NFL Standings shake-up: Mahomes, Hurts and Lamar Jackson redefine the playoff race
07.02.2026 - 23:05:56
The NFL standings just got a whole lot louder. With Patrick Mahomes carving up defenses again, Jalen Hurts dragging the Eagles through another late-game thriller and Lamar Jackson flashing MVP-level brilliance, the playoff picture snapped into sharper focus this week – and a few supposed Super Bowl contenders were exposed under the prime-time lights.
From upsets in hostile stadiums to walk-off field goals in the two-minute drill, the latest slate of games did more than fill up the highlight reel. It re-wrote power dynamics across the AFC and NFC, reshuffled Wild Card hopes and threw a fresh spotlight on the MVP race just as the stretch run starts to feel like January football.
[Check live NFL scores & stats here]
Mahomes and the Chiefs remind everyone who still runs the AFC
The Kansas City Chiefs do this every year. They wobble, analysts wonder if the dynasty window is closing, and then Mahomes drops a surgical performance that resets the narrative. This week was another clinic. Operating with calm pocket presence, he spread the ball to every layer of the field, kept the offense in rhythm on third down and turned broken plays into back-breaking conversions.
The drive that defined the night came late in the fourth quarter. Down one score, Kansas City went no-huddle, Mahomes read a disguised blitz, checked into a quick-game concept and hit his receiver on a timing route before the pass rush got home. Within minutes, the Chiefs were in field goal range and the defense was back on the field protecting a lead. The stadium felt like January at Arrowhead – loud, edgy, and fully aware this is what playoff football looks like.
In the updated NFL standings, that win keeps Kansas City firmly in the hunt for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and sends a clear message to every would-be challenger: you still have to go through Mahomes when the lights get brightest.
Lamar Jackson’s Ravens look like a complete Super Bowl contender
On the other side of the AFC, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are playing the kind of complementary football that terrifies defensive coordinators. Jackson put on a dual-threat masterclass this week, ripping off chunk gains on designed runs and scrambling out of collapsing pockets to find receivers working back to the ball.
His final line – well over 250 passing yards paired with impact rushing yards and multiple touchdowns – didn’t just pad the box score, it powered Baltimore to another statement win against a physical opponent. In the red zone, the Ravens leaned into misdirection and option looks, forcing linebackers to pick their poison: sell out to stop Jackson’s legs and get gashed over the top, or sit back and watch him knife through a light box.
Defensively, Baltimore’s front four generated constant pressure, stacking sacks and forcing hurried throws that turned into turnover-worthy plays. That kind of balance is exactly what separates a good team from a true Super Bowl contender. Right now, the Ravens are sitting comfortably near the top of the AFC playoff picture and Jackson is right in the thick of the MVP race.
Hurts and the Eagles survive another heartbreaker to stay atop the NFC
Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles once again flirted with disaster, and once again found a way to close. In a game that swung wildly through the second half, Hurts delivered in the two-minute warning moments, standing tall in the pocket, taking hits and still fitting throws into tight windows on crucial third downs.
Philadelphia’s offense sputtered early with protection issues and stalled drives, but once Hurts and his star wideout got in sync on vertical routes and back-shoulder throws, the tone changed. A perfectly timed go-ball down the sideline flipped field position and set up a red zone sequence where Hurts bullied his way behind the offensive line for a short touchdown. The crowd exploded; it felt and sounded like a playoff atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles’ narrow escape keeps them perched near the top of the NFC NFL standings, maintaining control in the race for the conference’s top seed. The margin for error is thin, but with Hurts playing through pain and still stacking game-winning drives, Philadelphia continues to look like a heavyweight nobody wants to see in January.
Game highlights: late drama, clutch kicks, and defensive takeaways
This week’s slate delivered everything a fan could want in terms of game highlights. A pair of matchups swung on late field goals, where kickers calmly drilled game-winners from beyond 50 yards with the season hanging in the balance. One high-profile showdown turned when a cornerback jumped a quick out in the flat and housed it for a pick-six, flipping what looked like a sure loss into a momentum avalanche the other way.
There were red zone stands where defenses dug in, stuffing inside runs and knocking away fade routes on back-to-back downs to force field goals instead of touchdowns. There were busted coverages that turned into walk-in scores, and there were toe-tap sideline catches that will live on every highlight package through the week.
Most importantly, several teams on the bubble in the Wild Card race bought themselves another week of hope with resilient performances. Grinding out ugly wins matters in November and December; style points are secondary when the standings start to compress.
The updated NFL standings: who controls the playoff race?
With another week in the books, the top of both conferences is beginning to harden, while the middle is pure chaos. A handful of teams have separated themselves as true Super Bowl contenders, while a crowded pack is brawling for Wild Card positioning.
Here is a compact look at how the current Division leaders and key Wild Card contenders stack up in the latest NFL standings snapshot:
| Conference | Seed | Team | Record | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC | 1 | Ravens | Best in AFC | No. 1 seed track |
| AFC | 2 | Chiefs | Leading AFC West | Super Bowl contender |
| AFC | 3 | Division Leader (East) | Winning record | Home playoff game |
| AFC | 4 | Division Leader (South) | Winning record | Home playoff game |
| AFC | 5 | Wild Card 1 | Strong record | On the rise |
| AFC | 6 | Wild Card 2 | Above .500 | In mix |
| AFC | 7 | Wild Card 3 | .500 range | On the bubble |
| NFC | 1 | Eagles | Best in NFC | No. 1 seed track |
| NFC | 2 | Top NFC contender | Strong record | Chasing Eagles |
| NFC | 3 | Division Leader (North) | Winning record | Home playoff game |
| NFC | 4 | Division Leader (South) | Winning record | Home playoff game |
| NFC | 5 | Wild Card 1 | Above .500 | Dangerous road team |
| NFC | 6 | Wild Card 2 | .500+ | In hunt |
| NFC | 7 | Wild Card 3 | Around .500 | On the bubble |
The margins between the No. 1 seed and the chasing pack are razor thin in both conferences. One slip – a costly turnover in the red zone, a missed field goal in windy conditions, an untimely injury – could be the difference between a first-round bye and a cross-country Wild Card trip.
Injury report: how health is shaping Super Bowl chances
The latest injury reports are already reshaping the Super Bowl conversation. Several contenders are managing key players through nagging issues, holding stars out of practice during the week and trusting veteran instincts on game day. A high-profile wide receiver left this week’s action briefly with a lower-body concern before returning, while a starting offensive tackle for a playoff hopeful exited with what the team described as a day-to-day injury.
Defenses also took hits. A disruptive edge rusher for a Wild Card hopeful landed awkwardly on a sack and did not return, leaving the coaching staff to dial up more blitz pressure to compensate. In the secondary, a starting safety for a top-seed candidate appeared on the postgame report with a soft-tissue concern, raising questions about how teams will attack the middle of the field against them next week.
Coaches were clear in their postgame comments: nothing matters more now than health. Managing snap counts, rotating along the defensive line and keeping quarterbacks upright in the pocket will decide which teams actually cash in their Super Bowl contender status once the postseason starts.
MVP race: Mahomes, Lamar and Hurts tighten the gap
The MVP race tightened again this week. Mahomes put up classic video-game numbers, spreading the ball to multiple receivers, keeping drives alive with off-script magic and finishing with multiple passing touchdowns and efficient yardage totals. His ability to extend plays without putting the ball in harm’s way remains unmatched.
Lamar Jackson answered with his own MVP-worthy tape, combining accurate intermediate throws with explosive runs that completely stress a defense. Every time he breaks the pocket, linebackers freeze, safeties cheat down and somebody ends up wide open behind the coverage. Stat lines aside, the Ravens simply look different when Jackson decides to take over a drive.
Jalen Hurts stays in the conversation not just because of his numbers, but because of his situational excellence. His late-game drives feel inevitable at this point. Third-and-long, blitz incoming, coverage tight – he stands in, delivers a dart, moves the chains and drains the clock. Add in his red zone rushing touchdowns and short-yardage power, and his total touchdown production keeps him firmly on the MVP radar.
Behind that trio, a couple of emerging stars at quarterback and wide receiver are quietly building cases, stacking 100-yard receiving performances and multi-touchdown games. But right now, the center of gravity in the MVP debate runs through Mahomes, Jackson and Hurts.
Next week preview: must-watch games and looming showdowns
If this week clarified the NFL standings, next week might explode them. A heavyweight AFC clash looms where the Ravens face another physical defense with seeding on the line. The Chiefs get a tricky road test against a desperate team fighting to stay alive in the Wild Card race, the kind of spot where focus and attention to detail are everything.
In the NFC, the Eagles face a prime-time stage against a conference rival with playoff history and plenty of bad blood. That matchup could swing the race for the No. 1 seed and reshuffle home-field advantage scenarios all the way through Championship Sunday.
Bubble teams have no margin for error now. A couple of franchises hovering around .500 are staring at virtual elimination games. Lose, and you are staring at a long offseason of what-ifs. Win, and you stay in the graphic when broadcasters flash the playoff picture and Wild Card hunt.
The path to the Lombardi Trophy is taking shape, but it is far from settled. With every Sunday feeling more like a playoff sampler, fans should circle the calendar, clear the schedule and lock in. Do not miss Sunday Night Football, and keep one eye glued to the live NFL standings as Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and the rest of this year’s Super Bowl contenders fight for every inch.
