The Eagles are now the top seed in the NFC, while the Colts have the tiebreaker over the Broncos and the Patriots.

At the midway point of the 2025 NFL season, the contenders have begun to separate themselves from the pretenders, giving fans a look at the teams that will realistically compete for the Lombardi Trophy in February.

The New York Jets likely took the Cincinnati Bengals out of the AFC North hunt with their upset win. The Dallas Cowboys' playoff chances took a massive hit with their loss to the Denver Broncos, while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to be cruising toward their fifth straight NFC South title.

According to NFL.com, the Ravens’ probability to make the playoffs significantly jumped to 57% with the win. Had they lost to Miami, that percentage would have fallen to 37%. The Ravens are now just two wins behind the Chiefs (5–3) for the AFC’s final playoff spot.

The Chiefs and Bills are surging ahead of their Week 9 showdown. But can either of them catch the Colts and Patriots to take the No. 1 seed?

The New England Patriots have not been in the playoffs since the 2021 season, but their drought could be nearing its end. Winning a fifth straight game on Sunday versus the Cleveland Browns to improve to 6-2 on the year, the club of first-year head coach Mike Vrabel remains in the No. 2 seed in the AFC.

According to SportsLine's Inside the Lines team, one team on Monday night has more to lose than the other in Week 9