NFL Standings shake-up: Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Eagles headline wild playoff push
26.01.2026 - 15:05:06
The NFL standings just got a full-on makeover. After a chaotic slate that saw Patrick Mahomes grind out another statement win, Lamar Jackson torch a conference rival and Jalen Hurts drag the Eagles through a late-game thriller, the playoff picture feels less like a bracket and more like a weekly stress test for every Super Bowl contender.
Every result this week nudged the NFL standings in a different direction, from the No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC to a Wild Card race that now feels like musical chairs with too many quarterbacks and not enough seats.
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Mahomes survives, Hurts rallies, Lamar sends a message
The headliners did exactly what you expect in December: they won when it mattered most, and they did it in wildly different ways that will echo through the updated NFL standings.
Mahomes did not light up the box score, but his pocket presence and late-game decision-making once again defined the Chiefs' identity. On a night when the offense sputtered through stretches and the crowd groaned at every stalled red zone trip, Mahomes orchestrated a crisp two-minute drill, mixing quick hitters to Travis Kelce with a perfectly timed scramble to move into field goal range. The eventual go-ahead kick not only sealed the game; it kept Kansas City right in the mix for a top AFC seed and reinforced why no one wants to see Mahomes in January.
On the East Coast, Jalen Hurts delivered yet another heartbreaker win that felt like a playoff atmosphere weeks before the actual tournament starts. The Eagles trailed deep into the fourth quarter, and for most of the night their offense looked out of rhythm. But Hurts flipped the switch, ripping a deep shot to A.J. Brown to spark the comeback before punching in a rushing touchdown on a designed QB draw near the goal line. The stadium erupted, and the Eagles not only stayed perched near the top of the NFC but reminded everyone why their physical style translates when the weather turns ugly.
Then there was Lamar Jackson, who put together the most complete performance of the weekend. Whether you are talking about the MVP race or the path to the Super Bowl, Lamar's latest outing is going to be on every highlight reel. He shredded man coverage with precision throws, extended plays outside the pocket when protection broke down and punished a defense that blitzed one time too many. A couple of vintage off-script plays, including a scramble-drill touchdown in the red zone, turned a tight contest into a statement win that solidified Baltimore's grip on the AFC pecking order.
Game highlights that tilted the playoff picture
Beyond the star quarterbacks, several games swung the playoff picture and reshaped how we read the NFL standings this morning.
One matchup turned into a classic back-and-forth shootout, with both offenses trading haymakers deep into the two-minute warning. A late pick-six flipped the script when a desperate quarterback forced a throw into bracket coverage, giving the underdog a stunning upset that sent shockwaves through the Wild Card race. Coaches on the losing sideline admitted afterward that they "left points on the field" with conservative red zone play-calling, while players talked about the need to "finish drives" instead of settling for field goals.
Another game was defined by defense. A ferocious pass rush racked up multiple sacks and lived in the backfield, repeatedly collapsing the pocket and forcing hurried throws. A strip-sack in the fourth quarter, recovered deep in enemy territory, set up an easy touchdown that turned a tight contest into a two-score cushion. The winning locker room sounded like January: veterans talking about complementary football, special teams contributions and the importance of seeding down the stretch.
In prime time, a would-be contender coughed up a double-digit lead, reigniting questions about its ceiling. After building a comfortable advantage behind a balanced run-pass script, the offense went into a shell. Three straight three-and-outs opened the door, and the opposing quarterback answered with a ruthless series: no-huddle, quick game, shots outside the numbers and a ruthless fourth-down conversion in the red zone. The comeback win did not just pad the box score; it strengthened that team's Wild Card position and dropped their rival into the murky middle of the conference.
The new AFC and NFC hierarchy
Every week in December feels like a referendum on who is a real Super Bowl contender and who is just a nice midseason story. The updated NFL standings paint a clear but brutal picture: a few teams are separating, and a long list is barely hanging on.
Here is a compact look at how the race at the top currently stacks up, with division leaders and the key Wild Card seeds shaping the playoff picture:
| Conference | Seed | Team | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFC | 1 | Ravens | No. 1 seed edge, Lamar driving MVP race |
| AFC | 2 | Chiefs | Hunting bye, Mahomes in full control late |
| AFC | 3 | Division leader | Comfortable cushion, but not locked in |
| AFC | 5 | Wild Card | Top WC, dangerous on the road |
| AFC | 7 | Wild Card | On the bubble, tiebreakers critical |
| NFC | 1 | Eagles | Control of NFC, physical identity |
| NFC | 2 | Conference power | Pushing for bye, elite defense |
| NFC | 3 | Division leader | Home playoff game likely |
| NFC | 5 | Wild Card | Dangerous road opponent |
| NFC | 7 | Wild Card | Last spot, zero margin for error |
The Ravens' combination of a top-tier defense and Lamar's dual-threat brilliance has them sitting in the AFC's catbird seat. With tiebreakers now in their pocket after this week's win, they control their path to the No. 1 seed and the only bye. The Chiefs lurk right behind, and if Mahomes can get just a bit more help from his supporting cast, Kansas City remains the team no one wants to see in Arrowhead in January.
In the NFC, the Eagles tightened their grip on the conference again. Between their offensive line mauling in the trenches and Hurts' toughness in high-leverage downs, Philadelphia looks built for the kind of cold-weather slugfests that decide seeding. One or two missteps, though, and the teams nipping at their heels could steal home-field advantage.
Meanwhile, the Wild Card race in both conferences is pure chaos. Multiple teams sit within a game of each other, and tiebreakers based on head-to-head matchups and conference records are already looming as potential season-deciders. One blown coverage in Week 3 or a missed chip-shot field goal in October suddenly feels massive in late December.
MVP race: Lamar, Mahomes, Hurts and the chasing pack
The MVP race tightened this week, and it is deeply intertwined with the NFL standings. Voters rarely separate individual brilliance from team success, and the players at the top of the race all just stacked another winning performance.
Lamar Jackson's case rests on total impact. Even without quoting specific box score numbers here, the story is clear: he is accounting for a massive share of Baltimore's total offense, carving up defenses with his arm while picking his spots as a runner. In the red zone, he is a nightmare: defenders hesitate between honoring his legs and his ability to hit tight windows on slants and crossers. That indecision has translated into touchdowns and long, clock-draining drives that help a defense stay fresh.
Patrick Mahomes, by contrast, is building a different kind of MVP narrative this season. It is less about gaudy stats and more about high-leverage mastery. Third-and-long, two-minute warning, backed up inside his own 10-yard line: those are the downs where he continues to elevate the Chiefs. His chemistry with Kelce still feels telepathic, and his ability to manipulate safeties with his eyes remains unmatched. When the Chiefs need a drive to save their season or lock up seeding, no one instills more belief.
Jalen Hurts keeps stacking "winner" games. The box score might not always scream MVP, but the tape does. Short-yardage power runs, clutch third-down throws into tight windows and the calm to stand tall against a free rusher on a blitz: those are the plays that defined his latest comeback. He is the heartbeat of an Eagles team perched atop the NFC, and that alignment between production and wins is exactly what voters look for.
Behind that trio, a handful of skill players and defensive stars are trying to crash the party. An edge rusher with double-digit sacks kept his campaign alive with multiple pressures and a game-sealing hurry on fourth down. A wide receiver near the top of the league in yards and touchdowns once again took over, winning repeatedly in isolation coverage and bailing out his quarterback with contested catches along the sideline. Historically, MVP votes skew quarterback, but this year at least, a couple of non-QBs are forcing their way into the conversation.
Injury report reshapes Super Bowl contender list
As always in December, the injury report hits almost as hard as a blitzing linebacker. Several contenders walked away from this week with new concerns that could alter the playoff picture and the list of true Super Bowl contenders.
One high-profile offense watched a key wide receiver limp off after a deep shot down the seam. Even if imaging comes back clean, any limitation in his burst changes how defenses play coverage shells, freeing up resources to focus on the run game and primary target on the perimeter. Coaches admitted postgame that they "held some calls back" once the receiver left, a clear nod to how central he is to their vertical passing attack.
Elsewhere, a starting left tackle left with a lower-body injury, forcing a backup into the lineup against a top pass rush. The drop-off was immediate: more pressure, more hits on the quarterback and a playbook that tilted heavily toward quick game to mask protection issues. If that injury lingers, it will not just affect next week's game plan; it could change how that team matches up with the elite defensive fronts they are likely to see in the postseason.
On the positive side, a star cornerback made his return from a multi-week absence and immediately changed the math on the back end. With him shadowing the opponent's No. 1 receiver, the defense could spin its safeties toward helping in the run game and bracketing secondary options. The result: fewer explosives and a steadier pass rush that did not have to cover for blown coverages downfield.
Every one of these health swings feeds straight into the hierarchy of Super Bowl contenders. A team that looked like a lock for a deep run two weeks ago can suddenly feel fragile if its pass protection or primary playmaker is compromised. Conversely, a defense getting fully healthy just in time for January can turn a Wild Card team into a terrifying road opponent.
Looking ahead: must-watch games and looming tiebreakers
The next slate is loaded with games that will carve their signatures into the NFL standings and the playoff picture.
One marquee matchup features Mahomes and the Chiefs against another AFC contender fighting for seeding. The implications are obvious: win, and Kansas City keeps breathing down Baltimore's neck for the No. 1 seed; lose, and the Chiefs could suddenly be staring at a scenario where they have to play Wild Card Weekend instead of enjoying a bye. Expect plenty of chess on third down, with defensive coordinators mixing pressure looks to test Mahomes' protection calls.
In the NFC, the Eagles face a physical conference rival that would love nothing more than to wreck their home-field advantage dreams. The trenches will decide that one. If Hurts and his offensive line can control the line of scrimmage and keep the offense in manageable down-and-distance, Philadelphia can keep padding its lead. If not, a couple of early sacks and negative runs could turn the crowd anxious and open the door for an upset with massive seeding implications.
Meanwhile, several games between teams hovering around .500 feel like de facto elimination bouts. Head-to-head results here are tiebreaker gold, especially for the last Wild Card spots in both conferences. A road win in December can be worth more than just a feel-good locker room speech; it can be the difference between playing meaningful football in January and cleaning out lockers on Black Monday.
For fans, this stretch is everything. The NFL standings tighten, every snap feels like it lives on a playoff edge, and the Super Bowl contender list can expand or shrink based on one tipped ball or one clutch field goal. With Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts and a crowded Wild Card race all colliding over the next few weeks, you will want your Sundays, Monday nights and every prime-time window cleared. The season's real chaos has just begun.
