NFL Playoff Picture 2024-25: Standings, Bracket Scenarios After Commanders vs. Eagles

Another week of NFL action is underway. Week 11 kicked off Thursday night as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Washington Commanders 26-18.

Thursday's matchup was a big one as both the Commanders and Eagles are fighting for the top spot in the NFC East. Coming into the night, Philadelphia held the top spot in the division and bolstered its standing with a big win.

With the Dallas Cowboys sitting at 3-6 and the New York Giants a lousy 2-8, the race for the NFC East title is essentially between the Eagles and Commanders.

Thursday's game isn't the only high-stakes conference battle this week. The Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers will square off on Sunday followed by another AFC matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

In the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks will play on Sunday as both teams look to improve their playoff standings as they're both currently on the outside looking in.

After the first game of what should be another exciting week of football, here's a look at the updated playoff picture.

Division Leaders

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)

2. Buffalo Bills (8-2)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2)

4. Houston Texans (6-4)

Wild-Card Race

5. Baltimore Ravens (7-3)

6. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)

7. Denver Broncos (5-5)

8. Indianapolis Colts (4-6)

9. Cincinnati Bengals (4-6)

10. Miami Dolphins (3-6)

11. New York Jets (3-7)

12. New England Patriots (3-7)

13. Cleveland Browns (2-7)

14. Tennessee Titans (2-7)

15. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)

16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8)

Italics: Currently in wild card playoff position.

The Chiefs are undefeated heading into Week 11, but their wins have been anything but pretty. Seven of their nine wins have been by a touchdown or less and last week was their toughest victory yet.

Down by two points late, the Broncos had a golden opportunity to drill a walk-off field goal and hand the Chiefs their first loss. The football gods had other plans as Kansas City blocked the kick to keep its undefeated dreams alive.

Now, the Chiefs will get arguably their biggest test of the season in the Bills.

Buffalo comes into the matchup having won five straight and looking to take down its conference rival. Quarterback Josh Allen is in MVP form and could help his resume by downing Patrick Mahomes in the Chiefs.

The Bills have handled most of their matchups with ease, but their two losses came to the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans. They've yet to secure a signature win, but could do so on Sunday.

Elsewhere in the AFC, the Ravens and Steelers will duke it out in a matchup that could help determine who takes the AFC North crown. After starting the season 0-2, Baltimore has won seven of its last eight games and is looking to get another win against its rival. Pittsburgh is undefeated since Russell Wilson took over as the starter, so a win for the Ravens is not guaranteed.

What's more, star quarterback Lamar Jackson has notoriously struggled against the Steelers with a 1-3 record in his four meetings with them. Jackson could end his spell of bad luck against Pittsburgh while also helping his team's chances of winning the division.

The struggling Bengals will take on the Chargers in what could be considered a must-win game on Sunday. Cincinnati played a close one against the Ravens last week, but ultimately lost despite Joe Burrow's 428 passing yards and four touchdowns and Ja'Marr Chase's 264 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Though the Chargers are 6-3, they don't have many quality wins and have fallen to the only three playoff-caliber teams they've faced this year. A win over Los Angeles is both feasible and much-needed for Cincinnati this week.

The Texans, who have an in-state matchup with the Cowboys this week, have a clear path to the playoffs as they lead a weak AFC South, so a win over Dallas would give them some more insurance heading into the back stretch of the season.

Division Leaders

1. Detroit Lions (8-1)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)

3. Atlanta Falcons (6-4)

4. Arizona Cardinals (6-4)

Wild-Card Race

5. Minnesota Vikings (7-2)

6. Green Bay Packers (6-3)

7. Washington Commanders (7-4)

8. San Francisco 49ers (5-4)

9. Chicago Bears (4-5)

10. Seattle Seahawks (4-5)

11. Los Angeles Rams (4-5)

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-6)

13. Dallas Cowboys (3-6)

14. New Orleans Saints (3-7)

15. Carolina Panthers (3-7)

16. New York Giants (2-8)

Italics: Currently in wild card playoff position.

The Commanders came into Thursday's matchup hoping to prove they can contend with the top teams in the NFC. They played a tight game against the Eagles for most of the night, but Philadelphia outscored the Commanders 20-8 in the fourth quarter to pick up a convincing win.

As it stands right now, Philadelphia and Washington could meet again in the playoffs. While Thursday's meeting was a bit one-sided, Jayden Daniels has the rest of the season to continue developing and perhaps give the Eagles a tough wild-card game in January.

Philadelphia has won six straight games now and is building momentum at the perfect time. The Eagles will have matchups with the Rams and Ravens in the coming weeks as they look to keep picking up wins.

The NFC is the Lions' to lose as they head into Week 11 at 8-1 with what should be a relatively easy matchup with the Jaguars on deck this Sunday. Detroit's toughest matchups come later this season as it will face the Packers, Bills, 49ers and Vikings in the final month of the season, but for now, it's in solid position to claim the top seed in the conference.

The Cardinals are sitting comfortably at the top of the NFC West and will be idle this week before a division matchup against the Seahawks next week.

As for Seattle, it has now lost five of its last six games after a 3-0 start. The Seahawks have a tough matchup this week against the 49ers that comes with plenty of implications as those two teams continue battling for a playoff spot.

Things are looking up with the 49ers amid back-to-back wins and the return of star running back Christian McCaffrey, and they could easily get right back in the playoff mix over the next few weeks.

After the Vikings' 5-0 start, they dropped back-to-back games against the Lions and Rams but have now won two straight. They should make it three in a row against the Titans this week as they look to hold their current position in the standings.

The Packers, who currently hold the final wild-card slot, are hoping to take down their rival Bears this weekend. Green Bay couldn't top the Lions last week, but still looks like a team ready as ever to compete in the playoffs.

While the Bears are still in the playoff mix, three consecutive losses and a tough schedule in the coming weeks make their postseason hopes seem a bit far-fetched. They're remaining schedule consists of two games against the Vikings, two games against the Packers, two games against the Lions and matchups with the 49ers and Seahawks. Getting even one win in that stretch would be a challenge.

The Rams seemed ready to make a playoff push after winning three straight, but a loss to the struggling Dolphins last week isn't a good indicator that they can put together a postseason run.