NFL Standings shake-up: Mahomes, Hurts and Lamar Jackson reshape playoff race
07.02.2026 - 04:23:08
The NFL standings just got a full-blown makeover, and the way Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson torched defenses this week has the entire playoff picture on tilt. From last-second field goals to statement blowouts, every Super Bowl contender just got a reality check.
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Mahomes turns Arrowhead into a pressure cooker
Patrick Mahomes walked into Sunday looking less like a lock and more like a man under siege. Drops, miscommunication and a defense-heavy identity had crept into the Chiefs season. This week, he flipped the script. He carved up the secondary with trademark off-platform lasers, kept plays alive with pocket presence and reminded everyone why Kansas City is never out of any game.
It felt like a playoff atmosphere from the opening drive. Mahomes kept attacking the intermediate zones, repeatedly hitting Travis Kelce on option routes and forcing the defense out of its two-high comfort shell. Once the defense crept up, Mahomes uncorked a deep shot down the sideline that broke the game open and sent Arrowhead into a frenzy.
Kansas Citys win did more than pad the win column. It stabilized their spot near the top of the AFC NFL standings, kept them in the hunt for the No. 1 seed and, just as importantly, slammed the door on an emerging Wild Card threat. In a conference loaded with explosive offenses, the Chiefs finally looked like the bully again.
Jalen Hurts grinds out another heavyweight win
On the other side of the league, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles went into full heavyweight-fight mode. This wasnt a clean, seven-on-seven style shootout. This was a trench war. Hurts took hits, played through contact and still delivered in the red zone when it mattered most.
His dual-threat impact changed everything. Every time the defense thought it had him bottled up, Hurts ripped off a designed QB run or extended a play outside the pocket to find A.J. Brown or DeVonta Smith downfield. The crowd lived on every snap; every first down felt like a body blow to a defense that ran out of gas late.
The win keeps Philadelphia right in the thick of the NFC race for the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage. In a conference where a single loss can drop you from a first-round bye to a brutal Wild Card matchup, Hurts calm in the two-minute drill looks more valuable by the week.
Lamar Jackson and a statement from a Super Bowl contender
Lamar Jacksons performance this week screamed statement win. The Ravens quarterback diced up coverage with efficient throws over the middle, then broke the game open with his legs when the defense turned its back. Defenders looked hesitant in space, stuck between committing to contain or trying to jump passing lanes. That half-second of hesitation was all Jackson needed.
The Ravens defense matched the energy. They brought heat from all levels, forcing quick throws, shrinking windows and closing drives with sacks in the red zone. Add in a strong ground game and you had the blueprint of a Super Bowl contender peaking at the right time.
In terms of NFL standings, Baltimore tightened its grip on the top of the AFC, pushing a division rival down toward the Wild Card logjam. With tiebreakers now in their pocket, the Ravens put themselves in prime position for the coveted No. 1 seed and a potential bye that could reset the entire AFC playoff picture.
Week-changing plays: game highlights that flipped the script
This game week was loaded with momentum swings. One NFC showdown turned on a brutal pick-six, where a quarterback tried to force a dig route into tight coverage, only to see a lurking linebacker jump the passing lane and sprint untouched to the house. The stadium erupted, and that single play turned a controlled, methodical drive into a full-on disaster.
Elsewhere, a late special-teams miscue decided a would-be upset. A muffed punt in the fourth quarter set up a short field and an easy touchdown, flipping the score in the final minutes and crushing what had looked like a signature win for an underdog. Coaches afterward called it a heartbreaker and a brutal way to lose a locker room that had battled all afternoon.
High-scoring shootouts had their say too. One AFC tilt saw both quarterbacks trade haymakers, combining for well over 600 passing yards and multiple touchdowns. Every snap felt like a potential game-winner. It finally came down to a long field goal attempt as the clock bled under the two-minute warning, drilled straight through the uprights and sending the home sideline into chaos.
Playoff picture: who controls the race now
With the dust settling from this weeks chaos, the NFL standings reshuffled on both sides of the bracket. Division leaders created some breathing room, while Wild Card hopefuls saw the margin for error shrink to almost nothing. One more misstep, and January could be watched from the couch instead of on the field.
Heres a compact look at the updated landscape near the top of each conference, focusing on key division leaders and the Wild Card chase.
| Conference | Seed | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC | 1 | Ravens | Control top seed, tiebreakers in hand |
| AFC | 2 | Chiefs | Pressuring for No.1, division firmly in hand |
| AFC | 3 | South Leader | In good shape, but no margin for slips |
| AFC | 4 | East Leader | Fending off surging Wild Card teams |
| AFC | 5 | Top Wild Card | On pace but facing brutal remaining schedule |
| NFC | 1 | Eagles | Edge for home field, tough stretch ahead |
| NFC | 2 | Conference Power | Neck-and-neck with Philly |
| NFC | 3 | Central Leader | Defense-driven contender |
| NFC | 4 | West Leader | Explosive offense, inconsistent defense |
| NFC | 5 | Top Wild Card | Could steal division with strong finish |
That Wild Card race is where the real chaos lives. A cluster of teams sits within a single game of each other, fighting for the final playoff berths. One Sunday swing – a missed field goal, a late turnover, a drive that stalls in field goal range instead of ending in a touchdown – could send a team from firmly in to completely out.
Coaches are already talking about playoff-level urgency. Players know that tiebreakers will be decided by conference record and head-to-head results, not just vibes. Every snap against a conference rival now feels like it carries January weight.
MVP race: Mahomes, Hurts and Lamar take center stage
The MVP race tightened this week in a big way. Mahomes delivered one of his cleanest outings of the season, slicing through coverage with efficient, high-leverage throws. His stat line backed it up: multiple touchdowns, strong completion percentage and mistake-free football in a game his team absolutely needed.
Hurts may not have posted video-game passing numbers, but his total impact was glaring. Short-yardage quarterback sneaks, red zone decisiveness and timely deep shots turned tight drives into points. Add rushing production and his ability to dictate coverages pre-snap, and you see why voters keep circling his name.
Lamar Jackson, meanwhile, continues to put together a tape that screams value. His dual-threat presence stretches defenses horizontally and vertically. Even when he doesnt light up the box score with four or five touchdowns, his control of tempo, his third-down scrambling and his red zone decision-making keep Baltimore in complete command.
Behind that trio, other names linger in the MVP conversation: a couple of high-volume passers piling up yardage, a workhorse running back who keeps dragging his offense into field goal range, even a dominant edge rusher wrecking pockets with double-digit sacks. But coming out of this week, Mahomes, Hurts and Jackson have separated as the faces of the MVP race.
Injury report: the darker side of the week
The week didnt pass without cost. Several teams saw key starters limp to the sideline, shifting both depth charts and playoff expectations. A top wide receiver exited with a lower-body injury, leaving his quarterback scrambling for chemistry with backup targets. A starting left tackle left the game, forcing a reshuffled offensive line to hold up against a fierce pass rush.
Defensively, a standout cornerback picked up a soft-tissue injury that could linger, exactly the kind of issue that becomes a storyline in December. Coaches labeled some of these injuries as day-to-day, but even a one-week absence in this stretch can tilt a division race or Wild Card battle.
Front offices are scanning the market, weighing potential trades and practice-squad elevations. Every injury forces a recalibration of Super Bowl contender status. A team that looked like a lock to control its destiny can suddenly find itself hanging on by a thread, relying on backups in high-leverage snaps on third-and-long or in the red zone.
Who is under the most pressure now?
As the intensity climbs, a few quarterbacks clearly feel the heat. One former Pro Bowler, playing behind a shaky offensive line, is trying to cut down on turnovers after another rough outing that included an ill-timed interception and a stalled red zone trip. Another young starter is battling accuracy issues, missing open receivers on third down and hearing the chorus grow louder from fans calling for a change.
Coaches, too, are stepping into the crosshairs. A head coach already on the hot seat saw his team blow a double-digit lead, with conservative play-calling in the second half and a prevent defense inviting a comeback. Local talk radio lit up after the final whistle, and insiders are openly speculating about whether a loss next week could trigger a change.
Looking ahead: must-watch games on deck
Next week delivers a slate that feels like an early playoff preview. The Chiefs face another physical defense that loves to blitz, a perfect test of Mahomes ability to diagnose pressure and hit hot routes before the rush gets home. If Kansas City survives that stretch, their path to the top of the AFC tightens.
The Eagles, meanwhile, step into a prime-time showdown against a fellow NFC contender that thrives on explosive plays. That matchup could decide not just seeding, but also psychological edge if they meet again in January. Expect a playoff-level game plan, with creative red zone looks, aggressive fourth-down decisions and no one playing scared.
The Ravens draw a dangerous opponent fighting for Wild Card survival. That kind of desperate team is never easy. If Lamar Jackson and the defense handle business, Baltimore can maintain its grip on the first seed and keep control of the AFC playoff race.
Across the board, the stakes are clear: one more statement win and a real shot at a first-round bye, or one more flat performance and a slide into the chaotic Wild Card mix. With the NFL standings this tight, every prime-time matchup is must-watch football.
The season has reached that point where every drive feels like it could define a year. If you care about the Super Bowl chase, the MVP race and who survives the Wild Card gauntlet, dont blink. You might miss the moment everything flips again.
