2026 NFL Playoff Picture, Bracket After Week 9

Following Week 9 of the NFL season, the playoff standings shifted notably across both conferences. The Buffalo Bills kept the AFC's top seed, while the Minnesota Vikings' defeat against Buffalo dropped them out of first place in the NFC North. Consequently, the Chicago Bears took the NFC North lead and rose to the No. 2 seed in the conference, trailing only the San Francisco 49ers.

In the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs and Cincinnati Bengals occupy key wild-card positions behind the leading pack, while the New England Patriots hold the seventh seed. In the NFC, the Detroit Lions climbed to the No. 5 seed, while the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams remain in pursuit of the final wild-card spot.