports analyst who has her finger on the pulse of the NFL. Sarah, thank you for joining us!
Sarah: Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to talk about football.
Editor: The NFL is heading into the second half of the season and it’s already packed with surprises. What has stood out to you the most in the first half?
Sarah: There are definitely a few surprises! For one, the Denver Broncos having an over .500 record is something I didn’t see coming this season. Also, the Washington Commanders leading the NFC East is quite the twist, especially considering the strong competition traditionally within that division.
Editor: Absolutely! And how about the Arizona Cardinals coming out on top in the NFC West? Did you foresee that?
Sarah: Not really! The NFC West was expected to be a fierce battle, especially with teams like the San Francisco 49ers in the mix. The Cardinals have shown resilience and adaptability that hasn’t always been there in past seasons. It’s great to see them step up.
Editor: Shifting gears, the Kansas City Chiefs continue to dominate. What is your take on their performance so far, especially being the only unbeaten team in the AFC?
Sarah: The Chiefs are playing incredibly well, and Patrick Mahomes is at his best. Their offense is truly prolific, and they have a solid defense to back it up. The two-game lead for the No.1 seed puts them in a great position heading into the second half of the season.
Editor: Speaking of challengers, the Ravens and Bills are also poised well. Who do you think poses the biggest threat to the Chiefs’ dominance?
Sarah: I’d say the Buffalo Bills are the strongest challengers because of their offensive firepower and well-rounded team. The Ravens have also shown they can be dangerous, but consistency has been a bit of an issue for them. The Bills’ ability to maintain pressure on the Chiefs will be key in setting up an exciting playoff picture.
Editor: Now let’s look at the NFC. The Lions are leading the NFC North, and they seem to be a force to be reckoned with. What are your thoughts on their steady rise?
Sarah: The Lions have really turned things around under their current coaching staff. Their offense is clicking and the defense has improved significantly. With the way they’re playing, they’ve become a legitimate playoff contender, if not a Super Bowl sleeper.
Editor: You mentioned the Commanders earlier. What do you think has fueled their unexpected success this season?
Sarah: A combination of strong teamwork and a few key players stepping up has fueled their success. Their young quarterback is maturing, and the defense has the ability to create turnovers at critical moments. This team thrives on chaos and can capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes.
Editor: As we look forward, teams like the Los Angeles Chargers and the Minnesota Vikings are fighting for those final playoff spots. Who do you think will make the cut?
Sarah: It’s going to be a dogfight, especially with so many teams bunched up in the standings. The Chargers have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball, but their consistency is a concern. The Vikings have been looking strong, so between the two, I’d lean slightly more towards them making a deeper playoff run thanks to some strong division competition that’s tested them.
Editor: Lastly, with so many shifts expected in the standings, what should fans be most excited about as we head into the second half of the season?
Sarah: Fans should brace themselves for some thrilling matchups and potential upsets! It’s playoff season in sports when every game counts, not just for the standings but especially for wildcard teams. The intensity, the rivalries, and the fight for playoff positions will create a captivating atmosphere.
Editor: Well, Sarah, it sounds like the second half of the NFL season is going to be exhilarating! Thank you for sharing your insights with us today. We look forward to seeing how the rest of the season unfolds.
Sarah: Thank you for having me! I can’t wait to see how it all plays out!