NFL Standings shake-up: Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Eagles steal spotlight in wild Week
20.01.2026 - 07:10:09
The NFL standings just tightened again as Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts delivered in the biggest moments, reshaping the playoff picture and reminding everyone why their teams sit firmly in the Super Bowl Contender tier. From last-minute field goals to red-zone stands that felt like January, this week played out like a sneak preview of the postseason.
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Across the league, the top of the NFL standings in both conferences stayed star-driven. Mahomes again stabilized a shaky Kansas City offense in a tight, field-position battle. Lamar Jackson answered with another dual-threat clinic that had defensive coordinators shaking their heads. Meanwhile, the Eagles leaned on Jalen Hurts’ toughness, a bruising run game and a defense that bowed up in the red zone to escape with a heart-stopping win.
Mahomes keeps Chiefs in control of AFC race
It was not always pretty, but it was pure Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City’s offense sputtered early, then Mahomes settled into rhythm, carving up coverages underneath before hitting chunk plays when it mattered. He showed the full bag: pocket presence against the blitz, off-platform throws when the rush closed in and cold-blooded execution on third down.
The Chiefs’ win did more than add another W to their column. It preserved their position near the top of the AFC NFL standings and kept them locked into the race for the coveted No. 1 seed. In a conference loaded with heavyweights, the margin for error is razor thin. Kansas City is winning those situational battles that separate contenders from pretenders: two-minute drives, red-zone execution and protecting the football.
After the game, the tone out of the locker room was telling. Players talked less about style points and more about stacking wins and cleaning up details. One veteran lineman summed it up: they know they have not played their A-plus offensive game yet, but their defense and situational awareness keep bailing them out. For opponents, that is a terrifying thought.
Lamar Jackson fuels Ravens’ Super Bowl Contender aura
Lamar Jackson’s MVP race campaign stayed hot with another statement outing. He diced up coverages as a passer and punished soft fronts with designed runs and scrambles that broke the back of the defense. Every time the opposing pass rush thought it had him boxed in, Jackson slipped out of the pocket and turned chaos into explosives.
This week’s performance did more than pad the box score. Baltimore’s win tightened its grip near the top of the AFC and reinforced the Ravens as a true Super Bowl Contender. They are bullying teams at the line of scrimmage, staying ahead of the chains and playing complementary football, where the defense gets off the field and the offense responds with clock-killing drives.
Inside the building, there is a clear sense of urgency. Coaches have pushed Jackson to marry his big-play ability with consistent, on-schedule reads. The result: long touchdown drives that blend quick-game concepts, intermediate crossers and timely deep shots. When the Ravens keep Lamar clean and on time, they look like the most balanced team in football.
Eagles survive another nail-biter to stay near NFC summit
It felt like a playoff atmosphere for the Eagles from the opening kickoff. Jalen Hurts took hit after hit, but he kept getting up, extending plays, converting third-and-long situations and orchestrating long, grinding drives. Philadelphia once again found itself in a one-score game late, and once again leaned on its physicality in the trenches.
The offense toggled between quick passes and power runs, wearing down the defensive front and gradually owning the line of scrimmage. In the red zone, Hurts used his legs in short-yardage sequences, while the defense clamped down just enough to force field goals instead of touchdowns on the other side. It was not a blowout; it was a heartbreaker for their opponent and a survival act for a team with serious Super Bowl aspirations.
The win kept the Eagles locked into the top tier of the NFC NFL standings and firmly in the No. 1 seed discussion. At this point in the season, style points matter less than the simple math of tiebreakers. Philadelphia keeps stacking them, even when the passing game is uneven or the secondary gives up explosives downfield.
Playoff Picture: Who controls the top seeds and Wild Card race?
With another week in the books, the playoff picture is starting to separate into tiers. The heavyweights in both conferences continue to hold onto prime seeding, but the Wild Card race is a traffic jam, especially in the AFC where a single loss can drop a team from a top seed to battling for a road game in January.
The No. 1 seeds remain the most coveted prize: they bring a first-round bye, home-field advantage and a massive edge in the Super Bowl chase. The way these teams are built, every remaining regular-season snap comes with seeding implications. One slip in the red zone, one missed field goal, one blown coverage, and a contender’s path gets significantly tougher.
| Conference | Seed | Team | Record | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC | 1 | Chiefs | Leading | Control top seed |
| AFC | 2 | Ravens | In mix | Chasing bye |
| AFC | 5 | Top Wild Card | Winning record | On the road if season ended |
| AFC | 7 | Bubble team | .500 range | Clinging to spot |
| NFC | 1 | Eagles | Leading | Edge via tiebreaker |
| NFC | 2 | Top challenger | Close behind | Pressuring for No. 1 |
| NFC | 6 | Wild Card | Above .500 | Dangerous road opponent |
| NFC | 8 | Chaser | Just outside | Needs help and wins |
The AFC Wild Card race borders on chaos. Several teams sit within a game of each other, trading blows weekly. One squad leans on a top-five passing offense, another leans on a ferocious pass rush that lives in the backfield. Each has glaring flaws, whether it is red-zone execution, turnover issues or a secondary that gives up too many chunk plays.
In the NFC, the picture feels top-heavy. The Eagles and their closest challengers have created a small gap, but the Wild Card race remains muddled. A couple of teams with shaky quarterback situations are lingering, hoping that a late defensive surge or a reenergized ground game can push them over the line. Every Sunday now feels like a mini-elimination game for that cluster of clubs around .500.
MVP Race: Mahomes, Lamar and a star-studded chase
The MVP race tightened again, with Mahomes and Lamar Jackson both delivering signature performances. Mahomes’ line would make any offensive coordinator smile: efficient completion percentage, multiple passing touchdowns, clean sheet in the turnover column and several huge third-down conversions that never show up fully in the box score. He manipulated coverages from the pocket and made just enough off-script plays to remind everyone why he is the standard.
Jackson, meanwhile, showcased the most complete version of his game. Think 250-plus passing yards, a pair of touchdown strikes and another triple-digit rushing output that tilted the field. Defenses are forced into impossible decisions: play man and risk his scrambles gutting you, or sit in zone and watch him pick you apart with layered concepts. When Baltimore stays on schedule, he looks fully in control of the tempo.
Do not overlook Jalen Hurts, either. His counting stats may not always pop like a video game, but his impact in the red zone and on third down is undeniable. He keeps drives alive with his legs, takes punishment in short-yardage situations and hits enough explosive passes to keep safeties honest. That combination of physicality and poise has the Eagles offense humming in high-leverage situations.
Behind them, a handful of quarterbacks and skill players are still hanging around the MVP radar. A star receiver posting monster target and yardage totals in a pass-heavy scheme, a workhorse running back grinding out 100-yard days behind a reshuffled offensive line and an edge rusher piling up double-digit sacks and constant pressures all deserve mention. Still, the story of this week belonged primarily to the elite quarterbacks steering the league’s top seeds.
Injury report and its impact on the Super Bowl hunt
This week’s injury report quietly reshaped the margins of the playoff race. A key receiver landing on the sideline with a lower-body issue forced his team to lean on depth pieces and tight ends in the red zone. A starting cornerback exiting with a soft-tissue injury exposed the back end of another contender’s defense, leading to more zone coverage and fewer aggressive blitz looks.
Coaches downplayed long-term concern publicly, but the tape tells a different story. When a top wideout is missing, spacing in the passing game compresses. Safeties can squat on intermediate routes, and defensive coordinators get more aggressive bringing heat. Likewise, when a shutdown corner is out, defensive play-callers get conservative, worried about giving up the backbreaking deep ball.
For teams like the Chiefs, Ravens and Eagles, staying relatively healthy on the offensive line and at quarterback remains the single biggest Super Bowl factor. You can survive a rotational injury at defensive tackle or a role-playing wideout going down. Losing an All-Pro caliber lineman, a No. 1 receiver or a field-general safety in the middle of the defense can fundamentally alter your scheme and ceiling.
Next week’s must-watch games and what’s at stake
Next week’s slate is loaded with matchups that will directly remodel the NFL standings. One potential AFC playoff preview features an elite quarterback duel where both offenses love to push the ball vertically and attack between the numbers. Expect fireworks in the red zone, aggressive fourth-down decisions and at least one controversial flag that swings momentum.
In the NFC, a prime-time showdown has massive implications for the race for the No. 1 seed. The Eagles face another physical defensive front that loves to blitz and crowd the line of scrimmage. How Jalen Hurts handles pressure, slides protections and gets the ball out on time could decide whether Philadelphia stays in pole position or opens the door for a rival to steal the top spot.
There is also a sneaky Wild Card game between two teams on the bubble. One leans on a stingy defense that thrives in the red zone, forcing field goals and creating turnovers with disguised coverages. The other relies on a high-volume passing attack and a tempo offense that tries to gas opposing fronts. The contrast in styles should be fascinating, with the loser likely needing help from other results to stay alive.
Bottom line: every snap now counts in the NFL standings race
At this point in the season, everything is compressed. The difference between a home playoff game and a cross-country Wild Card trip can come down to a single missed field goal, a dropped interception or a busted coverage late in the fourth quarter. Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts all showed this week why their teams trust them most when the game is on the line.
The Chiefs remain a measuring stick in the AFC. The Ravens keep looking like the most complete team on both sides of the ball. The Eagles keep surviving every punch in the NFC, winning ugly but winning consistently. Together, they anchor the top of the NFL standings and shape the Super Bowl conversation.
For fans, the message is simple: do not blink. Every Sunday from here on out will feel like a playoff weekend. The MVP race is tightening, the Wild Card race is a logjam and one key injury could flip an entire bracket. If this week was any indication, the stretch run is going to be a roller coaster.
