NFL Standings shake-up: Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Eagles reshape Super Bowl race
31.01.2026 - 08:01:04
The NFL standings look completely different after a wild American Football weekend that saw Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs steady the ship, Lamar Jackson keep the Ravens in the thick of the Super Bowl contender mix and the Eagles grind through another heavyweight slugfest. From last-second field goals to statement blowouts, this game week reshaped the playoff picture and cranked the intensity up to genuine January levels.
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Every drive felt like it carried playoff implications. The updated NFL standings now tell a story of separation at the top, chaos in the Wild Card race and a handful of franchises staring down brutal questions at quarterback. While Mahomes and Jackson delivered in the clutch, other big brands stumbled, opening the door for surprise runs and tightening the Wild Card race in both conferences.
Mahomes steadies Chiefs in Arrowhead thriller
Patrick Mahomes reminded everyone why his name never drifts far from the MVP race. Facing a high-pressure, playoff-style test at Arrowhead, the Chiefs offense finally looked like it found rhythm again. Mahomes spread the ball around, attacked in the intermediate passing game and extended plays with classic pocket presence and off-script magic.
The Chiefs leaned on a balanced game plan, using the run just enough to keep the defense honest while Mahomes carved up coverages on key third downs. The stadium erupted multiple times in the red zone as Kansas City finished drives instead of settling for field goals, a stark contrast to the sputtering stretches that had defined earlier weeks.
Afterward, Mahomes essentially said the group never panicked, emphasizing that execution, not scheme, was the issue in previous games. The box score backed him up: efficient completion percentage, multiple touchdown passes and zero back-breaking mistakes. In a week where several contenders blinked, Kansas City looked every bit like a true Super Bowl contender again.
Lamar Jackson keeps Ravens atop the AFC hunt
On the other side of the AFC, Lamar Jackson once again carried the Ravens attack with a dual-threat performance that kept Baltimore firmly in the No. 1 seed conversation. The Ravens offense leaned into Jacksons versatility, mixing designed runs, RPO looks and layered passing concepts that stressed linebackers all afternoon.
Jackson ripped off chunk plays with his legs, but it was his poise from the pocket that stood out. Multiple throws into tight windows on third-and-long sustained drives and quieted the opposing crowd. In the red zone, Jackson forced the defense to defend every blade of grass, making option decisions at the mesh point and firing darts on slant routes when safeties crashed down.
The Ravens defense complemented him, creating short fields with pressure and timely takeaways. A late sack on a blitz call essentially sealed it, punctuating a win that matters both for the standings and for the locker rooms belief that this roster can punch through in January.
Eagles survive another NFC heavyweight fight
Meanwhile, the Eagles once again found themselves in a brutal, playoff-style dogfight. Jalen Hurts played through contact, pressure and a relentless pass rush to keep Philadelphia in the top tier of the NFC. The offense did not always look pretty, but the situational football was elite: clutch conversions before the two-minute warning, red zone efficiency and a physical run game that wore down the front seven on the other side.
Defensively, the Eagles still showed cracks in the secondary. A handful of explosive plays over the top kept the outcome in doubt deep into the fourth quarter and will be a concern as they look ahead to matchups against elite quarterbacks in January. But the ability to close, to win ugly and to respond to momentum swings remains a defining trait for this group.
After the game, players described the environment as a playoff atmosphere. You could feel it in every third-down snap, in the sideline intensity and in the way both coaching staffs treated every timeout and challenge flag as gold.
Upsets and heartbreak reshape the Wild Card race
This week was not kind to comfort. A couple of supposed contenders took gut-punch losses that altered the Wild Card race. One high-profile offense stalled in the red zone, settling for field goals and ultimately losing on a late drive where they never even reached true field goal range. Another team coughed up a lead on a pick-six when their quarterback forced a ball into bracket coverage.
The results cracked the door wide open for teams lurking just below the Wild Card line. A scrappy underdog grabbed a road win behind a ferocious pass rush, stacking sacks and hurries that completely dislodged the opposing quarterbacks timing. That single result could loom large when tiebreakers decide who sneaks into January football.
Updated NFL standings: division leaders and playoff picture
The updated NFL standings now show clearer separation at the top of both conferences, even as the middle remains gridlocked. Kansas City and Baltimore are jostling for AFC supremacy, while Philadelphia and another NFC power continue to trade blows for conference control. Behind them, the Wild Card race is a full-on scrum, with multiple teams within a single game of each other.
Here is a compact snapshot of how the division leaders and primary Wild Card contenders stack up right now:
| Conference | Seed | Team | Record | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC | 1 | Ravens | best in AFC | In pole position for first-round bye |
| AFC | 2 | Chiefs | within 1 game | Chasing No. 1 seed, division control |
| AFC | 5 | Top Wild Card | just behind leaders | Firm playoff position |
| AFC | 7 | Bubble team | .500 range | On the bubble, tiebreakers critical |
| NFC | 1 | Eagles | best in NFC or tied | Controlling their destiny |
| NFC | 2 | Rival contender | within 1 game | Chasing home-field advantage |
| NFC | 6 | Wild Card hunter | one game back | In the mix, no margin for error |
| NFC | 7 | Another bubble team | .500 range | Needs closing kick to get in |
Official numbers from NFL.com and ESPN confirm that the gap between the top seeds and the bottom of the playoff bracket is razor thin. One more upset, one more last-second field goal, and the entire bracket can flip. Coaches know it; you can hear it in the way they talk about every possession carrying postseason weight.
MVP race spotlight: Mahomes and Lamar back in the center
The MVP race has been a revolving door this season, but this week swung the spotlight firmly back toward Mahomes and Lamar Jackson. Their performances checked every narrative box: prime-time stakes, playoff implications and signature drives with the game on the line.
Mahomes operated like a surgeon between the numbers, stacking passing yards and multiple touchdowns while avoiding the kind of reckless throws that had plagued earlier weeks. His command at the line of scrimmage was obvious. He manipulated safeties with his eyes, slid protections against blitz looks and bought time in the pocket just long enough for routes to develop.
Jackson answered in his own way: explosive scrambles, designed quarterback runs that flipped field position and precision throws off play-action. The box score reflected it with strong total yardage and touchdown production, but the true impact was felt in how the defense never found its footing. Every snap felt like a choose-your-poison situation.
Other names remain on the fringes of the MVP conversation, but this week re-centered the debate around the two quarterbacks who have already shaped the modern AFC more than anyone else. With the standings this tight, the MVP race and the battle for the No. 1 seed are now effectively the same storyline.
Injury report shakes up Super Bowl contender tiers
The injury report this week was brutal for several teams trying to stay in the Super Bowl contender conversation. A key offensive weapon left with a lower-body injury and did not return, leaving the coaching staff to piece together drives with backups and practice-squad call-ups. That absence changed the way defenses played coverage, packing the box and daring the passing game to win outside the numbers.
Elsewhere, a star pass rusher landed on the injury list with a nagging issue that could linger into the stretch run. For a defense built around pressure and disruption, that is a major concern. Without a consistent edge presence, coordinators are forced to dial up more blitzes, risking big plays in the secondary.
Coaches downplayed the long-term impact publicly, but the subtext was clear: depth is about to be tested. In a league where the margin between a first-round bye and a road Wild Card game can be a single game, one or two injuries at the wrong spot can swing an entire season.
Coaches on the hot seat and QB pressure cookers
Results this week turned the heat up under several head coaches. A couple of offenses once again looked lost in the red zone, with predictable play-calling, poorly timed screens and miscommunications on option routes. Home crowds booed. Owners watching from suites saw teams with talent but without identity.
The quarterback pressure is just as intense. One veteran starter threw another costly interception in field goal range, turning a potential win into a gutting loss. Another simply could not handle the blitz, taking sacks on third down and bailing from clean pockets. In both cases, the postgame comments were telling. Coaches talked about needing to "evaluate everything," a phrase that always hangs heavy around struggling QBs and offensive coordinators.
Rumors are already swirling about potential offseason changes if these trends do not reverse. For now, nothing is imminent, but every snap from here on out feels like an audition under a harsh spotlight.
Looking ahead: must-watch games and Super Bowl trajectory
The coming week sets up as a slate loaded with must-watch matchups that will further clarify the NFL standings and the true Super Bowl pecking order. An AFC showdown featuring the Ravens against another playoff-caliber opponent could swing the race for the No. 1 seed. Every possession in that game will feel like January, from first-quarter field position battles to fourth-quarter two-minute drill situations.
The Chiefs stare down another test against a defense that thrives on pressure and disguised coverages. How Mahomes handles those looks will say a lot about whether Kansas Citys offensive resurgence is sustainable or just a one-week spike. Expect plenty of motion, quick-game concepts and shot plays dialed up off play-action to keep that pass rush guessing.
In the NFC, the Eagles have little breathing room. A trap-game road trip lurks, the kind of matchup that has ambushed contenders in past seasons. If they slip, the fight for the conference lead and crucial home-field advantage gets even tighter, with rivals ready to pounce.
As of today, the Super Bowl contender tier still clearly features the Ravens, Chiefs and Eagles. But the gap between that group and the next wave of hungry teams is not wide. With one more month of physical, high-leverage football ahead, depth, health and composure in the red zone will likely decide which of these franchises is still standing when the confetti falls.
The only guarantee is that the NFL standings will keep shifting. One Hail Mary, one missed field goal, one pick-six in the wrong moment and everything changes. If this week proved anything, it is that you cannot blink in this league. Sunday night, Monday night, or a random late-afternoon window, the postseason race is always one snap away from chaos.
